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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
How changes in the brain affect walking while talking in older adults
Dr. Manuel Montero-Odasso’s research demonstrates that gait testing, such as walking while performing a cognitively demanding task like counting backwards (dual-task gait),can be an effective predictor of progression to dementia. In a new study, a team at Lawson Health Research Institute and Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry has discovered changes to the brain that correspond to these findings.
These changes identify a brain mechanism that corresponds with slow dual-task gait among older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), an intermediate stage between the expected cognitive decline of normal aging and the more serious decline of dementia. Through their work Dr. Montero-Odasso and his team have found that a high dual-task gait cost, or a significant slowdown in walking speed when dual-tasking, is associated with a two- to three-fold increased risk of progression to dementia. However, the brain mechanism underlying this association was unclear.
To address this research question, Dr. Montero-Odasso partnered with Robert Bartha, PhD, an imaging scientist at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry and Robarts Research Institute at Western University. The team used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine the medial temporal areas of the brain, particularly the hippocampus, the parahippocampal gyrus, and the entorhinal cortex, which are regions particularly vulnerable to degeneration in Alzheimer’s disease. Participants were 40 older adults with MCI taking part in Dr. