the
FOUNDATION
report
Summer 2021
in this issue: MESSAGE FROM UHKF’S PRESIDENT AND CEO Page 2
DONOR-FUNDED TECHNOLOGY SAVES LIVES AND INSPIRES HOPE Page 3
UNDERSTANDING HOW MRNA VACCINES WORK Page 6 Pictured: Emily Rack.
Spotlight on Research: Amazing Research happening locally Emily Rack was 34 weeks pregnant when she noticed a rash on her back following a walk in the woods. A few weeks later, a stroke-like episode turned the entire right side of her body numb, she became unable to speak and her vision became blurry. “It was very stressful,” says Emily. “I was initially told that it was a migraine and sent home without any relief. When things got worse, I was admitted for more tests but they didn’t show anything sinister. It was a mystery and I was left without a treatment plan.” Four months later, after giving birth to her healthy child, Emily began developing many more symptoms. She tested positive for Lyme Disease and received brief antibiotic treatment. Her symptoms generally improved, but vision problems, arthritis, nerve pain and cognitive impairment remained. She was offered minimal treatment to help resolve the symptoms.
Lyme Disease is a tick-borne disease that is emerging rapidly across Canada, especially in southeastern Ontario, one of the most affected regions. Since 2006, documented cases in our region have increased from just 10 to 20 cases per year to over 500. Stories like Emily’s are all too familiar for a disease that is difficult to diagnose. “If caught early, then Lyme Disease can almost always be cured,” says Dr. Kieran Moore, Principal Investigator and Director of the Canadian Lyme Disease Research Network (CLyDRN). “But the biggest issue is trying to improve clinical awareness, education of healthcare providers and the public, as well as to improve diagnostics, because in the first several weeks of the illness, the blood tests can be negative.” Continued on page 2...