Lauralyn McIntyre

Dr. Lauralyn McIntyre's program of research is focused on fluid resuscitation strategies in the critically ill (FLUID) as well as a program to study human stem cells in septic shock (CISS). She has conducted observational studies, surveys, meta-analyses and clinical trials that examine fluid resuscitation in the septic shock setting, as well as the use of red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma and transfusion alternatives in the critically ill.

Dr. McIntyre continues to develop a clinical program of research focused on fluid resuscitation strategies in the critically ill (FLUID) as well as a program to study human stem cells in septic shock (CISS).

All of her work is supported locally by the University of the Ottawa, Centre for Transfusion Research and the Methods Centre at the Ottawa Hospital, and nationally by the CCCTG and the Translational Biology Group (CCCTBG). 

The studies part of the FLUID research program include 2 Canadian surveys in 2004, the other 2014 of adult critical care practitioners’ reported early septic shock resuscitation practises, a Canadian multi-centre retrospective cohort study that examined fluid resuscitation strategies in severe sepsis and septic shock, two pilot feasibility fluid resuscitation randomized controlled trials (FINESS and PRECISE), and most recently a CIHR funded pragmatic comparative effectiveness hospital wide cluster cross over pilot randomized trial comparing 2 usual care crystalloid fluids, normal saline to Ringer’s lactate. Since demonstrating feasibility in the FLUID pilot, our team applied for and were successful at obtaining funding from the CIHR Project Scheme competition for the large FLUID trial that will be powered to examine patient and clinically relevant outcomes (death/re-admissions to hospital). 

Her most recent program of research examines human stem cells (mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs)) for the treatment of septic shock (CISS). I have built a team of scientists with expertise in stem cell translational research and manufacturing, translational sepsis, clinical trialists, methodologists, and trainees. I have completed and published 3 systematic reviews that served as background for this program, one of which was funded by CIHR in the Knowledge Synthesis competition. These include a systematic review of MSCs in pre-clinical sepsis and acute lung injury (ALI), and an examination of the safety of these cells in human clinical trials. I am the lead on a CIHR funded Phase I dose escalating trial designed to examine safety, tolerability, and potential biological mechanisms for MSCs in septic shock that our team has recently completed and is now published in the Am J Respir Crit Care Med. I am the principal investigator on a grant that our team was awarded from the Ontario Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the Stem Cell Network and CIHR for a Phase II multi-centre randomized controlled trial of MSCs in septic shock.