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Groundbreaking Alzheimer’s and cancer studies receive $7.2M boost

Lawson Research Institute scientists and partners will focus on molecular imaging and theranostics to potentially transform the detection and treatment of neurodegeneration and cancer.

The quest to advance detection and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and to personalize cancer care has received a major boost, with $7.2 million in funding to Lawson Research Institute (Lawson) of St. Joseph’s Health Care London (St. Joseph’s) for first-of-its kind research.

Lawson scientists will partner with a broad team of researchers at London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute (LHSCRI), McMaster University, University Health Network and BC Cancer on the ground-breaking studies focused on molecular imaging and theranostics as a potential game-changer in detecting and treating neurodegeneration and cancer, particularly prostate, brain and breast cancer.

Ting Yim-Lee, director of PET/CT — Ting-Yim Lee, PhD, Director of PET/CT Research at Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph’s Health Care London, has received $7.2 million in funding for first-of-its-kind in Canada research that will focus on molecular imaging and theranostics as a potential game-changer in the detection and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.

Principal investigator Ting-Yim Lee, PhD, Lawson’s Director of PET/CT Research, and his team of investigators were awarded $2 million through the Ontario Research Fund – Research Excellence for the study titled “Improving Cancer and Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Through Cutting-edge Molecular Imaging and Theranostics”. Co-Principal Investigator is radiation oncologist Dr. Glenn Bauman at LHSCRI.

Additional funding from private-sector partners and Lawson, as well as from donors through St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation, brings the total research investment to $7.2 million.

The research has the potential to offer hope for solutions to some of the most prevalent and pernicious diseases affecting Canadians, explains Lee.

“Both research projects are the first of their kind in Canada aimed at advancing how we diagnose and treat Alzheimer’s disease and cancer,” he says. “This collaborative funding initiative will also drive innovation in the exciting field of molecular imaging and theranostics at St. Joseph’s, at the heart of which is St. Joseph’s new, high-sensitivity GE HealthCare Omni Legend 2 PET/CT – the first in Canada.”

The studies encompass the following:

Alzheimer’s disease: The new PET/CT at St. Joseph’s allows researchers to simultaneously study both blood flow and glucose metabolism in the brain. Both these mechanisms are believed to be contributing factors in the onset of Alzheimer’s. By measuring both at the same time, the research team hopes to uncover early signs that the brain is in trouble and at risk of plaque deposits and toxic proteins that have been linked to the development of Alzheimer’s.
Cancer: The cancer study will focus on developing theranostic techniques to achieve personalized dosimetry – a method used to determine the exact amount of radiation a patient should receive during treatment, based on their individual characteristics. This maximizes effective treatment while minimizing harm to healthy tissues.

Molecular imaging and theranostics is a rapidly emerging field of medicine that combines ultra-precise scans and theranostics (a term that melds the words therapeutics and diagnostics). Together, they offer a one-two punch by integrating imaging and radiotracers that can identify the location and extent of diseased tissues and selectively destroy the abnormal cells while leaving surrounding healthy cells undamaged. In collaboration with GE HealthCare, St. Joseph’s is developing Canada’s first GE HealthCare Centre of Excellence in Molecular Imaging and Theranostics.

“By bridging the gap between research and clinical practice, we hope to ease the burden on patients and their families, offering more effective and compassionate care”
-Ting-Yim Lee, PhD, Director of PET/CT Research at Lawson Research Institute.

“We are already seeing the impact of novel theranostics for treatment of men with advanced prostate cancer,” says Bauman. “Promising new theranostic approaches are emerging for many cancers and this investment further positions London to be a leader in this area of research.”

In the initial phase of the studies, 100 patients will be recruited from St. Joseph’s Aging Brain and Memory Clinic at Parkwood Institute for the Alzheimer’s study; while 90 patients will be recruited from London Health Sciences Centre’s Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre for cancer studies. There are plans to recruit patients from the collaborating centres once results from the initial phase are confirmed.

“By bridging the gap between research and clinical practice, we hope to ease the burden on patients and their families, offering more effective and compassionate care,” says Lee. “We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to turn our research into real-world solutions that can make a meaningful impact.”

With dozens of 'firsts' in imaging research, “Lawson is a powerhouse of innovation,” adds Michael Kovacs, PhD, Program Lead, Lawson’s Imaging Research Program, and Lead, Cyclotron & PET Radiochemistry Facility. “We're excited to explore how this work could transform care."

Growing Tissues in the Lab

When challenged by surgeons to find better treatments for difficult-to-manage connective tissue diseases, Dr. David O’Gorman gladly accepted.

Dr. O’Gorman is a Molecular Biologist and Lawson Scientist based at St. Joseph’s Hospital, a part of St. Joseph’s Health Care London. His research focuses on understanding normal and abnormal connective tissue repair. He collaborates with researchers and clinicians working in many different disciplines, including those specializing in reconstructive surgery, orthopedics and urology.

Surgical reconstructions can be hampered by a lack of graft tissue, or graft tissue of insufficient quality, making it difficult to achieve optimal outcomes for the patients.

An example is a condition called urethral stricture disease (urethral scarring). This condition occurs in males and typically causes symptoms such as frequent and urgent urination, and slow urinary stream. In extreme cases, it can cause urinary tract infections, permanent bladder dysfunction and renal failure. Recurrence rates after minimally invasive treatments are high, and so many urologists recommend open surgical approaches.

Surgeons can use the patient’s own tissues to reconstruct the urethra after stricture removal. This tissue is normally sourced from the buccal cavity in the mouth but taking large tissue grafts can result in complications. In cases where buccal grafts have been used for previous reconstructions, there may not be enough intact tissue left.

Dr. O’Gorman sees a solution in growing sheets of human buccal tissues in the lab.

“We are currently using buccal graft trimmings as a source of cells, culturing them in a 3D environment and expanding them to create tissues of suitable size, density and elasticity.”

The patient’s own cells are used to generate a tissue graft for urethral reconstruction. While several research groups have developed this approach in the past, few have attempted to translate their models for clinical use.

“Our immediate goal is to provide proof of principle – that we can consistently generate grafts of suitable size and functional characteristics,” explains Dr. O’Gorman, “In the future, we could be providing bioengineered graft tissues for reconstructive surgeries here in London.”

Bioengineered human tissues can also be used as ‘mimetics’ – replications of human tissues – to study diseases, especially those difficult to model using routine laboratory methods.

Instead of a using a growth media or sterile plastic dishes, 3D cell culture is achieved by embedding cells in a matrix of proteins and other molecules normally found in those tissues. In this environment, gene expression and growth is more similar to cells of connective tissues in the body being replicated.

Dupuytren’s disease (or Dupuytren’s Contracture) affects the palmar fascia in the hand, a connective tissue beneath the skin that extends from the base of the palm into the fingers. This disease can be understood as a type of excessive scarring, where normal tissue repair processes have gone awry and dense scar tissue forms, typically causing permanent palm or finger flexion that restricts hand function.

This condition is surprisingly common and may affect more than one million people in Canada. While there are surgical treatment options available, none consistently prevent this disease from recurring in at least a third of patients.

“Due to its high recurrence rate after treatment, Dupuytren’s disease is currently considered incurable. Our challenge is to understand it well enough to develop truly effective treatments,” says Dr. O’Gorman.

Human hands have unique characteristics not found in other species, making animal models impractical. Instead, Dr. O’Gorman’s team extracts cells from the diseased palmar fascia of patients undergoing hand surgeries and bioengineers them into palmar fascia ‘contractures’ in the lab.

“Since the cells from a single palmar fascia sample can be used to grow dozens of little contractures, we can test many different treatments simultaneously to see what works best for each patient.”

This approach may also allow them to determine if Dupuytren’s disease is truly one disease, or a group of similar diseases that cause palm and finger contractures.

“Often, Dupuytren’s disease is clearly heritable, but some individuals have no family history of it and develop apparently sporadic disease,” notes Dr. O’Gorman. “We want to determine if these are truly the same disease at the molecular level.”

Another major cause of abnormal connective tissue repair is infection, and tissue mimetics can play a role here, too. While rare, infections of artificial joint replacements are particularly devastating for patients, as they typically require readmission to hospital to remove the infected joint, weeks of antibiotic-based treatment, and an additional surgery to replace the artificial joint.

In addition to the associated pain and suffering, these procedures are technically challenging and costly to our health care system.

Artificial shoulder joint infections are most frequently caused by the microorganism Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes). C. acnes infections disrupt normal tissue repair processes after surgery, cause shoulder tissues to die and promote loosening of the artificial joint. These infections are difficult to diagnose, and there is a lack of reproducible
models in which to study them. Dr O’Gorman’s team has set out to create the first human Shoulder-Joint Implant Mimetic (S-JIM) of C. acnes infection.

“While S-JIMs are more complex, they are 3D in vitro cell culture systems designed to mimic human tissues, like those that we use for studying Dupuytren’s disease.”

S-JIMs include layers of artificial human tissue, wrapped around cores of titanium alloy or cobalt chrome, the metals used to create artificial joints. They are co-cultured with C. acnes under low oxygen conditions similar to those that normally occur around artificial shoulder joints.

https://www.sjhc.london.on.ca/research/contact-lawson-research-institute

“We are bioengineering simple 3D cell cultures to more closely mimic the complexity of human tissues, with blood supply, nerves and interactions with other cells.” – Dr. David O’Gorman

Studying the connective tissue layers close to the infection allows researchers to investigate processes that promote infection, such as the formation of a biofilm that harbours and protects the bacteria from the body’s immune system. They are also able to test whether novel treatments can disrupt biofilm formation and increase the effectiveness of antibiotics.

Dr. O’Gorman predicts that in the future, medical researchers will routinely use bioengineered 3D human tissue and organ mimetics to accelerate our understanding of disease.

“The technology is in its infancy, but the potential for using bioengineered human tissues for surgical reconstructions or as disease models is huge. At Lawson, we’re ready to take on health care challenges and build on innovative approaches to improve the quality of life for patients.”

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: What is 3D cell culture?

Medical researchers have grown human cells in culture media on or in sterile plastic dishes, such as Petri dishes, for more than 50 years.

Some cells, such as blood cells, can survive and grow in suspension, while others like smooth muscle cells need¬ to adhere to a surface to survive and grow. These are often called “2D cell cultures” because the cells grow horizontally across the bottom of the dish.

Some cells derived from connective tissues, such as fibroblasts, are not only adherent, but also very sensitive to the stiffness of their environment (“biomechanically sensitive” cells). Plastic dishes are at least 10,000 times stiffer than most connective tissues, and when biomechanically sensitive cells detect stiff surfaces, they can change the expression of their genes and behave abnormally.

The most common proteins in these tissues - and in the entire human body - are collagens, and one routine 3D cell culture approach is to embed fibroblasts in a collagen gel (gelatin). Fibroblasts in this environment can grow in any direction they choose, and their gene expression is more similar to cells in connective tissues.

These simple 3D cell cultures represent tissue engineering in its most basic form.

“Our challenge is to bioengineer simple 3D cell cultures in the lab to more closely mimic the complexity of human tissues, which have blood supply, nerves and interactions with other cells and tissues that modify their function and ability to heal after injury,” explains Dr. O’Gorman.

Dr. David O’Gorman is a Lawson Scientist and Co-director, Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory at The Roth | McFarlane Hand and Upper Limb Centre in London, Ontario. He is also an Assistant Professor at Western University.

Guide to insulin pump success

… It is with great respect that we extend our appreciation to Dr. Irene Hramiak for her commitment to seeking … 2.1 Introduction to Counting Carbohydrates … 2.6 Insulin to Carbohydrate Ratio Sheet for Pumps … 4.9 Driving Guidelines for Diabetes … 5.1 Carbohydrate and Insulin Adjustments for Exercise …

Resource Guide to Insulin Pump Success Acknowledgements The team at the Diabetes Education Centre of St. Josephs Health Care London would like to thank Sanofi-Aventis for their generous contribution to sponsoring this educational initiative, thereby encouraging further development of resources and d...

