St. Boniface Hospital Foundation invites FWS to tour the Albrechtsen Research Centre

WINNIPEG, MB – On September 10, 2019, FWS was invited to tour the Albrechtsen Research Centre at the St. Boniface Hospital and learn how company donations help fund innovative biomedical research. Over the past 5 years, FWS has contributed $50,000 in donations to the research center. These funds are allocated to the Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine (CCARM) and The Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences (ICS).

FWS was met by Dr. Bram Ramjiawan, Director of Clinical Research, who shared the hospital’s history and presented a few of the medical advancements coming out of our fair city, including MSPrebiotic, a clinically evaluated prebiotic supplement that improves gut health which is made from potato starch collected in Carberry, Manitoba.

The first tour stop was the CCARM where FWS met with Dr. Peter Zahradka, Principal Investigator in Molecular Physiology. Dr. Zahradka shared some information into the ongoing research of lentils and the health benefits they provide. The group learned that consuming half a cup of cooked lentils daily can reverse atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) in as little as two months.

The next stop of the tour was the Cardiac Electrophysiology lab where Dr. Larry Hryshko was hard at work researching a protein found in fruit flies which may be able to protect our heart cells from cardiac arrest. The protein works by allowing the heart to better relax in between beats which helps guard against heart attacks. Dr. Hryshko also showed the group a video demonstrating a cardiovascular cell before, during, and after inducing cardiac arrest.

FWS continues to proudly support organizations such as the St. Boniface Hospital Foundation, as they truly make a difference in improving the lives of the people living within our community.

From left to right: Dr. Larry Hryshko, Randy Roller, Lisa Hughes, Sandy Fodchuk

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