Critical research on women’s cardiovascular health being led by the Montreal Heart Institute and St. Boniface Hospital thanks to a $2.5 M donation from The Molson Foundation

September 17, 2018
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The Montreal Heart Institute Foundation and St. Boniface Hospital Foundation have announced that several major research projects on women’s cardiovascular health will be made possible thanks to a $2.5 million donation from The Molson Foundation.

These new research projects, carried out in collaboration with St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, will allow the Montreal Heart Institute’s specialists and their teams to further the research in specific fields such as sexual hormones and cardiac arrhythmia, genomic interactions in cardiovascular disease and their treatments, fertility and cardiovascular disease in women, genetic insights from the biobanks, sexual differences in treating heart failure, and differences between sexes in clinical trials.

Furthermore, new research projects, carried out in collaboration with the Montreal Heart Institute, will allow many St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre’s researchers and their teams to make advances in specific fields of research such as the early signs of heart disease in older women, sexual differences of blood fat levels, heart disease and breast cancer, heart disease and kidney injury in women, and the treatment of high blood pressure in women.

Women’s health: A critical research topic

Even though heart disease is often associated with men, it has in fact been proven that more women die from heart disease or stroke than men. Biological and social factors play a significant role in these diseases. To this day, few studies have considered the impact of factors related to sex and gender on cardiovascular disease.

The Molson Foundation’s donation dedicated to research projects in women’s cardiovascular health will undoubtedly be a key element in allowing leading medical researchers to push the boundaries of research and improve the health of tens of thousands of women.

Indeed, cardiovascular disease affect more than 1.3 million Canadians, making it the leading cause of death for women in Canada and the number one cause of death worldwide. Cardiovascular disease is also responsible for 275,000 hospitalizations every year in Canada.

“The Montreal Heart Institute and St. Boniface Hospital of Winnipeg are leaders in the fight against cardiovascular disease. Our Foundation is therefore extremely happy to contribute to a collaborative approach to research specifically into women’s heart health,” said Andrew T. Molson, President of The Molson Foundation.

“Women’s cardiovascular health is a very real concern and a top priority for us. We are very proud and thankful to be able to count on the support of The Molson Foundation to help us pursue our research in this field. We will also be able to emphasize prevention and screening and offer treatments that are even more adapted to women,” said Josée Noiseux, President and CEO of the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation.

“Heart disease is the leading cause of premature death of women in Canada. The leadership of The Molson Foundation in supporting women’s heart health research, prevention and screening will help make a difference in our understanding of heart disease which kills 25,000 women in Canada each year. St. Boniface Hospital Foundation thanks The Molson Foundation for this visionary gift,” said Vince Barletta, President and CEO of St. Boniface Hospital Foundation.

“This major donation will make a real difference for women’s health, both in terms of treatment and prevention. Thanks to these research projects, we will be able to remain a leader in this field and enhance the Institute’s expertise in basic and clinical research,” added Dr. Jean-Claude Tardif, Director of the Montreal Heart Institute’s Research Centre.

“Through its generous donation, The Molson Foundation creates an avenue for bringing two powerhouses together in heart research, St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, and the Montreal Heart Institute. Once again, The Molson Foundation has shown it is an incredible and valuable community supporter.” stated Dr. Grant Pierce, Executive Director of Research for St. Boniface Hospital.

Research at the Montreal Heart Institute: World-leading expertise that changes lives

The Montreal Heart Institute is one of the world’s largest institutions conducting both basic and clinical cardiovascular research under the same roof. Its research centre’s 650 employees, including 86 researchers, publish more than 300 scientific studies every year. Recognized throughout the world, the Institute’s research centre is also the country’s largest cardiovascular research centre. Every year, 31,500 donors allow the Institute’s specialists, professionals and researchers to treat more than 50,000 patients.

The Institute’s core mission, being one of the best cardiology centres in the world, is to carry out research to find the best treatment options and to improve patients’ quality of life as well as to continuously excel and innovate, protect public health, get involved in the community and lead cutting-research that changes patients’ lives.

About the Montreal Heart Institute

Founded in 1954 by Dr. Paul David, the Montreal Heart Institute constantly aims for the highest standards of excellence in cardiology through its leadership in clinical and basic research, ultra-specialized care, professional training and prevention. It is affiliated with the Université de Montréal.

About The Molson Foundation

The Molson Foundation was created to award grants to Canadian health facilities, educational institutions and charitable institutions or organizations. Since 1958, the Foundation has been playing a key role in the growth of institutions vital to the well-being of the community, thus contributing to the quality of life of present and future generations.

About the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation

Founded in 1977, the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation’s mission is to raise and administer funds to support the Institute’s priority and innovative projects. These funds help the Institute maintain its leadership position in the fight against cardiovascular disease, the number-one cause of death worldwide and the leading cause of death for women in Canada. Since its creation, the Foundation has raised nearly $260 million in donations. These generous contributions have allowed the Institute to become the country’s largest cardiology research centre. It now also includes Canada’s first Prevention Division, a cardiovascular genetic centre, as well as the only Simulation-Based Education Program in the country. Canada’s first heart transplant was performed at the Institute in 1968, just like the world’s first cryoablation of arrhythmia in 1999.

About the St. Boniface Hospital Foundation

St. Boniface Hospital Foundation was founded in 1971 and is the primary fundraising organization for St. Boniface Hospital. The Foundation is dedicated to making possible the many innovations in health research and patient care taking place at the Hospital. St. Boniface Hospital is a leader in patient care excellence, delivered with genuine compassion. Research at St. Boniface Hospital is where medical discoveries are made; science is translated into practices that improve human health; and today’s best minds are shaping tomorrow’s advances in health care.