Guide to Living with Worry During Uncertain Times

… to yourself, and to those around you. Wishing you well, Dr Matthew Whalley & Dr Hardeep Kaur Living with worry and anxiety amidst global … worst case scenarios such as most people dying. “My children are off school and I need help looking after them” “I … to yourself, and to those around you. Wishing you well, Dr Matthew Whalley & Dr Hardeep Kaur Living with worry and …

Guide US English Living with worry and anxiety amidst global uncertainty Living with worry and anxiety amidst global uncertainty 1 2020 Psychology Tools LimitedThis resource is free to share About this guide Our world is changing rapidly at the moment. Given some of the news coverage, it would be h...

Gut microbiome may influence how cancer patients respond to oral therapies, study suggests

September 29, 2020

LONDON, ONTARIO - A new study from Lawson Health Research Institute and Western University illustrates how the gut microbiome interacts with an oral medication in prostate cancer patients, suggesting bacteria in the gut play a role in treatment outcomes. The findings, published in Nature Communications, highlight how the drug abiraterone acetate is metabolized by bacteria in the gut to reduce harmful organisms while promoting those that fight cancer. The team suspects this is one of many examples of how the microbiome influences our response to medications.

“Research is beginning to uncover the ways in which the human microbiome influences cancer development, progression and treatment,” explains Brendan Daisley, a PhD candidate at Western’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry who is conducting research at Lawson. “Our study highlights a key interaction between a cancer drug and the gut microbiome that results in beneficial organisms with anti-cancer properties.”

Traditional prostate cancer therapies are designed to deprive the body of hormones called androgens, which are responsible for prostate cancer growth.

“Unfortunately, traditional androgen deprivation therapies are not always effective,” explains Dr. Joseph Chin, Lawson Associate Scientist, Professor at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry and Urologist at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC). "In those cases, alternative therapies are explored.”

Abiraterone acetate is a highly effective therapy used in the treatment of prostate cancer that has been resistant to other treatments. While abiraterone acetate also works to reduce androgens in the body, it does so through a different mechanism and, unlike traditional therapies, it is taken orally.

“When drugs are taken orally, they make their way through the intestinal tract where they come into contact with billions of microorganisms,” says Dr. Jeremy Burton, Lawson Scientist, Associate Professor at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry and lead researcher on the study. “While it’s long been a mystery why abiraterone acetate is so effective, our team wondered if the gut microbiome plays a role.”

The team’s study included 68 prostate cancer patients from LHSC, including those being treated with abiraterone acetate and those being treated with traditional androgen deprivation therapies. The research team collected and analyzed patient stool samples, and conducted further experiments in their laboratory at St. Joseph’s Health Care London.

They discovered that patients’ gut microbiomes changed drastically after taking abiraterone acetate. Bacteria in the gut metabolized the drug leading to a significant increase in a bacterium called Akkermansia muciniphila. Referred to as a ‘next-generation probiotic,’ this bacterium’s relevance has recently been explored in several large cancer studies. It’s been shown to facilitate a better response to cancer immunotherapy drugs and it can elicit a wide range of other positive health benefits as well. The increase in Akkermansia muciniphila also led to an increased production of vitamin K2 which is known for anti-cancer properties that can inhibit tumour growth.

The team also observed the impact of androgen depletion on the microbiome. Both abiraterone acetate and traditional androgen deprivation therapies led to a decrease in organisms that utilize androgen.

“These findings clearly demonstrate that the gut microbiome is playing a role in treatment response,” notes Dr. Burton.

The team hopes to further explore drug-microbiome interactions with a goal of harnessing the microbiome to improve treatment outcomes for a variety of diseases. In another study, they are exploring whether fecal microbiota transplants from a healthy donor can change the microbiome of melanoma patients to increase organisms like Akkermansia muciniphila and improve response to immunotherapy. They also plan to study whether analysis of a patient’s microbiome can be used to predict their response to specific therapies.

“While more research is needed, we may one day be able to analyze a patient’s microbiome to determine the best course of treatment or even influence the microbiome to improve outcomes,” says Dr. Burton. “This could lead to a new frontier in personalized medicine.”

The study was made possible through the generous support of The W. Garfield Weston Foundation, St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation and the Canadian Urologic Oncology Group.

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Brendan Daisley, a PhD candidate at Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry who is conducting research at Lawson Health Research Institute

Dr. Jeremy Burton (left) and Brendan Daisley (right) are conducting research on microbiome-drug interactions at Lawson Health Research Institute and Western University

See all Lawson Media Releases

About Lawson Health Research Institute

Lawson Health Research Institute is one of Canada’s top hospital-based research institutes, tackling the most pressing challenges in health care. As the research institute of London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health Care London, our innovation happens where care is delivered. Lawson research teams are at the leading-edge of science with the goal of improving health and the delivery of care for patients. Working in partnership with Western University, our researchers are encouraged to pursue their curiosity, collaborate often and share their discoveries widely. Research conducted through Lawson makes a difference in the lives of patients, families and communities around the world. To learn more, visit www.lawsonresearch.ca.

About Western

Western delivers an academic experience second to none. Since 1878, The Western Experience has combined academic excellence with life-long opportunities for intellectual, social and cultural growth in order to better serve our communities. Our research excellence expands knowledge and drives discovery with real-world application. Western attracts individuals with a broad worldview, seeking to study, influence and lead in the international community.

About The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry

The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University is one of Canada’s preeminent medical and dental schools. Established in 1881, it was one of the founding schools of Western University and is known for being the birthplace of family medicine in Canada. For more than 130 years, the School has demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence and a passion for scientific discovery.

Media Contacts

Celine Zadorsky

Senior Media Relations Consultant
Communications & Public Engagement
T: 519-685-8500 ext. 73502
Celine.zadorsky@lhsc.on.ca

Gut microbiome may influence how cancer patients respond to oral therapies, study suggests

September 29, 2020

A new study from Lawson Health Research Institute and Western University illustrates how the gut microbiome interacts with an oral medication in prostate cancer patients, suggesting bacteria in the gut play a role in treatment outcomes. The findings, published in Nature Communications, highlight how the drug abiraterone acetate is metabolized by bacteria in the gut to reduce harmful organisms while promoting those that fight cancer. The team suspects this is one of many examples of how the microbiome influences our response to medications.

“Research is beginning to uncover the ways in which the human microbiome influences cancer development, progression and treatment,” explains Brendan Daisley, a PhD candidate at Western’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry who is conducting research at Lawson. “Our study highlights a key interaction between a cancer drug and the gut microbiome that results in beneficial organisms with anti-cancer properties.”

Traditional prostate cancer therapies are designed to deprive the body of hormones called androgens, which are responsible for prostate cancer growth.

Dr. Jeremy Burton (left) and Brendan Daisley (right)

“These findings clearly demonstrate that the gut microbiome is playing a role in treatment response,” notes Dr. Burton.

The study was made possible through the generous support of The W. Garfield Weston Foundation, St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation and the Canadian Urologic Oncology Group.

Scientist

Dr. Jeremy Burton

Hall of Heroes

… The Forever Legacy Foundation Barry Boughner Community Fundraising Donald Gay General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada … DEF Hospital Foundation Champions $25,000-$49,999 Ray and Audrey Beaulieu Wesley and Vera Botham Robert Craig Mrs. Emma … Branch #62 Sarnia Royal Canadian Legion Branch #113 Dresden Royal Canadian Legion Branch #145 London *Royal …

Hall of Heroes 2022 Recognition of New and Moving Members An asterisk denotes a new donor or a donor that has moved up to a new level on the Hall of Heroes. The Herbert Gilvear Society $100,000+ The Forever Legacy Foundation Barry Boughner Community Fundraising Donald Gay General Dynamics Land Syste...

Harm reduction research is improving care for patients who use substances

Research from Lawson Health Research Institute is helping to advance harm reduction strategies in hospitals for people who use substances. In an announcement today, Arielle Kayabaga, Member of Parliament for London West, on behalf of the Honourable Ya’ara Saks, Canada’s Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, announced how $72,768 in funding from Health Canada’s Substance Use and Addictions Program is supporting this ongoing work at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and St. Joseph’s Health Care London (St. Joseph’s).

“Here in London, just like many other cities across Canada, we’re seeing substance use harms continue to take a tragic toll on our families and friends,” says MP Kayabaga. “We are committed to supporting organizations who are on the ground in communities, helping to keep people who use substances safe.”

Research from Lawson has found patients who use methamphetamine reported stigma and a lack of understanding about addiction among health-care providers and hospital staff. This can sometimes result in patients not seeking care, experiencing withdrawal while receiving care or leaving a hospital against medical advice.

Harm reduction announcement — From left, LHSC Clinical Nursing Educator Tammy Fischer, LHSC Acting President and CEO Dr. Kevin Chan, MP Arielle Kayabaga, St. Joseph's Vice-President, Research and Scientific Director Dr. Lisa Porter, Lawson Assistant Scientific Director Dr. Cheryl Forchuk and Regional HIV/AIDS Connection Director of Harm Reduction Services Megan Van Boheemen.

Building on those findings, a team led by Lawson researchers, Drs. Cheryl Forchuk and Michael Silverman, has been working to implement and study harm reduction strategies at LHSC and St. Joseph’s, including those aimed at facilitating changes in attitude, knowledge, organizational support and safety approaches.

“There’s a lot of stigma and misunderstanding about substance use,” says Dr. Forchuk, Scientist and Assistant Scientific Director at Lawson. “This project aims to embed education on substance use and harm reduction as a foundational way to improve care and outcomes.”

Dr. Cheryl Forchuk speaks in London, Ont. on Monday, March 25, 2024.

As part of the research project, Darren Scott, a Peer Harm Reduction Worker with Regional HIV/AIDS Connection who has lived experience with substance use, and Tammy Fischer, a Clinical Nursing Educator in LHSC’s Mental Health and Addictions Program, have been working to educate health-care workers about harm reduction practices.

“I am able to share with patient caregivers how I was treated while I was in active addiction,” shares Scott. “I can let them know what people are going through from the other side and provide advice on how to care for them. The health-care teams have been fantastic and very open-minded throughout this project. I have received feedback that it is vital to include people with lived experience in this education.”

One area of focus from this study has been education around sharps boxes in inpatient hospital rooms. Sharps boxes allow for the safe disposal of sharps like needles to protect the health and safety of patients and health-care teams. Through this study, the research team identified that when sharps boxes are removed from the rooms of patients suspected of using substances to discourage substance use it leads to harm.

“About half of patients who use substances are still using in-hospital, since suddenly stopping use is often not feasible nor safe. Access to sharps boxes decreases the risk of injury to health-care teams and patients,” Fischer explains. “People who use any injection must have safe means to dispose of used equipment.”

The team launched a campaign to educate health-care teams on the importance of keeping sharps boxes in patient rooms. Preliminary data from interviews with patients who use substances found they noticed a difference after this education. Patients felt more comfortable speaking to health-care teams and noted they could be more open about discussing their addiction.

Government of Canada funding is critically important to this work and builds on just over $1 million in previously announced funding. The project is one of several harm reduction research initiatives being explored collaboratively through LHSC and St. Joseph’s to ensure people who use substances receive the highest quality of equitable care.

“This investment is part of our comprehensive and compassionate approach to reducing harms as a result of substance use. We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to build a safer, healthier and more caring future for all Canadians,” says Minister Saks. “Supporting local organizations who have deep roots in their communities and have the trust of their patients is making a real difference in people’s lives in the community of London, Ontario.”

Health research in London receives millions in funding from federal government

February 13, 2020

Lawson Health Research Institute was awarded over $1.2 million in the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s Fall 2019 Project Grant competition, for three projects including one Priority Announcement.

“This is a great accomplishment for the successful researchers at Lawson and those working across the city,” says Dr. David Hill, Lawson Scientific Director. “At Lawson, our scientists target rapid response research that can be quickly incorporated into improved care for patients and families. Our research happens within hospital walls, where care is delivered, with innovations that improve lives every day.”

Western University received more than $11.9 million in research funding through the project grant competition for 17 projects. A special congratulation to Lawson researchers Drs. Samuel Asfaha, Thomas Appleton, Neil Duggal, David Spence and Zhu-Xu Zhang, as well as Dr. Subrata Chakrabarti, recipient of the CIHR Priority Announcement for “Novel mechanisms in diabetic cardiomyopathy.”

Selective Brain Hypothermia via Intranasal Cooling to Limit Brain Injury Post Cardiac Arrest
Dr. Ting-Yim Lee

There are 40,000 cardiac arrests per year in Canada. Within the body, it triggers a complex cascade of dysfunction resulting in cell death, even after successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation, with only three to seven per cent of survivors returning to normal function.

