Katherine Rowland

CDHF Research Awards Lead to Life-Long Solutions

"There is a growing need for therapies and treatments to improve the outcomes of digestive diseases," says Katherine Rowland, a University of Toronto PhD candidate and Canadian Digestive Health Foundation (CDHF) research awardee.

At a time when digestive maladies such as Short Bowel Syndrome, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and colon cancer are a growing concern, this acknowledgement of the need for solutions from a young researcher is encouraging.

Digestive diseases represent a huge burden on the Canadian economy. They affect nearly 20 million people each year and have a significant impact on the quality of life for those suffering from these diseases. It is not widely known that about 180,000 Canadians have IBD or that approximately 6,500 of the 20,000 people diagnosed with colon cancer each year will die.

In 2008, Katherine was awarded a three year doctoral award research co-sponsored by the CDHF with funding provided by AstraZeneca Canada and Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR). Her research includes trying to better understand the molecular mechanisms by which glucagon-like peptide-2 stimulates intestinal growth.

Katherine says that receiving the CDHF - CIHR award not only means that she can devote more time to her research but that her current work is recognized as valuable by the Canadian digestive health scientific community.

Her objectives would include expanding the use of glucagon-like peptide-2 in patients with Short Bowel Syndrome and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

"Receiving funding from CDHF and CIHR will allow me to continue to contribute as a Canadian digestive health researcher," says Katherine. "I am devoted to finding life-long solutions for the treatment of digestive diseases."