Arthritis patients are our parents and grandparents, our brothers and sisters, our friends and co-workers. And some day soon, many more Canadians will find themselves fighting this disease, which costs our economy an estimated $33 billion each year.
The joint pain and swelling associated with arthritis affects the well-being of patients in myriad ways: It robs them of basic function, it puts a strain on family and work relationships and its economic impact is far-ranging.
It's for these reasons that the Arthritis Program at the Krembil Research Institute and the Campaign to Cure Arthritis exist. We see the effects of this disease each and every day. Our goal is simple: to find a cure for arthritis.
At Krembil, we've diligently built one of the top research programs in the world dedicated to finding that cure. In our state-of-the-art labs at the Buchan Arthritis Research Centre, we employ a collaborative, innovative, team-first approach that's committed to stopping this disease in its tracks. We're doing this by focusing on three main areas: research into novel therapies including stem cells with a goal of joint regeneration, innovative precision-medicine solutions and exploring new models of care that put the patient first.
There is little doubt that we face an uphill battle in our relentless pursuit of a cure. But thanks to our patients, their family members and the generous support of our donors, we have been able to make progress on several fronts. The advancements you will read about in this magazine could not have been possible without them.
I invite you to visit
CureForArthritis.ca to learn more about how you can support this important work.
Sincerely,
Nizar Mahomed, MD, PhD, FRCSC
Medical Director, Arthritis Program;
Senior Scientist, Krembil Research Institute;
Nicki and Bryce Douglas Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery; Smith & Nephew
Chair in Orthopaedic Surgery Research
