Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Research News

	MicroRNA for MS: Mouse study sparks potential new treatment approach June 26, 2025 - It’s easy to forget the delicate balance inside the human body until something goes wrong. For people with multiple sclerosis (MS), that moment comes when the immune system mistakenly attacks myelin—the fatty insulating layer that protects nerve cell
	Made-in-Ottawa virtual reality system helps with planning complex surgeries December 15, 2023 - A virtual reality system developed by medical physicists and researchers at The Ottawa Hospital is now being widely used to plan complex surgeries, following approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
	Breast cancer screening before age 50 linked with better survival August 4, 2023 - Canadian provinces and territories that allowed women 40-49 to self-refer for organized breast cancer screening programs with annual mammograms had better survival and lower breast cancer mortality rates compared with those that did not, according to
Show more news stories
	New Scientist Profile: Dr. Giulia Fadda investigates poorly understood neuroinflammatory conditions April 5, 2023 - Neurologist Dr. Giulia Fadda wants to know what causes widespread brain damage in neuroinflammatory conditions like progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Patients with this kind of MS relentlessly get worse over time.
	New scientist profile: Dr. Nicola Schieda aims to improve imaging diagnosis of prostate, kidney cancers October 5, 2022 - Radiologist Dr. Nicola Schieda works on algorithms to improve the non-invasive diagnosis of kidney and prostate cancers using MRI and CT scans.
	Study shows annual screening before age 50 leads to lower proportions of advanced breast cancer August 10, 2022 - A new study has found Canadian provinces that annually screen women aged 40-49 had lower proportions of advanced breast cancer compared to women aged 50-59 from provinces that did not hold annual mammograms.
	New commentary finds flaws in study that shaped current breast cancer screening guidelines November 23, 2021 - Researchers at Sunnybrook Research Institute, The Ottawa Hospital, The University of British Columbia, The University of Alberta and Harvard Medical School have published a new commentary in the Journal of Medical Screening that confirms significant
	Does Parkinson’s start in the nose? International team awarded US$9 million ASAP grant to find out October 26, 2021 - More than 80 percent of people with Parkinson’s disease suffer from a reduced sense of smell, something that often occurs years before the onset of typical movement-related symptoms. Now, thanks to a US$9 million grant from the Aligning Science Acros
	Canadian study finds fewer breast cancers diagnosed between screens when women with dense breasts are offered more frequent mammograms July 20, 2021 - A new study published in the Canadian Association of Radiologists’ Journal shows that Canadian jurisdictions that offer more frequent mammograms to women with dense breasts had fewer cancers diagnosed between screens.
	Chaos in the nucleus: research on eye cells could provide insight into degenerative diseases August 22, 2018 - The nucleus of a cell is usually a highly organized structure, with more than a metre of DNA packaged very carefully into a tiny volume. A number of degenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, SCA7 and progeria are associated with a breakdown in n
	Colonoscopies save lives, but study finds room for improvement May 16, 2018 - Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in Canada. Colonoscopy can reduce the risks of CRC and CRC-related death through early detection and treatment of pre-cancerous growth. A new study led by Dr. Sanjay Murthy found that while co

Researchers

Name	Scientific appointment	Diseases, conditions and populations of interest	Research and clinical approaches
Addison, Christina PhD	Senior Scientist (Cancer Research)	Bone and joint degeneration, Cancer, Lung cancer, Lung disease, Pancreatic cancer, Prostate cancer, Breast cancer	Basic research, Clinical research, Cohort studies, Disease models, Drug development, Genetics, Imaging, Model organisms, Translational research, Molecular and cellular biology
