Researchers
Shawn Aaron

Shawn Aaron

MD, FRCPC

Senior Scientist, Inflammation and Chronic Disease

Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Professor, Division of Respirology

University of Ottawa

Contact

saaron@ohri.ca

613-737-8899 ext. 74729

501 Smyth Road Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6 Canada

ORCID 0000-0002-4762-3542

Bio

Dr. Shawn Aaron is a Professor at The University of Ottawa and a Senior Scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. Dr. Aaron received his M.D.C.M. from McGill University, then trained in internal medicine, respiratory medicine, and critical care medicine at The University of Toronto. He joined the Department of Medicine in Ottawa in 1996 and obtained his MSc degree in epidemiology from the University of Ottawa in 1999. 
 

Research Goals and Interests

Dr. Aaron is a respirologist with special research and clinical interests in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and cystic fibrosis (CF). Dr. Aaron's research has been focused on investigating acute pulmonary exacerbations of these diseases, with a specific interest in the critical assessment of interventions designed to prevent exacerbations and improve the diagnosis and treatment of exacerbations of COPD and CF. His other major interest is health services research related to the correct diagnosis and treatment of obstructive lung diseases in Canadian communities.

 

Current Activities:
Dr. Aaron's team is currently conducting trans-Canadian studies examining under-diagnosis of asthma and COPD in Canadian communities.  The study is using case-finding techniques to discover individuals with undiagnosed airflow obstruction in Canadian communities and we are implementing treatment strategies to address the burden of undiagnosed obstructive lung disease.


Previous Accomplishments:
Dr. Aaron has established and directed trans-national networks of investigators that have produced innovative clinical and health-services research studies in chronic lung disease. His research has had a significant impact on health policy decisions and has helped direct evidence-based clinical care.   

  • A multicenter trial established that outpatient treatment with prednisone prevents relapse of acute exacerbations of COPD (Aaron, NEJM 2003).  This treatment recommendation was incorporated into Canadian and international (GOLD) COPD guidelines.
  • A multicenter trial established that treatment with triple inhaled therapy improves outcomes in COPD patients (Aaron, Annals Int Med 2007). This treatment recommendation was incorporated into Canadian and international (GOLD) COPD guidelines. 
  • A Canadian/Australian trial proved that combination antibiotic susceptibility testing did not improve outcomes in CF exacerbations (Aaron, Lancet 2005). Funding for clinical synergy laboratories was withdrawn by the US and UK CF Foundations following study publication. 
  • A multicenter cohort study demonstrated that Canadian CF patients are infected with the Liverpool Epidemic Strain of P. aeruginosa, and that infection with this strain is associated with greater risk of death or lung transplant (Aaron, JAMA 2010). This study resulted in new infection control guidelines in the US and Canada with prohibition of attendance of CF patients at events. 
  • A multicenter Canadian study on over-diagnosis of asthma (Aaron, CMAJ 2008) was front page news in The Globe and Mail, National Post, and on both national nightly newscasts.  This study helped to establish guidelines for proper diagnosis of asthma in communities. 
  • A multicenter Canadian study established that adult asthma can commonly go into remission, and that many Canadian asthma patients no longer have active asthma and may be over-treated in the community (Aaron et al, JAMA 2017).
  • A multicenter Canadian study showed that early diagnosis of asthma and COPD in the community was able to decrease subsequent healthcare utilization and improve outcomes for people with previously undiagnosed, symptomatic asthma or COPD (Aaron et al, NEJM 2024).  

    Related research exploring the microbiology of cystic fibrosis, and cystic fibrosis pulmonary exacerbations, has been published  in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, PNAS, Thorax, Journal of Clinical Microbiology, and the European Respiratory Journal. 

    Dr. Aaron is an expert on clinical trial design. In addition to his clinical research in COPD, asthma, and CF, he has co-authored papers related to methodologic issues in clinical trials, statistical methods for analysis of COPD exacerbation outcomes, use of decision aids for patients with lung disease, prevalence of obstructive lung disease in the community setting, and assessment of optimal use of lung function testing in the community and in a tertiary care setting. 
     

