Development and clinical implementation of an omics assay for the diagnosis and treatment of Helicobacter pylori infections

Funding period: 2023–2025
Lead: Sara Christianson
Total GRDI funding: $918,800

An estimated one third of Canadians are colonized or infected with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), and 10% of those will be symptomatic. H. pylori is the main cause of peptic ulcer disease, which is a major risk factor for gastric cancer—the third leading cause of cancer deaths in Canada. H. pylori is the only bacterium designated a Class I carcinogen by the World Health Organization.

This project aims to develop a culture-independent genomics-based solution to detect and predict antimicrobial resistance for H. pylori with an emphasis on stool, a less-invasive approach than the standard endoscopic biopsy.

We propose to develop an end-to-end wet lab and bioinformatics workflow for H. pylori detection from stool or biopsy, including the prediction of antimicrobial resistance based on genetic markers. Data from the project will fuel a national surveillance system for H. pylori, allowing the scientific community to gain a better understanding of the diversity of H. pylori in Canada.