CUA and Pfizer Canada Award Clinical Fellowships in Incontinence

Researchers Darren Desantis and Nicole Golda are recipients of 2014 fellowship program

Sept. 3, 2014, MONTRÉAL /CNW Telbec/ - Two Canadian researchers have been awarded the 2014 Canadian Urological Association and Pfizer Canada Clinical Fellowship in Incontinence. With this funding, Dr. Darren Desantis and Dr. Nicole Golda will conduct new projects to improve support, education and treatment for Canadian patients with incontinence.

Using Patient Reported Outcomes in a Web Based Dashboard System to Assist with Multidisciplinary Management of Urinary Incontinence
Darren Desantis BSc., MD, FRCSC of vesia [The Alberta Bladder Centre] has been awarded one of two grants under the program, for a project that will collect patient reported outcomes of individuals diagnosed with urinary incontinence. His team will administer validated questionnaires at 6 week intervals which will be collected in a database and allow utilization of this data in two unique ways.  First, algorithms will allow monitoring of the database information and trigger "Red Flags" if clinical thresholds are reached which require further investigation. Second, the database will be used to develop an online dashboard which will graphically depict the patient reported outcomes. This dashboard will be available for use by any of multidisciplinary team members at the Alberta Bladder Centre.

"We predict that systematic collection of patient reported outcomes will be well received by patients and the longitudinal data will assist with patient management," explains Dr. Desantis. "We also predict that the dashboard system will be widely utilized by team members at the Alberta Bladder Centre."

Creating a Market Driven Approach to Deliver Value to Interstitial Cystitis/ Bladder Pain Syndrome Patients
Nicole Golda, MD, HBA, FRCSC of the Department of Urology at Queen's University and University of Toronto is the second recipient of this year's fellowship grant.

Previous research has identified shortcomings of traditional diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in treating patients with Interstitial Cystitis/ Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS), a heterogeneous population. With the long-term goal of improving the quality of care provided to the IC/BPS population, this pilot study is designed to assess what IC/BPS patients value in their care; this is a novel line of research and a new way of conceptualizing and researching the patient care experience. The information collected will then be used to design a questionnaire that serves to better gauge success of treatment, which can be incorporated into an improved model of care for this patient population. Realizing that there is currently no effective treatment in curing the condition, their strategy aims to improve quality of life (which will include increasing desired activities and improving social and partner interactions).

"In order to achieve our goal, we will employ a unique and innovative strategy; utilizing business principles and models in healthcare," explains Dr. Golda.  "The anticipated results of this study will provide further insight into the barriers and opportunities available for the delivery of quality urologic care that is truly valued by patients suffering from IC/BPS. If this rigorous model of assessment of value in healthcare delivery is shown to be effective, then it could be applied to different urologic patient populations."

About the CUA - Pfizer Canada Clinical Fellowship in Incontinence
The Canadian Urological Association (CUA) and Pfizer Canada's fellowship program was created to provide support and funding for Canadian urological researchers.  The fellowship is focused on advancing urological research and improving care for patients with incontinence.  The partnership awards $120,000 per year in the form of two grants. This is the second year of the program, which awarded two fellowship grants in 2013.

"The burden of urological disorders in Canada is growing. With these two awarded projects, the CUA and Pfizer are taking another step to ensure that Canadian urologists will continue to lead in terms of scientific discoveries and innovation in urology and specifically, the field of incontinence," says Dr. Ricardo Rendon, Chair of the Scientific Council of the Canadian Urological Association Scholarship Foundation (CUASF).

"Pfizer understands that experiences and challenges with incontinence differ from patient to patient," says Dr. Vratislav Hadrava, Chief Medical Officer, Pfizer Canada Inc. "Programs such as these will help improve the care and quality of life for people living with this condition. We are proud to support continued research and investment in this therapeutic area."

A third year with two new fellowships will take place in 2015-2016 (total $120,000). For more information on how to apply for 2015 grants, eligible research proposals, review criteria, notification dates and submission process please visit http://www.cua.org/training_and_scholarships_e.asp.

About Canadian Urological Association
The Canadian Urological Association represents and provides a voice for all Canadian urologists and fosters dedications of all members of the profession toward ensuring the highest possible standard of urologic care of Canadians.  www.cua.org

About Pfizer Canada
Pfizer Canada Inc. is the Canadian operation of Pfizer Inc., one of the world's leading biopharmaceutical companies. Our diversified health care portfolio includes some of the world's best known and most prescribed medicines and vaccines. Pfizer Canada, on behalf of Pfizer Inc., is a major contributor to Canadian R&D, with investments totalling $89 million in 2012. To learn more about Pfizer Canada, visit pfizer.ca or you can follow us on Twitter (twitter.com/PfizerCA) or Facebook (facebook.com/Pfizer.Canada). 

SOURCE: PFIZER CANADA INC.

For further information: Catherine Millar, Canadian Urological Association, [e-mail]; Christina Antoniou, Pfizer Canada, [e-mail], 1-866-9-PFIZER