Since 1996, the QEII Foundation has raised more then $120 million for the QEII Health Sciences Centre. Here are a few of our past projects:
Bone Conduction Technology
Special Equipment for Skin Cancer Treatment
The QEII Foundation heard the call to action and responded with a grant of $306,000 for the Ear and Auditory Implants Research Program at the QEII Health Sciences Centre. Under the guidance of Dr. Manohar Bance, the funding will enable renovations to create appropriate work space to use the latest technology to build a new class of hearing devices. These new devices will apply bone conduction - stimulation of the inner ear through skull vibrations – and rehabilitate people who have disease of the middle ear and cannot wear typical hearing aids due to infection concerns.
Middle ear disease is prevalent in Nova Scotia and the Maritimes. In fact, hearing disorders are quite common chronic conditions and are epidemic with aging. This unique interdisciplinary research on bone conduction will see a large number of health researchers, from many backgrounds, come together to develop a non-surgical solution with a more “natural” sound for patients.
Dr. Bance says, “We have a wonderful team in place of surgeons, audiologists, engineers and basic scientists who have combined skills that are rare to find together anywhere in the world. This is a great opportunity for Capital Health, and the Maritimes, to be involved in a world class effort to develop new hearing technologies.”
The ability to hear represents more than just listening to sounds – it forms the basis of language and educational development. “Hearing is about communication. It greatly affects every aspect of a person’s life, and even more often, those who interact with the person suffering from hearing loss,” Dr. Bance highlights.
Dr. Bance is already well known for his gift of hearing restoration to many Atlantic Canadians. “Success in this endeavor will mean that a whole group of patients will find a hearing solution, and one that is not currently available.” His anticipated success with bone conduction technology will continue to give patients the chance to once again, enjoy life to the fullest, communicate and remain independent members of society.
The QEII Foundation is helping patients beat skin cancer with the funding for an Orthovoltage X-ray Unit at the cost of $450,000. This Unit is used to treat most skin cancers and will help the approximate 100 patients that require this treatment at the QEII Health Sciences Centre each year.
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Nova Scotia. Fortunately, nearly all patients can be cured by an operation. The cosmetic result of the treatment is an important consideration when the cancer involves certain parts of the face. Treatment with radiation is, in these circumstances, often the best way to get rid of the disease with a positive cosmetic result and the Orthovoltage Unit is the best machine for the job.
Speaking on behalf of the Radiation Services Team and their patients, Dr. Tetteh Ago, Head of the Department of Radiation Oncology, said “We are grateful to the QEII Foundation for making it possible for us to replace our long-serving unit with the modern Orthovoltage Unit. Our patients will be well-served.”
In support to radiation oncology treatment, the previous unit in use at the QEII was 26 years old and finding a vendor to supply parts and to service the machine had become a major challenge. For example, if a main component like the x-ray tube were to break, the machine would cease to function. As an extremely valuable piece of equipment in the treatment of skin cancers, the breakdown of the Orthovoltage X-Ray Unit would effectively put a large patient load on the waiting list for treatment, thus increasing wait times even further.
top