Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Research News

	New pan-Canadian data and sample transfer agreement a game-changer for clinical research July 2, 2024 - “We’ve built a high-speed legal highway for researchers to use to share their data and samples.”
	Making CAR T Therapies More Accessible January 2, 2024 - “Our study shows there is room for CAR T therapy in the market. We further show that Canadian-made CAR T therapy could be cost-effective and has a much better chance of being funded than existing commercial CAR T therapies.”
	Project Big Life: Can a website improve your life expectancy? December 15, 2023 - Project Big Life is a website that includes calculators designed to estimate risk of heart attack or stroke, chronic kidney disease, dementia, and life expectancy.
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	New personal diet calculator checks how your diet stacks up against guidelines October 12, 2023 - The Dietary Pattern Calculator (DiPaC) is a screening tool that can help anyone make healthier food choices and for health-care providers to integrate food and nutrition information more easily into their practice.
	Dr. Dawn Stacey elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada September 13, 2023 - Dr. Dawn Stacey, head of TOH’s internationally renowned Patient Decision Aids Research Group, has been elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.
	New scientist profile: AI expert Dr. Arya Rahgozar links math with medicine September 1, 2023 - When doctors explain a problem they’re facing to Dr. Arya Rahgozar, he often thinks “I have just the tool for this in my toolbox.” For over 20 years he’s been using his data science toolbox to solve problems in banking, marketing, supply chains and h
	Lifelong treatment with blood thinners is unlikely to have survival benefits for most patients with unexplained clots August 3, 2023 - More than 750,000 Canadians will have an unexplained vein blood clot, known as venous thrombosis. Guidelines suggest that these people take blood thinners for life to prevent a second clot, however, the tradeoffs between the benefits, risks and finan
	Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital awarded 13 CIHR grants worth more than $7 million July 21, 2023 - Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital are playing a lead role in 13 new projects awarded more than $7 million from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
	Diabetes: innovative meta-analysis reveals best quality improvement strategies July 5, 2023 - Dr. Jeremy Grimshaw recently led an innovative Cochrane meta-analysis of 553 clinical trials including more than 400,000 participants around the world to determine the best quality improvement strategies for diabetes care.
	Will I be on dialysis forever? New calculator could help kidney disease patients June 9, 2023 - People who receive their first kidney dialysis treatment during a hospital admission often wonder if their kidneys will eventually recover, or if they will need to continue dialysis for the rest of their lives. A new calculator developed by Dr. Edwar
	Examining CAR-T therapy, person by person June 5, 2023 - Who responds better to CAR-T therapy? Men or women? What dose of the therapy works best?
	Dr. Kednapa Thavorn receives rising star award May 16, 2023 - Dr. Kednapa Thavorn has been recognized for her outstanding contributions to research design and patient involvement in economic evaluations, which are taking the assessment of drugs and medical devices in new directions.
	Brain Heart Interconnectome to lead a paradigm shift April 28, 2023 - From cognitive impairment to heart failure, brain and heart conditions pose one of the world’s biggest health-care challenges, exceeding all others in disease burden and mortality.
	New Scientist Profile: Dr. Giorgia Sulis fights antibiotic resistance through research and education April 18, 2023 - Infectious disease epidemiologist Dr. Giorgia Sulis knows that antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest health threats of our time. Because antibiotics are overused world-wide, bacteria that cause conditions like pneumonia, tuberculosis, blood poi
	Sex of blood donor has no effect on recipient survival April 12, 2023 - A large clinical trial of more than 8,700 patients published in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that the sex of a donor has no effect on the survival of recipients of red blood cell transfusions.
	How should patients with acute heart failure be monitored? This tool can help. March 7, 2023 - A clinical decision tool used in the emergency department can improve outcomes for patients with acute heart failure, according to trial involving more than 5,000 patients, published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital awarded 15 CIHR grants worth more than $8.4 million February 3, 2023 - Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital are playing a lead role in 15 new projects awarded more than $8.4 million from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
	Using big data to help the smallest babies January 27, 2023 - New research led by Drs. Steven Hawken and Kumanan Wilson shows that a mathematical model that reads the “metabolic fingerprint” of newborn blood samples could help.
	Why more patients are taking a front seat in medical research January 27, 2023 - After undergoing surgery herself, Gurlie Kidd was so interested in work on a team studying “prehabilitation” for frail patients undergoing surgery, that she got involved.
	How patients can improve the way new cancer therapies are assessed January 27, 2023 - Researchers are bringing patient perspectives on new health technologies into the health economic evaluation process.
	New Research Chair in Gay Men’s Health is setting out to break down barriers to care January 27, 2023 - As both a researcher and a gay man, Dr. MacPherson knows all too well the stigma, stereotypes and misinformation that gay men often encounter in the health-care system. He has dedicated much of his career to breaking down these barriers by helping he
	Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital co-lead $39M Accelerating Clinical Trials (ACT) Consortium January 19, 2023 - The new Accelerating Clinical Trials (ACT) Consortium, co-led by The Ottawa Hospital, aims to transform Canada’s clinical trials landscape by removing barriers, streamlining approvals, enhancing support and facilitating the engagement and participati
	Made-in-Canada approach enhancing access to groundbreaking CAR-T cancer therapy January 19, 2023 - Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital are partnering with colleagues across the country to expand access to new technology that turns patients’ immune cells into super-charged cancer-killers.
