Contact:
Diane Gromala, 778.782.8013; gromala@sfu.ca
Andy Hoffer, 778.782.3141; hoffer@sfu.ca
Marianne Meadahl, PAMR, 778.782.3210; Marianne_Meadahl@sfu.ca

Chronic pain sufferers may soon be able to reap the benefits of better self-management, while hospital patients dependent on ventilators may soon have a better option – both are results of collaborations between Simon Fraser University and Fraser Health.

The products of their partnerships – along with pitches for new collaborative ideas – will be highlighted during the first SFU-FH Research Day at SFU Surrey on Wednesday, Oct. 17 from 12 noon – 4:30 p.m. in the mezzanine and room 2740.

Through the efforts of SFU professor Diane Gromala, working with Fraser Health’s Brenda Lau and Owen Williamson, doctors and nurses will soon be trained to help patients use technology to self-manage their pain.

Gromala, who hold a Canada Research Chair, heads the Transforming Pain research group at SFU Surrey and applies technology to the psychological and social aspects of chronic pain management, including new computerized therapies.

Meanwhile, SFU researcher Andy Hoffer’s collaboration with Fraser Health means his award-winning Lungpacer Diaphram Pacing System can soon be put to the test in its first in-human trials.

Hoffer, a biomedical physiology and kinesiology (BPK) professor, is working with Steven Reynolds of Fraser Health’s Critical Care Department in pre-clinical tests of the therapeutic medical device, which keeps the diaphragm muscle working while critically ill patients are on mechanical ventilators.

Hoffer says patients who become dependent on ventilation account for half the intensive care unit budget and nearly a third die. “The Lungpacer therapy could save lives and also millions in hospital costs,” he says.

The collaborations are among several between SFU and Fraser Health researchers and practitioners to be shared during Research Day, which will also feature a Knowledge Fair in the Grand Hall, noon – 5 p.m. Information on health research and opportunities to link to the talent pool at SFU and Fraser Health will be highlighted.

John O’Neil, SFU’s dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, will moderate a series of short talks and Q&As from several SFU-FH researchers. Other speakers include Robert Hogg and Laurie Goldsmith from SFU Health Sciences, Stephen Robinovitch from BPK, Sherri Ferguson, SFU Science and, Angela Wolff, professional practice and integration, Fraser Health.

Sonia Singh, program medical director, research and development, at Fraser Health, will oversee a session of collaborative pitches.

Kelley Lee, associate dean of research for SFU’s Faculty of Health Sciences, Andrew Webb, V-P Medicine for Fraser Health and Mario Pinto, V-P Research at SFU will also participate.

Simon Fraser University is Canada's top-ranked comprehensive university and one of the top 50 universities in the world under 50 years old. With campuses in Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey, B.C., SFU engages actively with the community in its research and teaching, delivers almost 150 programs to more than 30,000 students, and has more than 120,000 alumni in 130 countries.

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Simon Fraser University: Engaging Students. Engaging Research. Engaging Communities.