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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, July 9, 2015 | 18 Researcher is making strides in fighting leukemia by Abigail Cukier Special to the Beaver Avocados are having a moment. Touted for their nutritional benefits and rich, creamy taste, they are popping up in trendy restaurants and fast food chains everywhere. But a local medical researcher has found another reason to love the popular fruit. Dr. Paul Spagnuolo, an Oakville resident and professor at University of Waterloo, has discovered a lipid in avocados that combats acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by targeting the root of the disease ­ leukemia stem cells. Worldwide, there are few drug treatments available to patients that target leukemia stem cells. AML is a devastating disease and proves fatal within five years for 90 per cent of seniors over age 65. Spagnuolo's new avocado-derived drug could one day significantly increase life expectancy and quality of life for AML patients. "We've performed many rounds of testing to determine how this new drug works at a Conventional oil Change Up to 5l With spin-on Filter inCl. Free 3pt inspeCtion $ $ TIRE & AUTO CENTRE, OAKVILLE 670 Fourth Line, Unit 20 Oakville NEW MILLENIUM 905-845-0770 24.99 49.99 synthetiC oil Change Up to 5l With spin-on Filter inCl. Free 3pt inspeCtion reCeive www.nmtoakville.ca (1-time oFFer only) oFF laboUr Family owned and operated. We're committed to providing you with the highest level of service, so you'll always choose us for your maintenance and repair needs. 20% Dr. Paul Spagnuolo | photo courtesy Light Imaging/University of Waterloo First time CUstomer? molecular level and confirmed that it targets stem cells selectively, leaving healthy cells unharmed," said Spagnuolo. Spagnuolo's research was recently published in Cancer Research, one of the top oncology journals. He has also filed a patent application for the use of the compound, named avocatin B, to treat AML. This is possible through partnership with the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine, a not-for-profit, public-private consortium that supports the development of technologies that accelerate the commercialization of stem cell- and biomaterials-based technologies and therapies. The drug is still years away from becoming approved for use in oncology clinics, but Spagnuolo is performing experiments to prepare the drug for a Phase I clinical trial. This would be the first time people diagnosed with AML could have access to the drug. Spagnuolo, who grew up in Milton and graduated from Bishop Reding Catholic Secondary School, felt science was the only path for him. "I didn't excel in languages or business or the arts. Science was the only thing I understood," he says. After completing his undergraduate degree and a Master's degree in food sciences at University of Guelph, Spagnuolo earned a PhD in health studies and gerontolgy at University of Waterloo. He did his post-doctorate work at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. While there, he learned the drug discovery process, see Spagnuolo on p.19 halton.ca 311 NOTICE OF CONSTRUCTION Wastewater Main Replacement on Tansley Drive, 1500 Tansley Drive, Third Line and Jennings Crescent, Town of Oakville YO VE LAN DA DR TANSLEY DR The experts are more affordable than you think. THIRD LI R SUNSET AD NE UR DR SHERIN DRIVE NT DR 1500 TANSLEY REBECCA ST JENNIN CRES GS JONES ST WILLOWDOWN RD Your LocaL HIXON ST DeaLer *Limited time offer receive up to $650 in incentives when you participate in the saveonenergy heatinG & cooLinG incentive* Contract Number: Scheduled Start Date: Scheduled Completion Date: Project Manager: S-2983-15 June 2015 October 2015 Martin Larkin 905-825-6000 x 7614 Martin.Larkin@halton.ca 090715 We Service All Makes of central air conditioners and gas furnaces Please contact us as soon as possible if you have any accessibility needs at Halton Region events or meetings. www.applebysystems.ca