	Clinical trial will test promising cell therapy for septic shock January 19, 2023 - Dr. Lauralyn McIntyre was awarded $1.6 million from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Clinical Trials Fund to conduct a Phase II clinical trial of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in patients with septic shock.
	New online calculator predicts risk of developing kidney disease January 18, 2023 - Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital have developed and validated an online calculator that can estimate a person’s risk of developing chronic kidney disease. The method used to develop the tool was published in the Clinical Journal of the American Soc
	Healthcare crises affect how survivors of sexual assault seek help January 3, 2023 - Pandemic restrictions were associated with reduced rates of emergency department visits for sexual assault, signaling the need for trauma and violence-informed measures during healthcare crises, according to a new study using ICES data.
	How big data helps the big picture: Meet Dr. Alan Forster December 7, 2022 - Twenty years ago, Dr. Alan Forster was working at Harvard when he decided to join the team at The Ottawa Hospital. While other hospitals were focused on chasing the latest technology, our hospital was focused on whether that same cutting-edge technol
	How The Ottawa Hospital is partnering with patients to transform research and health care October 24, 2022 - As an elementary school teacher with a rare metabolic disease, Ottawa resident Maureen Smith has inspired not only her students, but also hundreds of doctors, researchers and health policy experts.
	Predicting Parkinson’s: mathematical model could help with earlier diagnosis and treatment September 23, 2022 - An innovative mathematical model developed by researchers at The Ottawa Hospital could one day help with the prevention and early treatment of Parkinson’s disease.
	How TOH and OHRI are leading the way in patient engagement in research August 3, 2022 - The Ottawa Hospital and OHRI have had unique success in facilitating and supporting patient engagement in research, with an increasing number of patient-oriented projects undertaken every year.
	Drs. Dawn Stacey and Ian Graham named Distinguished University Professors July 27, 2022 - Senior scientists Drs. Dawn Stacey and Ian Graham have both received the title of Distinguished University Professor from the University of Ottawa in recognition of their exceptional scholarly achievement, pre-eminence in their fields and solid teach
	“Dream team” of researchers tackles leading cause of vision loss July 27, 2022 - Dr. Catherine Tsilfidis has assembled a world-class team to bring discoveries with game-changing potential to patients with retinal disease
	Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital awarded 19 CIHR grants worth more than $12 million July 20, 2022 - These projects will advance science and improve health in areas such as cancer, neuroscience, regenerative medicine, autism, Kabuki Syndrome, kidney disease, patient engagement, blood transfusions, sepsis, surgery, anesthesia, plasma donation, muscle
	First made-in-Canada CAR-T cell therapy for cancer shows promise in clinical trial June 17, 2022 - More than a dozen people with cancer who had exhausted all treatment options are alive and cancer-free today thanks to a pioneering Canadian clinical trial of a highly personalized kind of immunotherapy.
	Ottawa researchers play key roles in global framework for responding to drug-resistant infections June 16, 2022 - Drs. Jeremy Grimshaw, Kednapa Thavorn and Patrick Fafard are playing important roles in a York University-led project awarded $2.5 million from the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada to pursue research into a global framework
	Ottawa Hospital researchers awarded $1.85M from Stem Cell Network May 12, 2022 - Four research teams at The Ottawa Hospital have been awarded a total of $1.85 million to harness stem cells and regenerative medicine to develop new therapies for septic shock, bone and joint conditions, and newborn lung damage, while also advancing
	Drilling down to improve CAR T therapy May 4, 2022 - Dr. Dean Fergusson and his team are drilling down into clinical trial data, which is normally reported at an aggregate level, at the individual patient level to get more information about who benefits most from CAR T therapy and under what conditions
	Ottawa researchers contribute to three important studies shaping COVID-19 care April 28, 2022 - Researchers from The Ottawa Hospital continue to play a key role in influential COVID-19 research, with three studies recently published in top-tier journals.
	Study examines how patients are informing pragmatic clinical trials March 25, 2022 - A study published in PLOS Medicine found that worldwide, many pragmatic clinical trials are considering patient perspectives, but there is room to improve.
	New scientist profile: Dr. Derek Roberts aims to save life and limb of people with peripheral artery disease March 17, 2022 - As a vascular and endovascular surgeon who has seen too many patients lose toes, legs, or their lives due to peripheral artery disease, Dr. Derek Roberts wants to improve care and outcomes for this treatable condition.
	New CIHR grants to support an equitable pandemic recovery March 16, 2022 - Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital have been awarded four grants as part of CIHR’s Emerging COVID-19 Research Gaps and Priorities competition, which was designed to support an equitable pandemic recovery for all Canadians.
	Canadian researchers awarded international prize for COVID-19 Evidence Network March 3, 2022 - Dr. Jeremy Grimshaw and Dr. John Lavis recently accepted the international REWARD prize from Cochrane on behalf of the COVID-19 Evidence Network (COVID-END) for their efforts to get reliable and timely COVID-19 evidence summaries to decision makers,
	It’s time to talk about our relationship with research: new guide for health organizations March 2, 2022 - Research has the power to save lives and improve our health care system, but to realize the greatest benefits from research, hospitals and other health organizations need to systematically incorporate it into their decision-making and planning.
	New TD Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (AIM) Hub to transform healthcare in Ottawa and around the world March 1, 2022 - Through a $2-million donation from TD Bank Group (TD), The Ottawa Hospital will create the new TD Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (AIM) Hub that will accelerate the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare.
	228 clinical practices used inappropriately in Canada February 28, 2022 - A study led by Dr. Janet Squires identified 228 clinical practices in Canada that are used inappropriately, with underuse being more common than overuse.
	Cannabis-related emergency department visits increased significantly in Ontario after expansion of the cannabis retail market February 16, 2022 - A study published today in the journal Addiction examined cannabis-related emergency department visits in Ontario before and after the legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada in October 2018.
	Helping patients and saving money: Drug that prevents blood clots in cancer patients is cost-effective January 6, 2022 - People with cancer are four to seven times more likely to have a blood clot than the general population.
	Study explores patient engagement in lab research January 6, 2022 - A study found that engaging patients in laboratory research is possible, and can benefit both the patients and the researchers.
	Scientists call for "living evidence reviews" to combat COVID confusion December 15, 2021 - Policy missteps will continue to overshadow the global response to Covid because policymakers are overwhelmed with rapidly shifting research evidence, according to scientists writing in the peer-reviewed journal Nature.
	Five scientists at The Ottawa Hospital ranked among world’s top researchers November 26, 2021 - Five scientists at The Ottawa Hospital have made it onto the prestigious list of Highly Cited ResearchersTM for 2021, with multiple papers that rank in the top one percent in their fields. Their research has been used and built upon by tens of thousa
	Infusing new life into blood transfusion research November 15, 2021 - Meet Dr. Dean Fergusson — winner of the Grimes Career Achievement Award
	Making every blood transfusion count November 12, 2021 - Dr. Dean Fergusson is receiving The Ottawa Hospital’s Grimes Career Achievement Award for trailblazing research that is saving lives and blood around the world
	Virtual care with remote monitoring catches drug errors and reduces patient pain November 4, 2021 - The use of take-home technology by patients following non-elective surgery resulted in significantly greater detection and correction of drug errors, and reduced pain, according to a study published in The BMJ.
	Expanding plasma donation to be more inclusive October 28, 2021 - Research led by Dr. Elisabeth Vesnaver, a postdoctoral fellow on Dr. Justin Presseau’s team, directly contributed to the development of Canadian Blood Services’ new donor screening processes for source plasma donation, a type of blood donation.
	Study establishes bleeding risk with long-term use of blood thinners for life-threatening clots October 20, 2021 - A new systematic review and meta-analysis now provides the best data yet on the long-term risks and consequences of bleeding with different blood thinners.
	Major study finds convalescent plasma doesn’t help seriously ill COVID-19 patients September 29, 2021 - A randomized controlled trial involving more than 900 patients has found that convalescent plasma does not reduce the risk of intubation or death for COVID-19 patients.
	$2.4 M grant to help researchers develop gene and cell therapies for a leading cause of blindness September 15, 2021 - A team led by Dr. Catherine Tsilfidis has received $2.4 M from the Ontario Research Fund to develop treatments for retinal diseases, a leading cause of blindness.
	Full-dose blood thinners help moderately ill COVID-19 patients August 23, 2021 - Two Canadian-led studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine show that full-dose blood thinners help moderately ill hospitalized COVID-19 patients, but not critically ill patients.
	Nothing about me, without me: Engaging patients in clinical trials August 13, 2021 - It seems obvious – blindingly so – that patients, traditionally the subjects of clinical trials, should be involved as partners from the beginning. The benefits for patients are clear – an increased sense of control and the ability to learn about the
	Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital awarded eight grants worth $5 million from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research August 10, 2021 - These projects will advance science and improve health in areas such as cancer immunotherapy, orthopedic surgery, long-term care, neuromuscular disease, blood clots, vascular disease, aging, kidney disease and Inuit health.
	New online calculator can help predict death and need for end-of-life care for frail older adults July 5, 2021 - A new risk calculator can help predict how long an older adult will live, and support end-of-life planning. The method used to develop the tool is published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
	Can a calculator predict your risk of dementia? June 25, 2021 - Canadian researchers at The Ottawa Hospital, the University of Ottawa, the Bruyère Research Institute and ICES have built and validated an online calculator that empowers individuals 55 and over to better understand the health of their brain and
	Motivational incentives make a difference for treating opioid use disorder June 23, 2021 - Providing incentives like free movie passes or small cash rewards to motivate people with opioid use disorder to continue opioid agonist therapy (OAT) improves retention in the treatment program, according to a systematic review led by Drs. Brian Hut
	Hold the ice: study shows no benefit during kidney cancer surgery May 19, 2021 - A clinical trial shows that contrary to popular belief, renal hypothermia doesn’t actually improve kidney function after kidney cancer surgery.
	Ottawa researchers lead $9-million COVID Variant Rapid-Response Network April 28, 2021 - Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital are playing an important role in a University of Ottawa-led project which has been awarded $9 million by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to create a national network for better researching and responding
	Grateful COVID-19 patient gives back by participating in research April 13, 2021 - Sharon Charlebois doesn’t remember much about the 25 days she spent at The Ottawa Hospital fighting a severe case of COVID-19 in January 2021. Now that she’s recovering at home with her husband, some memories come back to her in flashes.
	Researchers update PRISMA guideline to improve health research March 29, 2021 - Dr. David Moher and colleagues have published an updated PRISMA 2020 statement and explanation and elaboration to ensure these important guidelines continue to help researchers produce high-quality systematic reviews.
	Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital awarded 17 CIHR grants worth $7.5 million March 10, 2021 - Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital are playing a lead role in 17 new projects funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
	One small step for blood cancer patients, one giant step for Canadian cancer patients of all stripes February 25, 2021 - The Canadian-Led Immunotherapies in Cancer (CLIC) research program is building Canada’s capacity for innovation in CAR-T therapy, with support from BioCanRx, The Ottawa Hospital, BC Cancer and the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research
	Sepsis costs Ontario healthcare system $1 billion per year February 22, 2021 - A study published in Critical Care Medicine led by researchers at The Ottawa Hospital, the University of Ottawa, and ICES shows that severe sepsis is linked with higher mortality, increased hospital readmission and higher healthcare costs. In Ontario
	App provides patients with their personalized risks after surgery February 17, 2021 - Patients who used a made-in-Ottawa app to calculate their risk of complications, hospitalization and death after surgery understood these risks better than patients who received standard care, according to a study published in the Canadian Journal of
	Experimental stem cell therapy a potential weapon against COVID-19 February 1, 2021 - Drs. Duncan Stewart, Shane English, Dean Fergusson and colleagues have launched a clinical trial to test MSCs in people with severe COVID-19.
	Government of Canada invests $1M in a COVID-19 evidence network to support decision-making January 12, 2021 - To ensure decision-makers have access to the best COVID-19 science in a timely manner, the Government of Canada is investing $1M in the COVID-19 Evidence Network to support Decision-making (COVID-END)
	Can chest imaging diagnose COVID-19? December 9, 2020 - An international team led by Dr. Matthew McInnes is regularly combing the latest research to find out whether chest imaging could be a useful tool for diagnosing COVID-19.
	The Ottawa Hospital contributes to ‘a beautiful evolution’ in HIV research and care December 4, 2020 - In honour of World AIDS day, we take a look back at how The Ottawa Hospital played a major role in caring for patients with HIV, how it continues to lead life-saving research, and how it is transforming how HIV is managed today.
	Bone-modulating drugs can be given less often during cancer treatment, reducing side-effects and saving time and money November 28, 2020 - When cancer spreads to the bones, it can cause pain, reduce mobility and increase the risk of fractures. Bone modulating drugs can help, but a new study suggests that to maximize the value of these drugs, it may be better to give them less often.
	Spinal or epidural anesthesia associated with increased survival compared to general anesthesia for leg artery bypass surgery November 25, 2020 - A new study published in The BMJ shows that people who had surgery to improve blood flow in their legs under spinal or epidural anesthesia were less likely to die than those who were given general anesthesia. General anesthesia involves using drugs t
	Jeremy Grimshaw, David Moher and Peter Tugwell ranked among world’s top researchers November 24, 2020 - Three senior scientists at The Ottawa Hospital, affiliated with uOttawa, have been ranked among the top researchers in the world for 2020.
	App could provide new way to track vaccine safety November 17, 2020 - Vaccines are one of society’s greatest success stories, but like any treatment, there can be rare adverse events and they must be tested carefully. With a massive COVID-19 vaccination campaign on the horizon, Canadian researchers have launched a pilo
	Blueprint Excelerator helps move discoveries from the bench to the bedside November 6, 2020 - The Blueprint Translational Research Group was established in 2016 at The Ottawa Hospital, in collaboration with the Ottawa Methods Centre. Co-led by Dr. Dean Fergusson and Dr. Manoj Lalu, Blueprint developed an innovative model called the Excelerato
	Fewer hospital visits, safer care, less cost: study changing breast cancer treatment around the world October 15, 2020 - A new study published in Annals of Oncology shows that a drug commonly used to prevent infections in breast cancer patients can safely be given less often, meaning fewer hospital visits, fewer side effects and reduced treatment costs.
	Dr. Peter Tugwell wins Barer-Flood Prize in Health Services and Policy Research September 30, 2020 - The prize recognizes a senior researcher in the field of health services and policy research who has made a significant impact on policy research, policy and/or care delivery in Canada.
	Hold the blood: world-first clinical trial could cut transfusions nearly in half for blood cancer patients September 23, 2020 - Regular red blood cell transfusions are a reality of life for many people with blood cancer. But now, a world-first clinical trial published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology has found that blood cancer patients don’t need nearly as many blood tran
	The Ottawa Hospital and uOttawa launch new cancer immunotherapy research projects with funding from BioCanRx September 22, 2020 - BioCanRx, Canada’s Immunotherapy Network, today announced funding of $10M for 14 cancer immunotherapy research projects and eight core and biomanufacturing facilities across the country. Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) and the University of
	Dr. David Moher elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada September 16, 2020 - One of the world’s most cited researchers, Dr. Moher is considered a pioneer in the science of conducting and reporting systematic reviews, and has dedicated his career to supporting the global academic community in reporting clinical research.
	The Ottawa Hospital awarded six CIHR grants worth $2.6 million September 7, 2020 - Could a common diabetes drug help prevent ovarian cancer? Can a tailored screening program help prevent eye disease in immigrants? Is sepsis different in females versus males, and if so, can this help us develop better treatments? These are just a fe
	Cannabis use in pregnancy linked to a greater risk of autism August 10, 2020 - In the largest study of its kind, researchers from The Ottawa Hospital, BORN Ontario and the University of Ottawa found that children whose mothers reported using cannabis during pregnancy were at greater risk of autism.
