Tag: University of British Columbia

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LifeLabs partners with drone program to get meds to remote communities

Medical lab chain LifeLabs has partnered with the University of British Columbia to investigate how drone delivery could improve healthcare in remote first-nation communities.

The project sees LifeLabs join forces with the Stellat’en First Nation, Village of Fraser Lake, the First Nations Health Authority (FHNA), the Rural Coordination Centre of BC (RCCbc), UBC’s Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Drone Delivery Canada (DDC).

The study, dubbed the Drone Transport Initiative, is in its first phase with test deliveries of supplies and mock samples being moved by drone between Stellat’en First Nations and Fraser Lake. Chief Robert Michell of Stellat’en First Nation says that it’s exciting to be at “the forefront of the technology,” and that “It would be amazing in 10 years’ time to see where this goes. This is definitely a first step, and we’re proud to be a part of it.”

For decades remote first nations communities across Canada have been plagued by unequal access to sufficient healthcare because of travel constraints and issues with staff retention. These pressure points were further pressed upon with the COVID-19 pandemic as prompt sample testing became something more needed than ever before.

Dr. John Pawlovich, Rural Doctors’ UBC Chair in Rural Health describes the effort as a ” game-changer” with the ability to “transform access and delivery for citizens who live in these communities.” Dr. Pawlovich continued by saying “[this isn’t] going to happen overnight”, but “The Drone Transport Initiative is our opportunity to start that journey.”

This project marks the first of its kind with trials only having just begun amongst the communities.

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UBC study indicates more Canadians are driving high following cannabis legalization

A study from the University of British Columbia (UBC) published in the New England Journal of Medicine (via Complex) indicates that more Canadians are driving after using cannabis than before it was legalized.

Researchers analyzed blood samples from 4,339 moderately injured drivers treated at four B.C. trauma centres between 2013 and 2020. They detected THC in the blood of twice as many injured drivers following legalization. Specifically, 3.8 percent of drivers had blood THC concentrations above the Canadian legal driving limit of 2 nanograms/ml before legalization. After, that percentage rose to 8.6.

Moreover, the proportion of drivers with higher concentrations of THC (above five nanograms/ml) rose from 1.1 percent to 3.5 percent after legalization.

“It’s concerning that we’re seeing such a dramatic increase,” said Dr. Jeffrey Brubacher, associate professor in UBC’s department of emergency medicine and the primary researcher of the study. “There are serious risks associated with driving after cannabis use. Our findings suggest more is needed to deter this dangerous behaviour in light of legalization.”

Interestingly, the study found that the most significant increase was among drivers over the age of 50. Further, the study didn’t find any substantial changes in drivers testing positive for alcohol, either independently or in combination with THC.

Dr. Brubacher said that he hopes policymakers will use the findings to create public information campaigns and enforcement measures to encourage drivers, especially older ones, not to use cannabis and drive.

According to UBC, blood THC levels typically peak at upwards of 100 nanograms/ml within 15 minutes of smoking cannabis. However, those levels can drop to less than two nanograms/ml within four hours after smoking. When ingesting edible forms of THC, levels can drop similarly after eight hours.

With that in mind, Dr. Brubacher cautioned that THC in the blood doesn’t always indicate a collision was caused by impairment. In a previous study, Dr. Brubacher and his team found little evidence showing THC concentrations below five nanograms/ml increase the risk of motor vehicle accidents, while levels above that do increase the risk.

“Detecting cannabis, especially at low concentrations, doesn’t necessarily mean a driver is impaired. But the risk is real with higher THC levels, which is why it’s so important that we continue to assess and respond to the impact that legalization is having on road safety,” Dr. Brubacher said.

Next, Dr. Brubacher’s team will expand research to fifteen trauma centres across Canada to investigate the prevalence of cannabis, alcohol and other impairing substances in injured drivers. The team hopes to shed more light on the issues of impaired driving and help guide national and provincial traffic policy.

Those interested can read the full study here.

Source: New England Journal of Medicine Via: UBC, Complex

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5G network at the heart of Rogers’ and UBC’s new environmental changes partnership

Rogers and the University of British Columbia (UBC) have teamed up to develop lifesaving projects powered by 5G technology.

Part of the focus of the partnership is directed towards wildfire management. The project will involve monitoring forest conditions in real-time through the use of a 5G network.

This would be vital for a province prone to wildfires and other climate-related disasters. According to the Government of British Columbia, 1,610 wildfires burned 868, 203 hectares of land this year alone. 35 percent of these were caused by nature and 60 percent by humans.

“The 2021 wildfire season in B.C. was the third-worst on record in terms of area burned,” said Dr. Mathieu Bourbonnais from UBC’s department of earth, environmental and geographic sciences, in a press release.

A second project is focused on teleoperations. It will offer telemedicine to residents in remote communities using a system combining mixed reality, haptic technology, control theory and 5G.

Monitoring emergencies and disasters is another area of interest. The goal will be to create a medical platform powered by 5G slicing to address larger situations in a timely manner.

“5G is a critical part of Canada’s future and the ecosystem around leveraging its full potential is as important as building out the network behind it,” said Joe Natale, president and CEO of Rogers, in a statement.

This is the next step in an ongoing relationship between the two organizations. They first came together in 2018 with plans to build a 5G hub in Vancouver’s UBC campus.

MobileSyrup reached out to Rogers for more information regarding the project’s future availability once it’s completed.