To reduce the high incidence of brain damage and the burden on families, the American Heart Association has recommended hypothermia for neuroprotection in post cardiac arrest care.

However, current clinical hyperthermia cools the whole body instead of just the brain. Simple, effective and non-invasive methods to selectively cool the brain that can be readily used in and out of hospitals are not available.

The team has patented a simple and portable method where the brain is cooled by blowing cold air, generated using a vortex tube and compressed air, into the nostrils. The chilled blood from the nasal cavity collects and cools the blood in the internal carotid artery on the way to the brain, and so lowering the brain’s temperature while keeping body temperature normal.

“The grant is allowing us to collect validative data on the protective effect of brain cooling in limiting brain injury from cardiac arrest,” explains Dr. Lee. “The device is very convenient to use. It is compact and can be set up right by the bedside of patients in intensive care units.”

Dr. Lee sees the device as having the potential to be used widely to limit brain injury following stroke, head trauma and sepsis.

“This kind of investment in hospital-based research allows us to identify important clinical problems and find ways to solve them, working closely with research patients along the way.”

Multi-centre diagnostic performance of dynamic CT perfusion for functional assessment of multi-vessel coronary artery disease with dense coronary calcification
Dr. Aaron So

Coronary artery disease (CAD) occurs when plaque forms in one or more coronary arteries of the heart. It is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the world.

Patients with CAD can go to a cardiac catheterization laboratory where the narrowed coronary artery can be reopened using a catheter-based technique. However, this approach is invasive for the patient and costly for the system. Studies have shown that for various reasons not all patients benefit from this treatment.

“We have developed a new CT imaging technique that will help select the most appropriate CAD patients to undergo cardiac catheterization and revascularization,” says Dr. So. “Blood flow information in both the coronary arteries and the heart muscle are obtained simultaneously and non-invasively.”

With the funding, they are testing the technique at several hospitals and national cardiovascular centres in Canada, China, Germany and Japan. With larger clinical studies in the future, they could determine the optimal diagnostic strategy for patient triage and reduce unnecessary procedures.

“Health research has been and will continue to be very important, with the commitment of patients and clinicians playing a crucial role in the success of medical research and advancement,” says Dr. So. “It’s important for the Canadian government to continue to support research in academic hospitals.”

He adds that the success of the CIHR grant application shows that Canadian researchers can be leaders in health research that benefits people around the world.

Filling Knowledge Gaps for the Success of Ontario Renal Plan 3
Dr. Matthew Weir

The Ontario Renal Network (ORN) is the agency responsible for distribution of funding for kidney care in Ontario. They have released three policy statements outlining strategic objectives for kidney care, with the most recent being the recently released Ontario Renal Plan 3 (ORP3).

“Within the strategic objective, gaps in our understanding of kidney disease have been identified as barriers to successful implementation,” explains Dr. Weir. “We have proposed a suite of 32 related retrospective cohort analyses designed using integrated knowledge translation to address those gaps.”

The Priority funding will help get the first projects underway and build momentum. “The ORP3 had extensive consultation with patients, families and other stakeholders. By supporting its successful implementation, our findings will have a direct and immediate effect on patients in areas that are a priority to them.”

Scientist

Dr. Ting-Yim Lee

Health researchers in London bring in over $11 million of national funding

July 11, 2018

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) announced more than $11.3 million in funding through their project grants program for 17 health research projects across Lawson Health Research Institute and Western University.

“The funded projects represent a wide range of research and expertise from London’s health research community, with real impacts for health and health care,” says Dr. David Hill, Lawson Scientific Director. “Congratulations to those successful applicants who have secured this funding on a very tough competition.”

Projects include a national study on transgender health; a community-based family treatment program for children with epilepsy; imaging of blood clots in the brain; equity in mental health care for children and youth; and, a smartphone intervention focused on diet and food literacy.

See the full list of successful applicants.

Cooling the Brain after Resuscitated Cardiac Arrest to Prevent Brain Injury

There are 40,000 cardiac arrests each year in Canada. A high number of patients won’t survive the event and nearly half of the survivors suffer from brain damage that can have a huge impact on their ability to live independently. The current guidelines recommend cooling of the whole body to protect the brain against the damaging effects of cardiac arrest. However, in the clinic there are several hurdles for this treatment that can create complications. Enhanced brain protection may be achieved by selectively cooling the brain but a simple, effective and non-invasive method to do so is needed.

Dr. Ting-Yim Lee and his research team are studying a simple means to cool down the brain by blowing compressed air into the nostrils which would essentially chill the warm blood coming through the nasal cavity on its way to the brain. Using an animal model, their aim is to show that the method can be used safely and is able to protect the brain after cardiac arrest.

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The DECIPHER Study

Shoulder fractures are becoming increasingly common for older adults and cause considerable limitations and impacts for their daily life. While different approaches are taken to treat shoulder fractures, there is a lack of knowledge and evidence to show which of those methods are the most effective and for which patients.

Dr. Emil Schemitsch and his research team are proposing the first nation-wide, multi-centre observational study with over 600 patients with the ultimate goal of determining what specific factors influence important outcomes for patients. The DECIPHER study will seek to answer important questions about which treatment and rehabilitation strategies are best for different patients, strengthening the clinical strategy for managing these difficult and prevalent injuries. It will also provide an economic analysis to understand the impact for healthcare system costs.

Congratulations to all of the successful applicants:

Greta Bauer and Ayden Scheim - Trans PULSE Canada: A National Study of Transgender Health
Maria Drangova - Characterizing cerebral thrombus composition with Phase‐based MRI
David Edgell, Bogumil Karas, and Gregory Gloor - ConCRISPR: Conjugative delivery of a hybrid CRISPR/Tev nuclease system for specific microbiota modulation in the mammalian gut
Jason Gilliland - Evaluation of a Smartphone Based Intervention for Improving Food Literacy, Food Purchasing, and Diet Quality Among Youth in Urban, Suburban, and Rural Environments
Douglas Hamilton - Novel Biomaterials‐Based Strategies to Stimulate Periodontal Tissue Regeneration
David Haniford - Regulation of Salmonella pathogenesis by transposon‐encoded small regulatory RNAs
Steven Laviolette - Effects of Neurodevelopmental Exposure to Cannabinoids on Prefrontal Cortical Function: Implications for Neuropsychiatric Disorders
Ting-Yim Lee - Selective Brain Hypothermia via Intranasal Cooling to Limit Brain Injury Post Cardiac Arrest (Funded through Lawson Health Research Institute)
Stephen Lomber - Cortical Plasticity Following Deafness
Vania Prado - Cholinergic influence in aging and brain pathology
Graham Reid and William Gardner - Equity in Mental Health Care for Children and Youth
Jason Roberts - The Role of Electrophysiology Testing in Survivors of Unexplained Cardiac Arrest: The EPS ARREST Study
Emil Schemitsch - The DECIPHER Study: DEterminants of Function and Clinically Important outcomes in Proximal Humerus Fractures in the Elder Population: A National CohoRt (Funded through Lawson Health Research Institute)
Walter Siqueira and Elizabeth Gillies - Novel Drug Delivery System for the Combat of Dental Caries by using Salivary Peptides
Kathy Speechley and Karen Bax - A Community-Based Family Treatment Program for Children with Epilepsy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Andrew Watson - Understanding and Treating Obesity Related loss of Embryo Developmental Competence
Donald Welsh - Kir Channel Regulation by Membrane Lipids: An Enabler of Hemodynamic Sensing in the Cerebral Circulation

Heather MacKenzie

Heather MacKenzie, MD; MSc

Assistant Professor, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry

Key Areas of Focus:

Acquired and Traumatic Brain Injury

Phone:

519-685-4292, ext. 44080

Email:

Accepting Grad Students:

About:

Dr. Heather MacKenzie is a physiatrist at Parkwood Institute and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University. She completed her residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Western University and subsequently earned a Master’s of Science degree in Epidemiology at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health.

Her research program focuses on predicting outcomes after concussion/mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Although concussions/mTBIs are common and the majority of symptoms resolve within three months, a significant proportion of individuals remain symptomatic beyond one year. These persistent symptoms result in mobility challenges and reduced participation in instrumental activities of daily living as well as vocational and leisure activities. Dr. MacKenzie’s current research focuses on identifying patients that are at high-risk for developing persistent symptoms from concussion/mTBI so that interventions can be prioritized and rehabilitation services can be quickly mobilized. Early intervention for those expected to have a prolonged recovery has the potential to alter their trajectory and optimize their potential for a positive outcome and may also reduce the occurrence of persistent symptoms and decrease secondary disability related to their injury.

Back to Our Mobility Experts

Helping patients get high quality cancer care

July 21, 2017

Dr. David Palma, Radiation Oncologist at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and Scientist at Lawson Health Research Institute, is a strong advocate for cancer patients getting the high-quality care they deserve.

His new book, Taking Charge of Cancer: What You Need to Know to Get the Best Treatment, is the first “how-to” manual that shows patients how to obtain and understand their medical records, double-check their doctors’ recommendations and ensure they are getting top-notch radiation, surgery or chemotherapy.

All royalties are being donated to London Health Sciences Foundation's Cancer Care Campaign, which will help to support cancer research at Lawson.

History

Each hospital’s research mission has a rich history. At both hospital organizations, leaders recognized opportunities to leverage in-house experts to conduct research and improve care. However, they also recognized the challenge in supporting these activities without dedicated space and resources.

Through great foresight, our hospitals founded the official research institutes that serve as Lawson's foundation:

1983: Supported by Sister Mary Doyle, former Executive Director of St. Joseph's, the Sisters of St. Joseph's establish the hospital's official research institute. LHSC and Upjohn jointly open the Victoria Upjohn Clinical Research Unit at South Street Hospital (formerly Victoria Hospital), focusing on Phase I-III clinical trials.
1987: The St. Joseph's research institute is named the Lawson Research Institute (LRI) in honour of London businessman and philanthropist Colonel Tom Lawson and his wife, Miggsie Lawson - close friends of Sister Mary Doyle and major supporters of the research mission.
1990: Victoria Hospital takes over the operation of the clinical research unit at South Street, renaming it the Victoria Clinical Trials Centre.
1997: The Victoria Clinical Trials Centre is renamed London Health Sciences Centre Research Inc. and becomes a fully incorporated research institute overseeing all hospital-based research within London Health Sciences Centre sites: Victoria Hospital, University Hospital and South Street Hospital.
2000: LRI and LHSCRI merge to form a joint venture: Lawson Health Research Institute.
2014: Lawson Research Institute (re-)launches as the hospital-based research arm of St. Joseph's with the goal of transforming imagination to innovation to impact; and as LHSCRI is also embedded into LHSC.

Today, partnerships remain strong, allowing researchers to move seamlessly between hospital locations and Western University.

Milestones

Since forming in 2000, Lawson has pioneered breakthroughs across various disciplines of health research and reached several institutional milestones.

2019: Lawson led research team is the first in the world to develop a new imaging tool, showed that MRI can be used to measure how the heart uses oxygen.
2019: New studies from Lawson and Western University found for the first time that HIV can be transmitted through the sharing of equipment used to prepare drugs before injection and that a simple intervention can destroy the HIV virus, preventing that transmission.
2019: In the first genomic analysis of head and neck cancer by smoking status, researchers at Lawson, in collaboration with researchers at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research and UCLA Cancer Centre, carried out a comprehensive genetic analysis of HPV-negative tumours to better understand the link between smoking and cancer recovery.
2019: Lawson scientists develop molecular diagnostic tool to analyze epigenetic patterns, facilitating diagnosis of rare, unknown hereditary disorders. London Health Sciences Centre is the first site in the world to offer this type of testing.
2018: Research shows high-dose radiation can improve survival in patients with cancer that has spread to give or less sites. The SABR-COMET study was the first randomized phase II clinical trial of its kind.
2018: An international collaborative study between Lawson Health Research Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the Royal Marsden and Epic Sciences is one of the first to demonstrate that a blood test can predict how patients with advanced prostate cancer will respond to specific treatments, leading to improved survival.
2018: In collaborative study between Lawson and Stanford University, scientists develop and test a new synthetic surfactant that could lead to improved treatments for lung disease and injury.
2018: Scientists use brain MRI to develop first ever method examining young people before they become ill to reliably identify who will develop acute psychosis and who will not.
2018: Research team develops clinically-validated, open-source 3D printed stethoscope for areas with limited access to medical supplies.
2018: Lawson opens Clinical Research and Chronic Disease Centre (CRCDC) at St. Joseph’s Hospital to tackle chronic disease and improve patient care.
2018: Lawson researchers receive $4.4 million to study personalized medicine at LHSC, examining the value of prescribing treatments based on a patient’s genetics.
2017: In one of the largest microbiota studies conducted in humans, researchers at Western University, Lawson Health Research Institute and Tianyi Health Science Institute in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China have shown a potential link between healthy aging and a healthy gut.
2017: Lawson researchers develop transition program to help young adults with type 1 diabetes move from paediatric to adult care.
2017: Innovative study brings next-generation genome sequencing to London cancer patients, contributing to province-wide database of genomic and clinical data.
2017: Technology developed at Western University and Lawson Health Research Institute can provide a new window into whether or not patients are responding to treatment for advanced ovarian cancer.
2017: Dr. Alan Getgood and his team at Western University and Lawson Health Research Institute are the first in Canada to participate in an investigative trial to determine the safety and efficacy of using a patient’s own cartilage cells to repair knee cartilage injuries.
2016: Lawson Researchers at Parkwood Institute are the first in Canada to develop clinical practice guidelines for managing neuropathic pain with patients who have experienced a spinal cord injury.
2016: Researchers at Lawson are the first in Canada to use a Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) probe in Positron Emissions Tomography (PET) scans to provide improved and highly specific images used for better diagnosis and management of prostate cancer.
2015: Lawson scientists, in collaboration with Ceresensa Inc., produce novel PET-transparent MRI head coil, a world first in imaging technology
2015: Lawson announces partnership with STEMCELL Technologies for commercialization of tools for Parkinson’s disease research
2015: Novare Pharmaceuticals and Lawson announce issuance of a U.S. patent for the composition-of-matter and use of RHAMM-binding peptides with a wide range of potential therapeutic uses. The patent also has claims for the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer, and for prescribing a course of treatment for the diagnosed cancer.
2014: Lawson announces licensing agreement with Yabao Pharmaceutical Group in China to develop and test a new life-saving drug to treat sepsis
2014: Lawson researchers are part of a Canadian team who have developed a way to produce a key medical isotope, technetium-99m (Tc-99m), using hospital based cyclotrons
2013: The Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) Western opens at Lawson
2012: Lawson installs Canada's first PET/MRI at St. Joseph's Hospital
2011: Lindros Legacy Research Building officially opens at University Hospital
2010: Lawson opens the Cyclotron and PET Radiochemistry facility at St. Joseph's Hospital
2009: Lawson receives a record $7 million donation to support the Canadian Research & Development Centre for Probiotics
2008: Lawson establishes an experimental anti-thrombolitic clinic to calculate personalized dosage of drugs based on a patient's genetics
2007: The first totally endoscopic closed-chest robotic coronary artery bypass surgery on a patient's beating heart is performed at University Hospital
2006: Lawson opens the Aging, Rehabilitation & Geriatric Care Research Centre, the first centre of its kind in Canada, at Parkwood Institute
2005: Lawson creates the first Ontario Cardiac Rehabilitation Registry
2004: Lawson scientists release a three-year study on the effects of the Walkerton water disaster
2003: Lawson opens the Victoria Research Laboratories at Victoria Hospital, the first collaboration of its kind in Canada bringing together research from cancer, children's health and vascular biology
2002: Lawson installs the first Positron Emission Tomography and Computer Tomography (PET/CT) scanner in Canada at St. Joseph's Hospital
2001: St. Joseph's is one of five sites in the world piloting the Diabetes Electronic Management Systems

History of Mount Hope

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Sisters of St. Joseph of London Archives PO Box 487 London ON N6A 4X3 519-432-3781 ext 404 lperrie@csj.london.on.ca Sisters of St. Joseph of London St. Marys Hospital Basic facts 1869: Mount Hope established as an Orphanage, Motherhouse, and Home for the Aged. 1900: Motherhouse, Novitiate and Orp...

Home Monitoring in Health Care Conference

November 23, 2018

1:00pm - 5:45pm

LHSC: Victoria Hospital

Research has shown that technology can link clinicians to a changing clinical situation in real-time, enabling provision of appropriate and timely medical care. But how can we implement this here in London?

Join us on November 24, 2018 to learn from local innovators on their current projects and help us collaborate on future goals.

Saturday, November 24, 2018
9:00 a.m. - 1:45 p.m.
(Registration beginning at 8:30 a.m.)
Sumner Auditorium, Victoria Hospital, Rm. B2-119
800 Commissioners Rd. E, London, Ontario

Moderator:

Dr. Homer Yang, Anesthesia & Perioperative Medicine, LHSC

Speakers:

Dr. Nassar Khalil, Connecting Care to Home
Dr. James Lewis, Connecting Care to Home
Dr. Julieann Vankoughnett, Surgery, LHSC
Dr. Anthony Tang, Cardiology, LHSC
Dr. Tim Doherty, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, LHSC
Dr. Mandar Jog, Neurologist, LHSC
Dr. John Fuller, Perioperative Care, LHSC
Dr. Arsh Jain, Renal Services, LHSC
Danish Mahmood, 15-year-old youth innovator, speaker, and high school student

For directions and parking information for Victoria Hospital, please see the LHSC website.

Homelessness Counts: Research Launch Event

May 19, 2021

2:00pm - 3:00pm

The homeless experience varies significantly across Canada, especially within different rural and remote regions of the country. Understanding the number of people experiencing homelessness - and where - is crucial. We need more accurate numbers to ensure the proper supports and services are in place.

Homelessness Counts builds on past work looking at how existing databases, such as provincial health data, could be used as an alternative way to determine homelessness among the population.

With funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada, the aim of this research project is to access and integrate existing sources of information to better understand how many people in Canada are homeless and who they are.

Join the research team for a virtual launch event for the project, hosted as a Zoom Webinar and shared live on Facebook.