	5 ways to enhance research integrity and avoid the risks of ‘publish or perish’ in academia July 16, 2020 - Amid growing criticism of the traditional “publish or perish” system for rewarding academic research, an international team has developed five principles that institutions can follow to measure and reward research integrity. The team believes that ap
	The Ottawa Hospital awarded $4.7 million for COVID-19 research from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research June 25, 2020 - Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, have been awarded $4.7 million from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) for four research projects that could transform our understanding of COVID-19 and lead
	TOHAMO awards $1.2M for COVID-19 research projects June 12, 2020 - Could artificial intelligence help predict which COVID-19 patients will become gravely ill? Could a home-based spit test diagnose COVID-19? Could virtual care after surgery reduce patient returns to hospital?
	Stopping COVID-19 with behavioral science and artificial intelligence June 8, 2020 - Dr. Justin Presseau and colleagues plan to use state-of-the-art behavioural science and artificial intelligence to develop an app that can help people reduce how much they touch their eyes, nose and mouth.
	Mobile reporting of adverse events from a pandemic COVID-19 vaccine June 8, 2020 - Dr. Kumanan Wilson and his colleagues will harness their electronic vaccine-tracking platform CANImmunize to let Canadians report potential adverse events from a COVID-19 vaccine through their mobile device.
	Could blood plasma shore up our COVID defenses? June 5, 2020 - A team led by Dr. Alan Tinmouth and Dr. Dean Fergusson is part of a collaboration aiming to settle the long-standing question of whether “convalescent” blood plasma from recovered patients can be used to treat actively sick ones.
	When is fainting a sign of a bigger problem? This tool can tell May 14, 2020 - Most of the time fainting is harmless, but for some people it can be caused by serious conditions like irregular heartbeat. A made-in-Ottawa tool can accurately tell emergency physicians which patients will have symptoms of these serious conditions
	COVID-19 Evidence Network to support decision-making May 11, 2020 - To help leaders around the world respond to unprecedented challenges related to COVID-19, Drs. Jeremy Grimshaw and John Lavis are co-leading The COVID-19 Evidence Network to support Decision-making (COVID-END). Partners in the network include experts
	COVID-19 research moving at ‘lightning speed’, thanks to generous community support May 8, 2020 - Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital are working around the clock to advance more than 50 potentially life-saving research projects to support the world-wide effort to find better ways to treat and prevent COVID-19. Now, nine of these projects have bee
	Researchers and research staff honoured for outstanding work in cancer clinical trials, emergency medicine, cell sorting and tissue collection April 29, 2020 - A number of outstanding researchers and research teams have been honoured through The Ottawa Hospital’s Excellence Awards program for 2020. They include the Rethinking Clinical Trials (REaCT) program, Senior Clinical Research Associate in Emergency M
	Clinical trial to test plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients as possible treatment April 28, 2020 - Researchers, clinicians and patients at The Ottawa Hospital will be contributing to the global effort to determine if plasma from people who have recovered from COVID-19 (called convalescent plasma) could be an effective treatment for actively infect
	Harnessing stem cells and regenerative medicine to fight COVID-19 April 23, 2020 - Researchers from The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa have been awarded $490,000 from the Stem Cell Network for two research projects that could help in the fight against COVID-19. These peer-reviewed grants are part of an overall investm
	Should I leave my retirement or long-term care home due to COVID-19? New tools can help with tough decisions April 22, 2020 - Researchers from The Ottawa Hospital, the University of Ottawa, the Champlain Local Health Integration Network?and the National Institute of Ageing have developed tools to help seniors decide if they should temporarily move out of their retirement, a
	New tool helps predict risk of death, admission to long-term care for people with dementia April 20, 2020 - A new tool that predicts risk of death and admission to a long-term care facility for patients with dementia may help conversations between health care providers, patients and their families, according to new research in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Associ
	New COVID-19 projections show how physical distancing can make a huge difference in Ottawa April 8, 2020 - Researchers from The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa, in partnership with Ottawa Public Health, have created a new interactive Ottawa COVID-19 website, that predicts various scenarios around the number of hospitalizations and deaths in O
	Researchers join the fight against COVID-19 April 2, 2020 - As hospitals and communities band together to fight COVID-19, researchers at The Ottawa Hospital are harnessing their unique expertise and resources to help.
	Assisted reproductive technology and heart problems: it’s (mostly) about the twins February 24, 2020 - Babies born through Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) like in vitro fertilization have a small but significantly increased risk of being born with heart problems (2.2 percent for ART babies compared to 1.2 percent for non-ART babies). Now, a new
	The Ottawa Hospital awarded nine grants worth $5.6 million from Canadian Institutes of Health Research February 3, 2020 - How can we treat depression when nothing else is working? How can heart growth be both good and bad? How can we increase patient participation in clinical trials? These are just a few of the big questions that researchers at The Ottawa Hospital will
	Could artificial intelligence help manage preterm birth? Prestigious fellowship to help Dr. Steven Hawken find out January 15, 2020 - Dr. Steven Hawken has been awarded a Health Research Foundation Fellowship in Artificial Intelligence (AI) Health Research, one of only two in the country. The $100,000 award will allow Dr. Hawken to use advanced AI and predictive modeling to help id
	To help protect research, experts agree on a definition of predatory publishing January 15, 2020 - Leading scholars and publishers from The Ottawa Hospital’s Centre for Journalology, the University of Ottawa’s Telfer School of Management, and other institutions from around the world have agreed on a consensus definition of predatory publishing.