News

Publications

Smaller Airways or Bigger Lungs? Dysanapsis Etiotypes and Obstructive Pulmonary Physiology at Rest and During Exercise

2025-08-01 Go to publication

The Association of Body Mass Index and Adiposity-Estimating Equations with Measures of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Severity: A Cross-Sectional Study

2025-05-01 Go to publication

Use of a single case-finding questionnaire to simultaneously target multiple related diseases allows enhanced disease detection

2025-03-03 Go to publication

COPD Exacerbations, Air Pollutant Fluctuations, and Individual-Level Factors in the Pandemic Era

2025-03-01 Go to publication
View More on ORCiD

* = Principal Investigator (I am the principal investigator on all grants listed, unless otherwise noted) 
# = Co-Investigator 

2017-2024 $4,152,573* CIHR Foundation Grant (PI)
Identification and Treatment of Undiagnosed Airflow Obstruction in the Canadian Population. 

2014-2019 $934,000# CIHR (PI: Dr. K. Lavoie) 
Optimizing physician training in motivational communication (MC) skills for health behavior change 

2014-2017 $1,048,564* Ontario Ministry of Health (Co-PI with: Dr. A. Gershon) 
The Ontario COPD Population Health Network. 

2013-2018 $7,553,000* CIHR Emerging Network Grant (PI) 
The Canadian Respiratory Research Network. 

2014-2015 $100,000# CIHR (PI: Dr. K. Lavoie) 
Optimizing physician training in motivational interviewing to improve compentency, patient health behaviors, and morbidity among patients with cardiovascular and chronic lung disease 

2013-14 $100,000# CIHR (PI: Dr. B. Hutton) 
Adding clarity to uncertainty in the field of drug safety. 

2013 $30,000* CIHR 
The Canadian Respiratory Research Network: Exploring the Origin and Progression of Airway Disease. 

2013-14 $51,000* PSI (Co-PI with: Dr. N. Srour) 
lmpact of infection with transmissible strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in CF lung transplant recipients. 

2013-2014 $100,000 # CIHR (PI: Dr. V. Pepin) 
Optimization of pulmonary rehabilitation programmes: the OPTION study. 

2012-2013 $70,350* Canadian CF Foundation 
Acute effects of viral respiratory infection on chronic endobronchial P. aeruginosa infection in patients with CF. 

2011-2015 $1,954,258* CIHR 
Simvastatin therapy for moderate and severe COPD (STATCOPE). 

2011-2016 $935,738* CIHR 
Strategies to improve diagnosis and treatment of asthma in Canadians 

2011-2012 $100,000* CIHR 
STATCOPE Trial Bridge Funding 

2011-2014 $1,051,344 # CIHR (PI: Dr. J. Bourbeau) 
Canadian Cohort Obstructive Lung Disease (CANCOLD) 

2011-2015 $852,287 # CIHR (PI: Dr. I. Stiell) 
RAD Study Phase 2: Validation of the Canadian Heart Failure and COPD risk scores 

2010-2011 $15,000 # CIHR (PI: Dr. G. Alvarez) 
Smoking, tuberculosis and obstructive lung disease in Nunavut, Evaluating a Lung Health Program. 

2010-2012 $171,938* CIHR 
Dissemination and implementation of a lung transplant decision aid 

2010-2011 $100,000* CIHR 
Simvastatin for treatment of moderate and severe COPD. 

2009-2014 $1,761,560# CIHR (PI: Dr. Y. Lacasse) 
Multicenter randomized placebo controlled trial of nocturnal oxygen treatment in COPD -The CANOX trial. 

2009-2011 $427,933# CIHR (PI: Dr. J. Bourbeau) 
Canadian Cohort Obstructive Lung Disease (CANCOLD). 

2009-2013 $479,053# CIHR (PI: Dr. S. Khan) 
Prospective Evaluation of Long-Term Outcomes after Pulmonary Embolism (ELOPE) 

2008-2011 $370,675* CIHR 
TNF-alpha antagonists for acute exacerbations of COPD. 

2008-2009 $50,000* Ontario Thoracic Society Grant In Aid 
TNF-alpha antagonists for acute exacerbations of COPD. (grant refused- overlap with CIHR grant). 

2008-2009 $19,000# Ontario Regional Cancer Foundation (PI: Dr. K. Amjadi) 
Outpatient pleurodesis using sclerosants (OPUS) trial. 

2008-2009 $13,680# Ontario Thoracic Society Block Term (PI: Dr. Amjadi) 
Outpatient pleurodesis using sclerosants (OPUS) trial. 

2008 $7500* Ontario Thoracic Society Block Term Grant 
MLST to characterize two strains of P. aeruginosa infecting Canadian CF patients. 

2007-2010 $220,800* Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 
Treatment of aspergillus fumigatus in patients with cystic fibrosis. 

2007-2009 $122,000* Physician’s Services Foundation 
Treatment of aspergillus fumigatus in patients with cystic fibrosis. 

