Genome BC is funding three research projects oriented around genetic-level impacts of wildfire smoke exposure.
The not-for-profit organization, which supports genomics innovation in British Columbia, says the projects aim to help vulnerable populations.
Suzanne Gill, who serves Genome BC as chief executive officer, says the projects are “specifically designed to uncover what makes our vulnerable populations–from newborns to those with chronic lung conditions–more susceptible to wildfire-related respiratory issues.”
Genome BC is collaborating with talent from UBC and SFU on the projects.
According to Gill, Canadian researchers “are uniquely equipped to tackle these questions first-hand,” citing “proximity to wildfires and access to interdisciplinary teams.”
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One project is using a holistic approach to study the impact of disaster exposure during pregnancy, including if it can have lasting effects on how genes are expressed in developing children.
Excessive smoke exposure may increase the risk of respiratory diagnoses such as asthma, bronchitis, wheezing, hives, eczema, and other allergic reactions, according to Lead Researcher Dr. Michael Kobor of the University of British Columbia.
“With this research, we aim to better our understanding of the impacts of prenatal wildfire disaster exposure on the next generation,” he stated. “Early-life environments can have a lasting impact on people throughout the course of their lives, including on their health outcomes.”
Kobor believes the results can inform public health policies about respiratory health.
“We hope this work will help shape healthy futures for children,” the researcher remarked.
Another project considers the two million Canadians living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
Dr. Graeme Koelwyn from Simon Fraser University and Dr. Don Sin from the University of British Columbia are studying the genomic changes in innate immune cells of COPD patients. Their research aims to understand how these immune cells respond to wildfire smoke in patients at the genetic level as symptoms become worse, and to identify effective treatments.
“This information is critical to develop disease management and exposure mitigation strategies for people living with COPD,” Koelwyn commented.
For the third project, Dr. Emilia Lim and Dr. Min Hyung Ryu from the University of British Columbia are focusing on airborne allergens triggered by the increase of atmospheric carbon dioxide and high temperatures that happen when there are frequent wildfires.
The researchers want to understand the links between our individual genetic differences and environmental triggers.
“Identifying populations that are susceptible to these changes can help us find better ways to prevent and treat respiratory diseases,” noted Dr. Ryu.
Knowledge from these researchers projects will “will lay the groundwork for better policy decisions and more efficient treatments in the future,” says Gill. “Any breakthroughs in respiratory health or disease prevention will translate into economic benefits for British Columbians and beyond.”
Genome BC also recently collaborated with regional wine industry organizations to explore the impacts of weather effects such as heat stress with a goal to find solutions.
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