Dr. Irene Mussio is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Economics in the McMaster Decision Science Lab (https://mceel.mcmaster.ca/) under the supervision of Dr. Jeremiah Hurley. During this interview, Irene spoke to us about her ongoing research and involvement with the MIRA Trainee Network.
Q: What brought you to be part of the MIRA trainee network?
I am a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Economics. My field of work is health economics, focused on studying behavior and risky decisions by using experimental methods. I am currently working on different approaches to study influenza, asthma, diabetes and stress from a behavioral and neuroeconomics point of view. Many of these comorbidities have a direct impact on seniors’ quality of life, morbidity, and mortality, and I bring a social sciences perspective to the MIRA trainee network.
Q: Tell us about the research project you are currently working on.
I am currently working on a field experiment that examines the impact of an
A flu drive set up at The University of Massachusetts family housing, which houses international graduate students and their families (parents, children and grandparents).
information intervention on seasonal influenza vaccinations in small networks of seniors (In Hamilton, ON). I am building on prior experimental methods which Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee, the 2019 winners of the Economics Nobel Prize have developed to understand how trusted persons in a network can transmit relevant information. The information which I will provide directly tackles misinformation about the flu and the flu vaccine, with the goal of influencing individual decisions to get vaccinated. Extensions of this line of research I am currently working on include interventions to understand parental decisions on vaccinating their children.
Q: How does it relate to the aging population?
Seniors are one of the populations at the highest risk of contracting the flu as well, the highest risk of death and hospitalizations from flu-related complications. The flu is preventable by getting the vaccine every year and increasing flu vaccinations in seniors is essential to build community immunity and to keep seniors healthy, especially those with chronic illnesses or weaker immune systems.
Q: What is the ultimate goal/purpose of this research?
This project on flu vaccinations among seniors has three broad objectives:
1. Understanding how misinformation impacts individual decisions.
2. Examining how information travels through face-to-face social networks (as opposed to social media)
3. Analyzing how targeted health-based interventions can be used to design public policies aimed at improving the health of individuals and the community.
Q: Can this research/knowledge be applied to have a real-world impact?
I hope so! My flu vaccination interventions usually tackle beliefs about the flu as well as misinformation (such as “the flu vaccine gives me the flu”, “I don’t need it because I never got the flu”). The results of my research can be directly applied to the design of public policy programs to increase vaccination rates and tackle vaccine hesitancy.
Contact Irene mussioi@mcmaster.ca for more information on her exciting research!
In this following MIRA Highlight of the Month, Sydney Valentino interviews Mitra Shokrollahi, who is in the second year of her program Master’s with the supervision of Dr. Jan Huizinga, and defending soon in June!
Q: Tell me about the research project you are currently working on.
A: I have been working on gut serotonin signalling involved in colon healthy function using the rabbit animal model. Serotonin is usually known as a chemical produced by the nerve cells. However, more than 90% of the body’s serotonin is produced in the wall of the digestive tract. Serotonin plays an important role in the regulation of motility and secretory function of the intestine and is produced by a group of specialized cells in the wall of the colon. The focus of my research has been on pharmacological stimulation of a sub-class of serotonin receptors located in the wall of the colon with the aim of regulating colonic function from within. This could help in improved management of disorders such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and chronic constipation. This research is translational and we also use High-Resolution Colonic Manometry (HRCM) in humans to test if the results achieved in our animal studies are seen in humans as well.
This shows Mitra’s hard work, a whole isolated proximal rabbit colon in the organ bath ready for testing.
Q: How many people actually take this drug and what is the prevalence of poor side effects?
A: First let’s start by explaining, this “class” of drugs called serotonin type 4 (HT-4) receptor agonists interact with serotonin type 4 receptors in the intestine, to increase intestinal movement, and further up the line, to increase stomach emptying. There is a number of these drugs with various effects and potency. They are prescribed to individuals with hypomotility disorders including but not limited to chronic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome constipation dominant (IBS-C). The prevalence of chronic constipation has been reported to be between 2-27% of the populations and IBS affects more than 11% of the global population. Therefore, a great number of people are affected. A previous study has reported the number of serious adverse events associated with different prokinetic drugs some of which are currently still prescribed by many doctors. Based on this report, Metoclopramide, for instance, has caused 17356 adverse events, of which 6.5% resulted in death as of 2018.
Q: Can you tell us about your research and how it relates to the aging population?
A: As we age, not only our skeletal muscles gradually lose function but also our smooth muscles which are present in the walls of hollow organs like the urinary bladder, arteries, veins, stomach and intestines. This gradual loss of function of the smooth muscles reduces the healthy movements of the large intestine and can result in various colonic disorders such as chronic constipation. In severe cases, colostomy could be recommended which is a surgical procedure to create an opening from the colon to the outside of the body to divert waste from the digestive system. It is not a pleasant experience as you would need to live with a colostomy bag.
