Dr. Brenda Green Collaborates with the UofS Research Team that Received a $150,000 Grant from the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation

The Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF) and its partners have recently announced a diverse group of grant recipients, each tackling unique health challenges and driving innovation in their respective fields.

The research team of Dr. Brenda Green, FNUniv, Indigenous Health, Ellen Wasan, UofS, College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, and Dylan Olver, UofS, College of Veterinary Medicine, was awarded a $150,000 grant under the Rural and Remote Healthcare category for a Project entitled Enhancing management of Raynaud Phenomenon through a novel medication cream and knowledge sharing.

Project Summary

Raynaud Phenomenon is a condition of the fingers and toes where blood flow stops and they become very pale and numb, typically due to cold exposure. The condition is painful and can limit activities and lead to tissue damage if not managed properly. It can also be an indicator for some types of connective tissue disease. Nifedipine is a blood pressure medication that can help manage Raynaud Phenomenon but causes a number of side effects when taken orally. Laboratory work on a patented topical cream containing nifedipine will be tested in rats to see if it can reverse or prevent cold-induced blood flow reductions, using a vascular ultrasound method on the tail artery. This artery is similar to those in fingers and toes because it is involved in temperature regulation. In parallel, patients and health care providers in rural and remote Saskatchewan communities will be surveyed to see if they are aware of Raynaud Phenomenon and its potential consequences, and to assess how they currently deal with the symptoms. This shared knowledge will be used to generate educational materials for patients and for rural clinic health care providers so they can recognize Raynaud Phenomenon and provide patient guidance, referral and management strategies.

The full list of grant recipients is captured in the SHRF announcement.

Empowering Solutions: SHRF and Partners Invest $2.3M into Innovative Research Solutions to Address Saskatchewan’s Health Challenges