Albert, Paul PhD	Senior Scientist (Neuroscience)	Mental health, Vascular cognitive impairment, Anxiety, Depression, Intellectual disabilities, Parkinson's, Schizophrenia, Stroke, Suicide	Basic research, Epigenetics, Exercise, Gene expression, Translational research, Disease models, Epigenetics, Genetics, Imaging, Molecular and cellular biology, Optogenetics, Transgenic/knockout models
Aviv, Richard MBChB, FRCR (UK), FRCPC, dABR	Clinician Investigator (Neuroscience)	Brain and neuromuscular disease, Brain cancer, Head and neck cancer, Multiple sclerosis, Stroke, Subarachnoid hemorrhage, Traumatic brain injury, Vascular cognitive impairment, Vascular, heart and metabolic disease	Artificial intelligence and data science, Basic research, Big data, Bioinformatics, Biomarkers, Clinical research, Cluster randomized trials, Disease models, Health economics, Health technology, Imaging, Patient safety, Quality Improvement, Translational research
Aydin, Sibel MD	Associate Scientist (Inflammation and Chronic Disease)	Arthritis, Autoimmune disease, Bone and joint degeneration, COVID-19, Population health	Epidemiology, Imaging
Brand, Marjorie PhD	Senior Scientist Affiliate (Regenerative Medicine)	Blood cancer, Sickle cell anemia, Thalassemia, Vascular, heart and metabolic disease	Artificial intelligence and data science, Basic research, Bioinformatics, Disease models, Epigenetics, Gene expression, Genomics, Imaging, Model organisms, Molecular and cellular biology, Proteomics, Stem cells, Systems biology, Transgenic/knockout models
Breau, Rodney MD	Senior Scientist (Acute Care Research)	Cancer, Kidney disease, Prostate cancer	Clinical decision rules, Clinical research, Clinical trials, Cohort studies, Imaging, Patient decision aids, Patient engagement, Quality Improvement, Surgery, Systematic reviews, Transfusions
Burger, Dylan PhD	Senior Scientist (Inflammation and Chronic Disease)	Aging, Diabetes, Heart disease, Hypertension, Kidney disease, Maternal and fetal health, Obesity, Thrombosis / thromboembolism, Type 1 diabetes, Vascular cognitive impairment, Vascular, heart and metabolic disease	Basic research, Biomarkers, Disease models, Exercise, Extracellular vesicles / exosomes, Imaging, Model organisms, Molecular and cellular biology, Pharmacology, Proteomics, Regenerative medicine, Stem cells, Transgenic/knockout models, Translational research
Chakraborty, Santanu MBBS, MRCP, DMRD, FRCR, FRCP(C)	Senior Clinician Investigator (Neuroscience)	Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Brain cancer, Concussion, Dementia, Head and neck cancer, Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, Spinal cord injury, Stroke, Traumatic brain injury	Bioinformatics, Clinical research, Health economics, Health professional behaviour change, Imaging, Immunization, Patient safety, Quality Improvement, Risk assessment
Cook, David PhD	Scientist (Cancer Research)	Cancer, Ovarian cancer	Artificial intelligence and data science, Basic research, Big data, Bioinformatics, Biomarkers, Cancer biotherapeutics, Cancer immunotherapy, Cell therapy, Drug development, Epigenetics, Gene expression, Genomics, Imaging, Immunotherapy, Molecular and cellular biology, RNA sequencing, Systems biology, Translational research
Coutu, Daniel PhD	Scientist (Regenerative Medicine)	Aging, Arthritis, Autoimmune disease, Bleeding disorders, Blood cancer, Bone and joint degeneration, Bone and joint injuries, Musculoskeletal conditions, Osteoporosis	Basic research, Bioinformatics, Biomaterials, Cell therapy, Gene expression, Gene therapy, Genetics, Genomics, Imaging, Immunotherapy, Molecular and cellular biology, Proteomics, Regenerative medicine, Stem cells, Surgery, Systems biology, Transgenic/knockout models, Translational research
Dowlatshahi, Dariush MD PhD FRCP(C)	Senior Scientist (Neuroscience)	Subarachnoid hemorrhage, Stroke	Clinical trials, Cohort studies, Imaging, Pragmatic trials, Epidemiology