2007-2010 $350,853# CIHR (Principal Investigator- Dr. Ian Stiell) 
A study to develop clinical decision rules for the hospital admission of patients with acute dyspnea. 

2006-2007 $59,511* (Aus) Australian CF Research Trust 
Development of a decision aid for adult cystic fibrosis patients considering bilateral lung transplantation. 

2005-2009 $270,000* CIHR 
Detection of an epidemic strain of P aeruginosa in adult Canadian CF clinics- epidemiology and clinical implications. 

2005-2007 $446,000 CIHR 
Asthma in Obese Subjects- diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. 

2005-2007 US$197,670 Roche Pharma Inc. 
Multi analyte profiling in the characterization of the inflammatory profile in blood and induced sputum in patients with exacerbations of COPD. 

2005-2007 US$208,000 Roche Pharma Inc. 
Pilot study to investigate the utility of multi analyte profiling in the characterization of the inflammatory profile in blood and induced sputum in patients with stable COPD. 

2005-2006 $50,000* Ontario Thoracic Society 
Optimal therapy of COPD to prevent exacerbations and improve quality of life. 

2005-2006 $75,000# CIHR New Frontiers Development Fund (Principal Investigator- Dr. Mark Fitzgerald). 
Development of a Canadian Respiratory Clinical Trials Network. 

2005-2007 $150,562# PSI (Principal Investigator- Dr. William Hodge) 
Comparison of antibiotic-only and antibiotic-steroid combination treatment in corneal ulcer patients: A double-blinded, randomized clinical trial. 

2005-2007 $92,000* PSI 
Development of a decision aid for adult cystic fibrosis patients considering bilateral lung transplantation. 

2005-2008 $284,733* Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 
Detection of an epidemic strain of P aeruginosa in adult Canadian CF clinics- epidemiology and clinical implications. 

2005-2006 $8,300* Ontario Thoracic Society 
Decision Aid for CF patients considering bilateral lung transplant. 

2005-2006 $192,861# CIHR (Principal Investigator – Dr. Brian Rowe) 
Multicenter study of anti-inflamatory treatment in asthma relapse: The AIR asthma study. 

2004 $150,000* Premier’s Research Excellence Awards 
Optimizing care for patients with COPD and Cystic Fibrosis. 

2004 $15,000* Ontario Thoracic Society 
Burkholderia cepacia complex recovered from CF patients during pulmonary exacerbations. 

2003-2004 $37,500* CIHR Rx&D- Health Research Foundation 
Special Research Allowance for CIHR New Investigators. 

2003-2008 $250,000* CIHR New Investigator Award 

2003-2006 $ 1,464,139* CIHR 
Optimal therapy of COPD to prevent exacerbations and improve quality of 
life. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. 

2003-2005 $608,651# CIHR (Principal Investigator – Dr. Brian Rowe) 
Controlled Trial of Antibiotic Options in Outpatients with Acute COPD exacerbation 
Who Present to the Emergency Department. 

2002-2003 $287,850#^ Glaxo-Smith Kline (Principal Investigator- Dr. Robert Dales) 
Using spirometry to screen for airflow obstruction in primary care practice: does it improve the accuracy of diagnosis and influence clinical management? 

2002 $31,000* Physician Services Inc. 
Comparison of sputum vs. Protected brush cultures of P. aeruginosa in adults with CF. 


2001 $11,217* Ontario Thoracic Society- Block Term 
Pathophysiology of acute exacerbations of COPD. 

2001 $16,200* Ontario Thoracic Society- Block Term 
Comparison of sputum vs. Protected brush cultures of P. aeruginosa in adults with CF. 

2001-2004 $98,526* Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 
Multiple Combination Bactericidal Antibiotic Testing for multi- resistant B. cepacia and P. aeruginosa. 

2001-2004 $319,225* CIHR 
Multiple Combination Bactericidal AntibioticTesting for multi-resistant B. cepacia and P. aeruginosa. 

2001 $12,007* Asthma Society of Canada 
The Effects of Weight Reduction on Airway Reactivity in Female Subjects: A Prospective Cohort Pilot Study. 

2000 $10,000* OTS- Block Term 
Tetracaine Gel Prior to Arterial Puncture for Arterial Blood Gas. 

2000 $10,000* OTS- Block Term 
The Effects of Weight Reduction on Airway Reactivity in Female Subjects: A Prospective Cohort Pilot Study. 

2000-2002 $350,272* CIHR 
Controlled Trial of Steroids For Acute COPD exacerbation. 
 

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