In less severe cases, common medications currently prescribed are oral prokinetic drugs that are effective in managing the symptoms. However, despite their effectiveness, these drugs have long been associated with adverse cardiovascular and renal side effects, cardiac arrest and death. Some oral prokinetics have already been removed from the market because of these unexpected side-effects.
The elderly are a high-risk group who manifest the highest incidents of age-related gastrointestinal disorders while at the same time having cardio-vascular and renal conditions. Moreover, the metabolism of many drugs by the liver is also impaired in the elderly. Therefore, the use of current oral prokinetics for the aging population is riskier than other age groups.
Most oral drugs are absorbed in the upper gastrointestinal tract, go through metabolism in the liver (hepatic drug metabolism) and are “systemically” absorbed via the circulatory system. So, the entire body is affected not specifically only the organ we intend to treat. This is problematic because the drug circulates throughout the body, reaching all other organs where it is not needed and hence, it may cause unwanted effects. Results from this study support the notion of using the gut wall serotonin signalling to regulate the function of the colon instead of the systemic drug administration.
Q: How can this research be applied to have a real-world impact?
A: The most important clinical implication of this research is that instead of the conventional methods currently used for administrating such prokinetic drugs, we can develop nano-particles or other systems to deliver them directly to the patient’s colon without the drug is first absorbed in the stomach.
This will significantly minimize the risks of adverse side-effects associated with these drugs which are very meaningful especially for the aging population. Besides, previous studies have shown that this method is not only safer but could also be more effective.
This figure is a 3D map of the activity of the rabbit colon after intraluminal drug administration. It shows typical propulsive motor patterns called the colonic motor complex which was evoked by the luminal drug.
Q: What is the ultimate goal of this research?
A: The ultimate goal of this research was to show that activation of a type of serotonin receptors in the gut-wall from within does, in fact, enhance the colonic function. We have recently published the results of our animal model studies (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nmo.13598) where we show this to be true and our human studies are in progress. Therefore, it is possible to use this signalling pathway to our advantage and develop colon-specific drug delivery systems.
Thank you to Mitra, for helping me highlight this awesome research, that dives deep into the intestinal system to understand the ways new medicinal treatment, typically for our aging populations, may be administered. In September 2019, she will be the University of Toronto for her PhD studying the impact of genome spatial organization and the environment on genome expression and stability.
If you have an interest in Mitra’s current work,or future work involving the genome, feel free to contact her at shokorlm@mcmaster.ca
Kara Aaserud, a communications professional for more than 15 years, and now the Communications Coordinator for MIRA, delivered a talk on her work entitled:
“Using Social Media for Knowledge Translation and Branding in research and science”
Key take-home message from Kara: “It’s not about you at all. It’s about delivering value to others”
Kara gave us some awesome “questions to consider” that I’d like you to think about…
Do you use social media? What social media do you use?
Have you ever wondered why certain individuals in your field rise out of nowhere to national prominence?
Have you ever wondered how some researchers gain traction in the media (both traditional and digital) after publishing a paper?
Well, now that you’re thinking… what is personal branding?
Visibility – although this is NOT the most important part…
Demonstrate value – emphasis on “what information can I offer for my followers?”, not “what does posting this do for me?”
Making influential connections – for example: interest from industry partners, influential researchers in the same area of research, interdisciplinary collaborations, etc.
Modes of personal branding platforms? Researchgate, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, Reddit. Any or all? Anything else? It depends on your personal brand.
As part of the MIRA Trainee Network, what hashtags should you use for cataloguing?
Please feel free to contact Kara Aaserud (aaserudk@mcmaster.ca) if you have any questions about MIRA and using social media to market your work and brand.
MIRA Trainee Network Meeting with Dr. Irene Mussio
Irene Mussio (PhD), a postdoctoral fellow, works for the McMaster Decision Science Laboratory in the Department of Economics, delivered a research talk on:
Tackling misinformation regarding flu and flu vaccinations using social networks
Following are the summarized the take-home points of Irene’s talk…
Seniors represent the most cases of death and hospitalization due to flu as well as the highest cost group for healthcare burden from flu.
Irene tackles the problem of how misinformation and beliefs about the flu can be modified, using a low-cost strategy.
The purpose of her research is to examine the impact of small scale interactions between peers on information about the flu and flu vaccination.
By taking advantage of the high interaction amongst this group (which puts seniors at a higher risk for flu), she will study how information diffuses through social networks by first identifying and planting information with key individuals of each network.
Irene is piloting her fieldwork in Uruguay before the flu season starts in the Northern hemisphere, where misconceptions about flu vaccinations are much more prominent.