Fadda, Giulia MD	Associate Scientist (Neuroscience)	Autoimmune diseases of the nervous system, Multiple sclerosis	Bioinformatics, Biomarkers, Biostatistics, Clinical research, Imaging, Immunotherapy, Molecular and cellular biology, Patient engagement, Translational research
Fahed, Robert MD MSc	Associate Scientist (Neuroscience)	Stroke, Subarachnoid hemorrhage	Biostatistics, Clinical decision rules, Clinical research, Clinical trials, Cohort studies, Epidemiology, Imaging, Pragmatic trials, Quality Improvement, Shared decision making, Systematic reviews
Gray, Douglas PhD	Senior Scientist Emeritus (Cancer Research)	Aging, Cancer, Lung cancer, Parkinson's	Basic research, Disease models, Genomics, Imaging, Transgenic/knockout models, Genetics, Model organisms, Molecular and cellular biology
Habibi, Ehsan Ph.D.	Scientist (Regenerative Medicine)		Artificial intelligence and data science, Basic research, Big data, Bioinformatics, Epigenetics, Gene expression, Genetics, Imaging, Model organisms, Molecular and cellular biology, Next generation sequencing, Optogenetics, Proteomics, Qualitative methods, RNA sequencing, Systems biology, Transgenic/knockout models
Hiremath, Swapnil MD, MPH, FASN	Associate Scientist (Inflammation and Chronic Disease)	Diabetes, Health in older peoples, Heart disease, Hypertension, Kidney disease, Population health, Vascular, heart and metabolic disease	Clinical research, Clinical trials, Cohort studies, Epidemiology, Health services research, Imaging, Pharmacology, Pragmatic trials, Public health, Quality Improvement, Systematic reviews
Klein, Ran PhD	Clinician Investigator (Methodological and Implementation Research)	Cancer, Heart disease, Kidney disease, Lung disease, Vascular, heart and metabolic disease	Artificial intelligence and data science, Basic research, Bioinformatics, Biomarkers, Biostatistics, Clinical decision rules, Health technology, Imaging
Kothary, Rashmi Ph.D.	Senior Scientist (Regenerative Medicine)	Neuromuscular disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Multiple sclerosis, Muscular dystrophy, Spinal muscular atrophy	Basic research, Disease models, Drug development, Epigenetics, Epigenetics, Gene therapy, Genetics, Imaging, Lipidomics, Model organisms, Molecular and cellular biology, Proteomics, Regenerative medicine, Transgenic/knockout models, Translational research
Lacoste, Baptiste PhD	Senior Scientist (Regenerative Medicine)	Stroke, Vascular cognitive impairment, Autism	Basic research, Disease models, Gene expression, Genomics, Stem cells, Genetics, Imaging, Model organisms, Molecular and cellular biology, Transgenic/knockout models
Lavallee, Luke MDCM, MSc, FRCSC	Scientist (Acute Care Research)	Cancer, Kidney disease, Population health, Prostate cancer	Clinical research, Clinical trials, Cohort studies, Epidemiology, Health economics, Health professional behaviour change, Imaging, Knowledge translation and implementation research, Patient decision aids, Quality Improvement, Surgery, Systematic reviews
McInnes, Matthew MD PhD FRCPC	Scientist (Methodological and Implementation Research)	Cancer, Liver cancer	Clinical research, Epidemiology, Health research methods, Imaging, Journalology, Systematic reviews
Mestre, Tiago MSc MD	Scientist (Neuroscience)	Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's, Parkinson's	Clinical trials, Imaging
Morgan, Scott MD, MSc, FRCPC	Clinician Investigator (Cancer Research)	Bladder cancer, Breast cancer, Cancer, Prostate cancer	Biomarkers, Clinical research, Clinical trials, Cohort studies, Imaging, Systematic reviews
Nair, Vimoj MBBS MD MSc FRCPC	Clinician Investigator (Cancer Research)	Blood cancer, Brain cancer, Colorectal cancer, Gastric cancer, Liver cancer, Pancreatic cancer	Artificial intelligence and data science, Biostatistics, Cancer biotherapeutics, Clinical research, Clinical trials, Health technology, Imaging, Pragmatic trials, Quality Improvement, Translational research
Sachs, Adam MD, MA, FRCSC	Associate Scientist (Neuroscience)	Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Spinal cord injury, Parkinson's	Artificial intelligence and data science, Clinical trials, Imaging, Neuro-stimulation, Surgery