	Older blood just as good as fresh in critically ill children January 10, 2020 - A large international clinical trial conducted in critically ill children has shown that fresh red cell transfusions (stored for seven days or less) are no better than older red cells (stored for up to 25 days).
	Jeremy Grimshaw, David Moher and Peter Tugwell ranked among world’s top researchers December 18, 2019 - Three senior scientists at The Ottawa Hospital, affiliated with uOttawa, have been ranked among the top researchers in the world for 2019.
	Could artificial intelligence help manage preterm birth? Prestigious fellowship to help Dr. Steven Hawken find out December 11, 2019 - Dr. Steven Hawken has been awarded a Health Research Foundation Fellowship in Artificial Intelligence (AI) Health Research, one of only two in the country.
	Dr. Susan Rogers Van Katwyk honoured for research on how countries fight antimicrobial resistance October 22, 2019 - Recent PhD graduate, Dr. Susan Rogers Van Katwyk will receive an honourable mention for the Worton Researcher in Training Award for her impressive research on strategies to fight antimicrobial resistance.
	Danielle Rice honoured for research to address the opioid crisis October 22, 2019 - PhD Candidate Danielle Rice will receive an honourable mention for the Worton Researcher in Training Award for her impressive contributions to mental health research during her two years as a visiting fellow at The Ottawa Hospital.
	Ottawa-led team stands out for patient decision aids research October 8, 2019 - Dr. Dawn Stacey has earned the distinction of having her Cochrane systematic review cited more than any other Cochrane Review published in 2018.
	Drs. David Moher and Dawn Stacy inducted into the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences October 2, 2019 - Drs. Dawn Stacey and David Moher were recognized among Canada’s top-ranked health and biomedical scientists during their induction as Fellows of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.
	Taking CANImmunize to the next level October 1, 2019 - CANImmunize, an award-winning vaccine-tracking platform developed by researchers at The Ottawa Hospital, is transitioning into a startup company. The popular app-based platform will continue to digitally transform the delivery of immunization service
	Ottawa a “hotbed of patient partnerships in research” September 27, 2019 - The Ontario SPOR Support Unit’s summer newsletter showcases how Ottawa has become a “hotbed of patient partnerships in research.” Three stories demonstrate how researchers at The Ottawa Hospital are partnering with patients and caregivers to improve
	Dr. Doug Manuel awarded title of Distinguished University Professor September 24, 2019 - The physician and researcher has dedicated his career to improving the health of communities and reducing inequities in health care.
	Ottawa researcher plays key role in $53-million Alzheimer’s research project September 24, 2019 - Dr. Monica Taljaard is playing a major role in a $53-million project funded by the U.S. National Institute of Aging to improve health care and quality of life for people living with Alzheimer’s disease, as well as for their caregivers.
	Dr. Jeremy Grimshaw elected into Royal Society of Canada September 10, 2019 - Dr. Jeremy Grimshaw has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, a group called upon to make significant and substantial contributions of knowledge, understanding, and insight through engagement with the larger society.
	The next frontier in HIV research: Ottawa scientists to play key role in new $17M prevention and cure studies August 14, 2019 - Despite great strides in HIV research, over 75,000 Canadians are living with HIV and approximately seven more contract it every day. And this incurable virus continues to take a huge toll around the world. The Government of Canada recently announced
	Dr. Dawn Stacey co-hosts International Shared Decision Making Conference August 14, 2019 - Dr. Dawn Stacey co-hosted the International Shared Decision Making Conference in Quebec City with Dr. France Légaré. More than 400 people from 22 countries participated in the conference, which focused on Patient-Oriented Shared Decision Ma
	The promise of CAR-T therapy for cancer: meta-analysis shows the big picture August 14, 2019 - CAR-T therapy, which uses a patient’s own genetically modified immune cells, is one of the most exciting advances in cancer treatment. To get a big picture view of the field, Drs. Manoj Lalu and Dean Fergusson led a team that analyzed data from nearl
	Research could improve diagnosis of dangerous increase in brain pressure August 8, 2019 - Increased pressure in the brain due to swelling or bleeding is a complication of brain injury that can cause additional damage and even death. A study led by researchers from The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa found that no single non-i
	The Ottawa Hospital awarded 13 grants worth $11.2 million from Canadian Institutes of Health Research July 26, 2019 - Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital have been awarded 13 grants worth a total of $11.2 million from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). The new projects focus on areas such as cancer immunotherapy, hepatitis C infection, blood clots, ar
	More than 52,000 sexual assault cases treated in Ontario hospitals during 15-year period July 18, 2019 - Approximately 3,500 survivors of sexual assault are treated in Ontario hospitals each year, according to a new study led by researchers at ICES, The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa. The researchers used a broad set of codes to help ident
	How can governments fight antimicrobial resistance? July 8, 2019 - The development of antibiotics is one of the greatest advances in the history of medicine, but the rise of resistant microbes threatens to bring society back to the dark ages. While governments around the world scramble to develop policies to prevent
	Cannabis use in pregnancy linked to increased risk of preterm birth June 19, 2019 - Researchers from The Ottawa Hospital, CHEO, BORN Ontario and the University of Ottawa have conducted one of the largest studies to date on the effect of cannabis use during pregnancy. They found that reported cannabis use during pregnancy was associa
	Golfer credits Ottawa study for quick recovery after lung cancer surgery June 4, 2019 - Marie Lapointe took part in a pilot study at The Ottawa Hospital aimed at testing whether a home-based exercise program could help older people better prepare for surgery
	Clinical trials offer strong foundation for better patient care May 16, 2019 - Clinical trials are an important step toward developing new treatments and learning more about diseases and conditions. In honour of International Clinical Trials Day, read how some of the researchers at The Ottawa Hospital are making huge contribut
	Guidelines can help patients avoid unnecessary blood transfusions April 15, 2019 - Dr. Dean Fergusson played a lead role in an important set of guidelines for patient blood management published in JAMA.