Above is a photo of some of the original front end work of Irene’s “flu drive” conducted in Amherst, Massachusetts.
Please feel free to contact Irene Mussio (mussioi@mcmaster.ca) if you have any questions or would like to discuss future work.
Giulia Coletta (BSc.), a summer undergraduate student funded by MIRA, completed a summer project under the supervision of Dr. Janet Pritchard, Department of Kinesiology, delivered a research talk on:
“Prevalence of sarcopenia among active older adults and older adults undergoing joint replacement surgery”
Following, Giulia summarized the take-home points of her talk…
Sarcopenia is the loss of muscle as adults age. It is common in Canadian adults, as approximately 25% of older adults are sarcopenic. Sarcopenia increases the risk of loss of independence, falls, fractures and mortality. One major risk of developing sarcopenia is low protein consumption in the diets of older adults.
The purpose of her research was to determine: 1) how common sarcopenia is in an active older adult population and in a population of older adults going for total joint replacement surgery, and 2) if older adults are consuming the recommended amounts of protein each day and for each meal.
A total of 59 adults older than 65 years of age that were active (37 individuals) and scheduled for total joint replacement surgery of either the hip or knee (25 individuals), completed diet journals to determine their daily dietary protein intake.
They found that 14% of active older adults and 44% of participants who had a total joint replacement had low muscle mass. The majority of participants did not consume enough protein each day. Most participants consumed enough protein at dinner but lacked protein at breakfast and lunch.
Thanks, Giulia! Please feel free to contact Giulia Coletta (colettj@mcmaster.ca) if you have any questions or would like to discuss future work.
Michael Kalu is a PhD student in the Quality Optimal Living and Aging through Rehabilitation (https://srs-mcmaster.ca/qolarlab/) lab under the supervision of Dr. Vanina Dal Bello-Haas. During this interview, Michael spoke to us about his ongoing research and involvement with the MIRA Trainee Network.
Q: What brought you to be part of the MIRA trainee Network?
A: I was the first PhD recipient of the Labarge Graduate Mobility Scholarship. I was invited to be part of this network after receiving the award.
Q: Tell us about the research project you are currently working on.
A: I am currently working on the project entitled: Using a transdisciplinary approach to co-develop and test a mobility enhancement comprehensive care model for older adults transitioning from hospital-to-home in the community. This project has four phases. First, we will search the literature and describe questions clinicians can ask in connection with each factor. Second, we will present the questions clinicians can ask in connection to each factor to 15 healthcare workers, 10 older adults and their relatives, and 5 experts around the world. We will ask their views on the questions clinicians can ask in connection to each factor. Third, we will invite 10 healthcare workers, 3 older adults and their relatives, and 2 practice managers in Hamilton to a two-day meeting. We will ask them to combine all the items chosen in Phase 2 into a “Mobility Enhancement Comprehensive Care Model” on the first day, and on the second day, they will discuss how to use this model in their clinical practice. In the final phase, we will ask the same 10 healthcare workers who attended the two-day meeting to use and evaluate the model in their practice. We will interview these 10 healthcare workers and check the hospital case notes of 20 older adults to learn about the experiences in using the new model. Based on the experiences, we will make changes to improve the model
Q: How does this proposed project relate to the aging population?
A: According to the World Health Organization (2016), about 250 million older adults aged 65 years and above have at least one form of disability. Of this group, two-thirds have difficulty in moving independently, with the use of assistive device or using transportation. In addition, about 30% to 60% of this group experience mobility difficulties as they move from hospital-to-home. Also, mobility has recently been identified as a functional “sixth vital sign”, hence its importance in the aging population.
Q: What do you feel is the ultimate goal of your research?
A: The overarching objective of this research is to co-design and preliminarily test a Mobility Enhancement Comprehensive Care Model (ME-CCM) for older adults transitioning from hospital-to-home in the community.
Q How can the results of this comprehensive care model be applied to have a real-world impact?
A: This research is inherently pragmatic and is directly applied in the real-world. This is true because we will be co-producing the model with stakeholders including older adults, their relatives, and healthcare professionals. The co-production approach changes the role of researchers from “fixers” of the problem to facilitators who find solutions by working with the service-users ( e.g older adults, their relatives and healthcare professionals)
Contact Michael kalum@mcmaster.ca for more information on his exciting research!
McMaster trainees, faculty and other members of the aging research community are invited to join the McMaster Institute for Research on Aging Trainee Network for an afternoon of “Three Minute Thesis” style presentations from trainees in aging research from across the University.
Location: The Phoenix Date: April 2, 2019 Time: 2 – 3:30 pm Presentations; 3:30 – 5 pm Cocktail reception
All
McMaster graduate students and postdoctoral fellows are invited to present
their aging-related research in a just three minutes using a single slide.