Wednesday, May 19, 2021
10 – 11 am

Register for the Zoom Webinar

SPEAKERS:

Dr. Cheryl Forchuk, Assistant Scientific Director, Lawson Health Research Institute
Dr. Richard Booth, Associate Professor, Western University’s Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing
Craig Cooper, Manager, Homeless Prevention, City of London

Production of this event has been made possible through a financial contribution from the Public Health Agency of Canada. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Hospital data shows longer, costlier stays for patients experiencing homelessness

May 15, 2024

Nearly 30,000 people last year were homeless when admitted to hospital and/or discharged from hospital, a first-of-its-kind Canadian analysis shows. Almost all of these inpatients were admitted following a visit to an emergency department, and the complexity of their illnesses meant they stayed twice as long as the national average.

“What’s most troubling, based on what we know from other research, is that so many were discharged into the community without stable housing,” says study co-author Dr. Cheryl Forchuk, PhD, Assistant Scientific Director at Lawson Health Research Institute. “We need to see housing as a health intervention, and an integral part of a health strategy,” says Dr. Forchuk, a trailblazer in researching health impact and solutions for people experiencing homelessness.

The new analysis – using a database from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) – is the first detailed look at Canadian hospitals’ use of Z59.0, a mandatory record-keeping code intended to identify and improve services for patients experiencing homelessness.

Key findings from this study include:

Nearly 30,000 patients identified as living without housing were hospitalized across Canada last year.
Average length of stay for people experiencing homelessness was 15.4 days, compared with the national eight-day average.
About 12 per cent of patients had hospital stays of more than one month.
Average cost per stay was $16,800, compared with the national average of $7,800.
Substance use, schizophrenic disorders and cellulitis (a bacterial infection) are the three most common reasons for hospital stays.
Of these patients, 93 per cent were admitted to hospital after an emergency department visit.

Hospitalization and homelessness – a Canadian snapshot (Source: Canadian Institute of Health Information)

Dr. Forchuk’s contribution to this work was supported through Homelessness Counts, a federally funded Lawson project launched in 2021 to improve understanding of how many people in Canada are experiencing homelessness and who they are.

Dr. Forchuk notes that the longer hospital stays, with more complex care for marginalized populations, can lead to evictions from private apartments or rooming houses.

“In London, we’re in a position to showcase what a community in partnership can do,” Dr. Forchuk notes. “We’ve done a lot of work to prevent discharge into homelessness, including the City of London and other partners prioritizing housing for people who are discharged from hospital.”

The study highlights how housing is intimately connected to health and wellbeing, and the importance of hospitals like London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and St. Joseph’s Health Care London (St. Joseph’s) participating in initiatives like the Health & Homelessness Whole of Community Response in London, Ontario.

“As health care providers, we recognize the importance of accurate data for understanding an individual’s care journey across sectors and organizations, especially when addressing homelessness,” says Brad Campbell, Corporate Hospital Administrative Executive, LHSC. “For example, hospital and service utilization data has been essential to understanding emergency department patterns for those living without stable housing in our community, enabling us to improve care for marginalized people through different service delivery models. Through collaborations like our partnership with London Cares, we’ve leveraged data to help individuals in our community access supportive housing and comprehensive 24/7 health and social support services.”

Campbell notes this work aligns to priorities in the Ontario health-care sector by increasing collaboration across sectors and removing barriers to care by enabling inter-agency communication to support increased capacity and access to health-care supports.

“Housing is health care," adds Dr. Forchuk. “Gathering and analyzing this data gives us more tools to find workable solutions to the complex problem of how people experiencing homelessness receive, or don’t receive, the health care they need.

MEDIA CONTACT

Deb (Flaherty) Van Brenk, Communication Consultant
Cell: 226 577-1429 or 519 318-0657
Email: @email

About Lawson Health Research Institute

About London Health Sciences Centre

London Health Sciences Centre has been at the forefront of medicine in Canada for 145 years and offers the broadest range of specialized clinical services in Ontario. Building on the traditions of its founding hospitals to provide compassionate care in an academic teaching setting, London Health Sciences Centre is home to Children’s Hospital, University Hospital, Victoria Hospital, the Kidney Care Centre, two family medical centres, and two research institutes – Children’s Health Research Institute and Lawson Health Research Institute. As a leader in medical discovery and health research, London Health Sciences Centre has a history of over 70 international and national firsts and attracts top clinicians and researchers from around the world. As a regional referral centre, London Health Sciences Centre cares for the most medically complex patients including critically injured adults and children in southwestern Ontario and beyond. The hospital’s nearly 15,000 staff, physicians, students and volunteers provide care for more than one million patient visits a year. For more information, visit www.lhsc.on.ca.

About St. Joseph’s Health Care London

Renowned for compassionate care, St. Joseph’s Health Care London is a leading academic health care centre in Canada dedicated to helping people live to their fullest by minimizing the effects of injury, disease and disability through excellence in care, teaching and research. Through partnership with Lawson Health Research Institute and our collaborative engagement with other health care and academic partners, St. Joseph’s has become an international leader in the areas of: chronic disease management; medical imaging; specialized mental health care; rehabilitation and specialized geriatrics; and surgery. St. Joseph’s operates through a wide range of hospital, clinic and long-term and community-based settings, including: St. Joseph’s Hospital; Parkwood Institute; Mount Hope Centre for Long Term Care; and the Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care. www.sjhc.london.on.ca

Hospital data shows longer, costlier stays for patients experiencing homelessness

Key findings from this study include:

Nearly 30,000 patients identified as living without housing were hospitalized across Canada last year.
Average length of stay for people experiencing homelessness was 15.4 days, compared with the national eight-day average.
About 12 per cent of patients had hospital stays of more than one month.
Average cost per stay was $16,800, compared with the national average of $7,800.
Substance use, schizophrenic disorders and cellulitis (a bacterial infection) are the three most common reasons for hospital stays.
Of these patients, 93 per cent were admitted to hospital after an emergency department visit.

Hospitalization and homelessness – a Canadian snapshot (Source: Canadian Institute of Health Information)

Dr. Forchuk notes that the longer hospital stays, with more complex care for marginalized populations, can lead to evictions from private apartments or rooming houses.

Media Contact

Deb (Flaherty) Van Brenk, Communication Consultant
Cell: 226 577-1429 or 519 318-0657
Email: @email