	Ottawa researchers working with World Health Organization to improve response to public health emergencies April 4, 2019 - In response to the SARS outbreak, the threat of influenza pandemics, and the changing nature of public health emergencies, the World Health Organization released the revised International Health Regulations (IHR(2005)). These regulations are the most
	Helping evidence-based public health guidelines work in the real world April 3, 2019 - Dr. Jeremy Grimshaw played an important role in an international exercise to strengthen how the World Health Organization develops guidelines to improve public health.
	Dr. Dawn Stacey one of Canada’s top nurse academics March 29, 2019 - Dr. Dawn Stacey has been ranked as one of the most cited nurse academics in Canada. According to a paper published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing, Dr. Stacey’s research has been cited 7241 times in the Scopus database over her career, putting her
	Clinicians at The Ottawa Hospital launch 14 innovative projects to improve health-care delivery, thanks to funding from TOHAMO and The Ottawa Hospital’s Research Institute March 22, 2019 - The Ottawa Hospital Academic Medical Organization (TOHAMO) has awarded $1.169 million in Innovation Grants to 14 teams, with supporting funds provided by the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.
	Simple blood test could determine preterm birth rate in low resource countries March 19, 2019 - Preterm birth is a leading cause of death among children under the age of five, with low resource countries facing the greatest challenge. But before solutions c­­an be tested­­, researchers first need to be able to accurately mea
	Can behavioural science help reduce unnecessary medical tests? March 11, 2019 - Up to one in three medical tests and treatments in Canada are not needed, and can expose patients to harm, stress, and longer wait times.
	Jeremy Grimshaw and David Moher ranked among world’s top researchers March 8, 2019 - Drs. Jeremy Grimshaw and David Moher have once again been ranked among the world’s top scientists. According to Clarivate Analytics, they are both among the most highly cited scientists in the world in the field of Social Sciences, with tens of thous
	Patients and clinical trial experts key to upcoming made-in-Canada CAR-T clinical trial March 1, 2019 - Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa are known around the world for their expertise in designing and leading clinical trials, and they're now applying this knowledge to create a made-in-Canada approach for CAR-T cell cl
	Researchers to advance science and improve health with new CIHR funding February 14, 2019 - Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, are playing a lead role in nine new projects funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). These projects will advance science and improve health in areas su
	How long do people need to be monitored after fainting? January 21, 2019 - For the first time, physicians in the Emergency Department (ED) have evidence-based recommendations on how best to catch the life-threatening conditions that make some people faint. New research published in Circulation suggests that low-risk patient
	Trio of BMJ papers to impact how clinical research is performed January 9, 2019 - Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa played important roles in three papers recently published in The BMJ (British Medical Journal) that are expected to impact how clinical research is conducted around the world. The first
	Drug dramatically reduces risk of dangerous blood clots in cancer patients December 4, 2018 - A Canadian clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine provides the first approach for safely preventing blood clots (or venous thromboembolism) in people with cancer. About half of people newly diagnosed with a solid cancer coul
	Decision tool identifies which patients with COPD are at risk of death, serious complications December 3, 2018 - A made-in-Ottawa decision tool can help emergency physicians identify which patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are at high risk of serious complications including death. The Ottawa COPD Risk Scale is better than current practice at p
	Immunization tracking brought into the digital age November 30, 2018 - Building on successful public health reporting pilot projects in Ottawa and Kingston, Ontarians will soon be able to use CANImmunize to immediately see and download their own, and their families’ official immunization records held by the province. CA
	Engaging patients in research every step of the way November 28, 2018 - CMAJ's new supplement on engaging patients in health research features commentaries led by Drs. Dean Fergusson, Simon Hatcher and Christian Vaillancourt, as well as 14 other teams affiliated with Ontario’s SPOR SUPPORT Unit (OSSU). As co-Scientific D
	Dr. Jeremy Grimshaw honoured with CIHR Barer-Flood Prize for Health Services and Policy Research November 20, 2018 - Dr. Jeremy Grimshaw has been honoured with a pre-eminent career achievement award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). The CIHR 2018 Barer-Flood Prize for Health Services and Policy Research recognizes Dr. Grimshaw as an exceptiona
	Research project aims to get stroke survivors moving October 24, 2018 - Exercise has been proven to enhance brain repair, decrease depression, maintain cognitive function and reduce frailty in stroke survivors. However, stroke survivors don’t always have access to evidence-based exercise programs in the community. A new
	Chance encounter on a train led to an award-winning career in research October 22, 2018 - A job on the Rocky Mountaineer train took Dr. Kristin Danko to places that weren’t on the route between Vancouver and Calgary. One stop was a research lab at The Ottawa Hospital. Now she is the recipient of the Worton Researcher in Training Award fro
	Researchers awarded $1.7 M to tackle stroke and heart attack from multiple angles October 2, 2018 - Five groups from The Ottawa Hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, were successful in the Heart and Stroke Foundation's recent grant competition. Drs. Dar Dowlatshahi, Tim Ramsay and Elizabeth Rochon were awarded $290,000* to test whethe