Never seen a three minute thesis before? Check out this example from previous competition winner Sharon Savage.
This event is not a competition, but an opportunity to
share your work with the diverse aging research community at McMaster.
Students, faculty members and other members of the McMaster community are
welcome to attend. Please share this invitation with trainees, researchers and
colleagues who may wish to present their research or attend the event.
This is a free event, but registration is required by March 26th.
Please direct questions to Audrey Patocs (patocsae@mcmaster.ca) x 22877
Presenters will be provided with additional information prior to the event, and must send their slide to Sara Oikawa (miratrainee@gmail.com) by March 29th at 4pm. Please direct questions to Audrey Patocs (patocsae@mcmaster.ca).
Tara Kajaks, a post-doctoral fellow in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences at McMaster University (supervised by Dr. Brenda Vrkljan), delivered a talk on her work entitled:
“A ride along the wave of technology: My research experiences past and present”
Following, Tara summarized the take home points of her talk…
In this talk, Tara shared her research journey from her undergrad independent study and Master’s research at Queen’s University, to her PhD experiences at McMaster University, followed by her Post Doctoral Fellowships at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute and McMaster University.
Tara’s research began in clinical biomechanics related to knee osteoarthritis and evolved as a result of her interests in ergonomics and musculoskeletal injury prevention.
Her PhD experiences left her with a rich set of technical skills related largely to innovative technologies for work-related injury prevention of both automotive manufacturers and firefighters.
During her post-doctoral fellowship at Toronto Rehab, Tara applied her expertise to a new set of applied challenges centred largely around the needs of older adults including homecare and driving safety.
Her homecare and driving-related research continues at McMaster, under the supervision of Dr. Brenda Vrkljan, and is supported by both MIRA and the AGE-WELL NCE.
Thanks Tara! Please feel free to contact Tara (kajakst@mcmaster.ca) if you have any questions about her research or would like to discuss future work.
Mina Sadeghi, an undergraduate student in the Honours Biology & Pharmacology program at McMaster University, was a MIRA undergraduate summer research fellow (supervised by Dr. Dawn Bowdish). Mina delivered a talk on the work she completed over the summer entitled:
“The use of airway bacterial isolates to inhibit the growth of respiratory pathogens”
Following, Mina summarized the take home points of her talk…
The aging lungs are known to be highly susceptible to airborne pathogens because they are in a constant state of inflammation, a concept called inflamm-aging.
Antibiotics are commonly used to treat these life-threatening bacterial infections for the aging population, but antibiotic resistance is a huge threat to our communities and we need alternative treatments to combat infections.
Commensal (or “good” bacteria) have been studied in depth in the gut, which is a huge host to bacterial cells in our bodies, but recent evidence has shown that the lungs are another important home for bacteria, and the homeostasis of this community is important to prevent disease development and progression.
Mina’s work was seeking to understand if airway bacterial isolates from healthy people can be used to block the growth of respiratory pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Models of the lungs are quite complex and in high demand, and the Bowdish lab has been experimenting with the use of a lung slice model to try and capture all the diverse cell types and factors within the lungs.
Thanks Mina! Please feel free to contact Mina (sadegm@mcmaster.ca) if you have any questions about her research or would like to discuss future work.
Jem Cheng, a PhD student in the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster University (supervised by Dr. Maureen MacDonald), delivered a talk on her work entitled:
“Acute vascular responses to heat stress in younger and older adults: a proposal”
Following, Jem summarized the take home points of her talk…
Heat stress has been widely adopted in many practical and therapeutic settings in order to improve general sense of well-being; however, recently, researchers have discovered that it is also beneficial for cardiovascular health.
As an emerging area of research, much about the mechanisms by which heat stress improves vascular function is unknown.
Older individuals, who have some existing arterial dysfunction as a result of the natural aging process, may have the most to gain from heating interventions; but currently, there is limited research to support this idea.
Jem’s study will recruit both younger and older individuals. Jem will measure changes to arterial stiffness, endothelial function, microvascular function, inflammation, and more in response to 2 conditions: (1) 45 minutes of lower limb hot water immersion or (2) quiet sitting.
Jem hopes to uncover the time course of change in vascular function, and the cellular changes accompanying functional changes of cardiovascular health with heating in both younger and older adults.
Thanks Jem! Please feel free to contact Jem (chengjl2@mcmaster.ca) if you have any questions about her research or would like to discuss future work.
a Shokrollahi, who is in the second year of her program Master’s with the supervision of Dr. Jan Huizinga, and defending soon in June! 
Michael Kalu is a PhD student in the 
MIRA Trainee Network 