Santos, Marlise MD (FRCPC), MSc, MPH	Clinician Investigator (Neuroscience)	Alzheimer's, Anxiety, Ataxia, Autoimmune disease, Autoimmune diseases of the nervous system, Blood cancer, Brain and neuromuscular disease, Brain cancer, Cancer, Concussion, Dementia, Depression, Global health, Head and neck cancer, Health equity, Health in disadvantaged peoples, Infectious disease, Intellectual disabilities, Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, Population health, Sickle cell anemia, Spinal cord injury, Stroke, Subarachnoid hemorrhage, Thrombosis / thromboembolism, Traumatic brain injury, Traumatic injuries, Vascular cognitive impairment, Vascular, heart and metabolic disease	Artificial intelligence and data science, Basic research, Behaviour, Biostatistics, Cancer biotherapeutics, Clinical decision rules, Clinical research, Clinical trials, Cohort studies, Critical care, Epidemiology, Health economics, Health research methods, Health services research, Health technology, Imaging, Patient safety, Pragmatic trials, Prevention, Public health, Qualitative methods, Quality Improvement, Shared decision making, Surgery, Surveys, Systematic reviews
Seely, Jean MDCM, FRCPC	Clinician Investigator (Cancer Research)	Breast cancer, Cancer, Health equity, Population health, Women's health	Clinical trials, Cohort studies, Health technology, Imaging, Patient engagement, Public health, Quality Improvement, Surgery
Shamy, Michel MD MA FRCPC	Scientist (Neuroscience)	Stroke	Clinical trials, Imaging
Tanphaichitr, Nongnuj PhD	Senior Scientist Emeritus (Inflammation and Chronic Disease)	HIV, Infectious disease, Infertility, Men's health, Sexually transmitted infections, Women's health	Basic research, Drug development, Imaging, Lipidomics, Molecular and cellular biology, Proteomics
Thornhill, Rebecca PhD	Clinician Investigator (Methodological and Implementation Research)	Cancer, Heart disease, Stroke, Vascular, heart and metabolic disease	Artificial intelligence and data science, Biomarkers, Biostatistics, Imaging, Patient safety
Tsai, Eve MD, PhD, FRCSC, CIP	Scientist (Neuroscience)	Brain and neuromuscular disease, Cancer, Spinal cord injury	Biomaterials, Clinical research, Clinical trials, Imaging, Molecular and cellular biology, Regenerative medicine, Stem cells, Translational research
Walker, Lisa PhD, C.Psych	Clinician Investigator (Neuroscience)	Anxiety, Autoimmune disease, Autoimmune diseases of the nervous system, Brain and neuromuscular disease, Dementia, Depression, Mental health, Multiple sclerosis	Behaviour, Biomarkers, Clinical research, Exercise, Imaging, Psychology, Psychometrics, Rehabilitation, Stem cells, Systematic reviews, Translational research
Wang, Jing Ph.D.	Senior Scientist (Regenerative Medicine)	Alzheimer's, Multiple sclerosis, Stroke	Cell therapy, Disease models, Epigenetics, Imaging, Molecular and cellular biology, Regenerative medicine, Stem cells, Transgenic/knockout models
Warman Chardon, Jodi MD, PhD FRCPC (Neurology)	Associate Scientist (Neuroscience)	Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Genetic myopathy, Muscular dystrophy, Neuromuscular disease, Spinal muscular atrophy, Stiff person syndrome	Artificial intelligence and data science, Clinical research, Clinical trials, Exome sequencing analysis, Genetics, Imaging, MRI muscle imaging, Next generation sequencing, RNA sequencing, Genetics
Yogendrakumar, Vignan MD, PhD, FRCPC	Associate Scientist (Neuroscience)	Stroke	Biomarkers, Clinical trials, Cluster randomized trials, Cohort studies, Imaging, Pragmatic trials, Translational research
Gale, Jenna MD, MSc, FRCSC	Clinician Investigator (Inflammation and Chronic Disease)	Infertility, Pain, Pregnancy, Women's health	Clinical research, Epidemiology, Imaging, Patient safety, Quality Improvement, Surveys, Systematic reviews, Translational research
Hogan, Matthew MD, PhD, FRCPC (neurology)	Senior Clinician Investigator (Neuroscience)	Stroke	Imaging, Translational research
Puac Polanco, Paulo MD	Clinician Investigator (Neuroscience)	Brain cancer, Head and neck cancer, Stroke	Imaging