In 2012, local philanthropist and retired businessman Donald Kaye made a transformational $30-million donation to the University Hospital Foundation to fund research, innovation, and quality improvement. The impact of his generous gift has continued since his passing in 2022, and it will endure for years to come through the work of the researchers and innovators supported by his donation.

The annual Kaye Competition, named in his honour and funded by his gift, offers critical funding each year to inspiring researchers seeking solutions to some of the most challenging, destructive and recognized health issues of our time – such as hypertension, cancer, and diabetes – a condition that Kaye himself was familiar with.

The competition is a partnership between the University Hospital Foundation and the University of Alberta Hospital (inclusive of the Kaye Edmonton Clinic and the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute) and each year, local researchers and clinical teams are invited to submit their research or quality improvement projects for consideration.

Since its inception in 2017, the Kaye Competition has awarded over $6 million to 41 research and clinical teams that are using innovative approaches, new partnerships, and bold ideas to bring the right people, resources, and solutions together to advance patient care.

Learn more about the 2023 Kaye Competition awardees and the programs they’re leading.

Dr. Adil Adatia

Sometimes, the treatment for one condition creates unintended consequences in the body. That’s the case with new, highly effective treatments for blood cancers. They’re very potent at destroying the cancerous cells, but unfortunately, they kill healthy cells, too. To help boost the immune system after the cancer treatment is complete, patients need infusions of antibodies from blood donors. There are two ways to deliver these antibodies – an IV in the clinic or an injection at home – each with its positives and drawbacks. Through this research, allergist Dr. Adatia wants to understand which treatment type is best for which patient.     

Learn more about Dr. Adatia’s project.

Dr. Alison Clifford

As a rheumatologist working in the Kaye Clinic, Dr. Clifford sees many patients with vasculitis, a group of disorders that causes inflammation of blood vessels, including giant cell arteritis (GCA). GCA is the most common type of vasculitis in North America, and if left untreated, it can cause serious complications like a stroke or blindness. Starting treatment quickly is key to preventing long-term damage, but diagnosing it can be tricky. Dr. Clifford’s project will help change that.

Learn more about Dr. Clifford’s project.

Dr. Kieran Ganton

Patients who undergo cardiac operations are the ones who most often need blood transfusions during surgery. While receiving blood from donors is an option, it comes with the risk of complications. To minimize that risk, surgical teams can opt for autologous blood donation, where blood is taken from the patient at the start of surgery and returned to their circulation following its completion or sooner if necessary. However, there are different ways the blood can be stored and anesthesia and pain management resident Dr. Ganton is determined to find the best one.

Learn more about Dr. Ganton’s project.

Dr. Kieran Halloran

A lung transplant is intended to help patients living with lung disease breathe easier and live longer. The goal is to replace the diseased lungs with a set of normal lungs to lead to normal lung function, life expectancy, and quality of life. But sometimes that doesn’t happen – some patients experience abnormally low lung function after their transplant, and lung transplant physician Dr. Halloran is trying to understand why. Because understanding why can help provide answers to patients, potential diagnostic tools to help select the right donor lungs for the right patient, and even interventions that could help to improve low lung function.

Learn more about Dr. Halloran’s project.

Dr. Andrea Haqq

Over the last few years, the use and awareness of semaglutides like Ozempic have increased dramatically. It’s well known how they help people lose weight and treat type 2 diabetes, but pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Haqq wants to understand their impact on people’s energy expenditure. Typically, when someone loses weight, their energy expenditure goes down, making it harder to maintain the weight loss. But is that the case with semaglutides? Dr. Haqq wants to find out so she can provide more tailored treatment to her patients.  

Learn more about Dr. Haqq’s project.

Dr. Grace Lam

The COVID-19 pandemic presented many challenges for delivering and receiving medical care around the world, and the full extent of its effect may never be known. However, pulmonologist Dr. Lam wants to understand its impact on the general health of her patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). While the effect of COVID-19 infections on lung disease patients has been explored, there’s more to learn about the pandemic’s impact on their overall health and outcomes, as well as access to health care even if they were never infected.

Learn more about Dr. Lam’s project.

Dr. Mohammed Osman 

In 2019 Dr. Osman started a clinic to provide specialized care to those living with systemic sclerosis, an autoimmune disorder that causes atypical growth of connective tissues which leads to the hardening of skin and internal organs. Through the clinic, Dr. Osman has found that about half of his patients suffer from a severe form of chronic fatigue, which significantly impacts their quality of life. He aims to better understand why that’s happening, and develop blood tests to better diagnose these patients so that better treatments can be offered to improve their well-being. 

Learn more about Dr. Osman’s project.  

Read more about the Kaye Competition.