	World’s largest transfusion study in cardiac surgery changes practice globally September 18, 2018 - A massive study led Drs. Dean Fergusson, David Mazer and Richard Whitlock found that using lower hemoglobin thresholds to transfuse red blood cells during and after heart surgery is just as safe as using traditional thresholds. Hemoglobin is a protei
	High dose folic acid does not prevent preeclampsia in high-risk women September 12, 2018 - Taking high doses of folic acid throughout pregnancy does not prevent preeclampsia in high-risk women, according to a large international clinical trial published in The BMJ. This refutes the findings of previous observational studies and is expected
	Can a calculator predict your risk of heart attack and stroke? July 23, 2018 - Canadian researchers have built and validated an online calculator that empowers individuals to predict their risk of cardiovascular disease. Their process was published today in the journal CMAJ, and the calculator is available at projectbiglife.com
	$1.7 million to advance research on colon cancer, brain development, kidney disease and severe fluid loss July 20, 2018 - Four research groups at The Ottawa Hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, have been awarded $1.7 million in the most recent project grant competition from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Their projects will advance sci
	Report suggests tobacco smoking rates will drop to below 10% in about 20 years July 17, 2018 - Ontario will achieve "single digit" tobacco smoking rates (under 10 per cent) by 2023 for women, and 2040 for men, according to a new big data report conducted jointly by the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) and The Ottawa
	Standardizing digital vaccination records in Canada: team behind CANImmunize launches Canadian Vaccine Catalogue July 12, 2018 - As provinces and territories across Canada work to digitize vaccination records, a team of Canadian physicians, researchers and policy-makers has released the first version of the Canadian Vaccine Catalogue (CVC). This comprehensive, standards-based
	Researchers push for better patient engagement June 27, 2018 - Research improves patient care, and a growing movement aims to engage and involve patients in the research process from start to finish. However, little is known about what meaningful patient engagement in research looks like. To find out, Dr. Dean F
	Dr. Dean Fergusson chosen as President-Elect of international clinical trial society June 20, 2018 - Dr. Dean Fergusson was elected President-Elect of the Society for Clinical Trials. This organization works internationally to advance human health by advocating for the use of clinical trials, leading the development and dissemination of optimal meth
	Exercise, eye exams help prevent falls in older people June 13, 2018 - Falls in older individuals can reduce quality of life and cause serious injury. Dr. Kednapa Thavorn was part of a group of researchers who published a meta-analysis in JAMA that identified the best ways to prevent falls in older people. After analyzi
	Top Research Papers from The Ottawa Hospital 2015-2017 June 7, 2018 - Did you know that researchers at The Ottawa Hospital publish an average of four new scientific papers every single day? Our research is advancing science and improving health on a massive scale – both at home and around the world. The list below repr
	The Ottawa Hospital Emergency Surgery Study: A World Leader in the Delivery of High Quality and Efficient Surgical Care July 10, 2017 - Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa are tackling the often-overlooked issue of delayed emergency surgeries. Emergency surgeries are those needed quickly to treat serious injuries or life-threatening conditions, such as a
	New approach to clinical trials could revolutionize cancer care February 23, 2017 - Yasemin Heinbecker was a career diplomat used to working 10-hour days when she received a diagnosis last fall that stopped her busy life in its tracks. Like 25,000 other Canadian women every year, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and ended up “re
	Ottawa researchers develop rapid review process to help WHO respond to global threats December 22, 2016 - Ms. Chantelle Garritty and collaborators in the Knowledge Synthesis Group have developed a process to help the World Health Organization (WHO) quickly create guidelines during global emergencies. During an outbreak of a new disease, WHO needs to a
	Old blood as good as fresh in patients with life threatening illnesses March 17, 2015 - Just like milk and many other foods, blood used for transfusions is perishable. But contrary to popular belief, new research shows that blood stored for three weeks is just as good as fresh blood — findings published today in the New England Journal
	Flu shots decrease overall risk of acquiring Guillain-Barré Syndrome January 19, 2015 - Drs. Kumanan Wilson and Steven Hawken published a paper this week that examines whether the flu shot increases or decreases the risk of getting Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a rare but serious autoimmune condition. Recent studies have associated

Scientists

Scientists have PhDs, MDs or both and devote at least 40 per cent of their time to research (but typically more than 75 per cent). All our Scientists also hold appointments at the University of Ottawa and many are active clinicians at The Ottawa Hospital. Scientists generally hold major peer-reviewed research grants and work with a team of graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, technicians and coordinators.

Investigators

Clinician Investigators are generally physicians, nurses, or other health professionals at The Ottawa Hospital who devote between 5 and 40 per cent of their time to clinical research. They often also hold appointments at the University of Ottawa. Investigators are generally PhD researchers with several years of postdoctoral training who devote between 20 and 50 per cent of their time to research.

Affiliate Investigators

Affiliate Investigators are researchers who have primary affiliations with other institutions, but maintain significant collaborations or funding with the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.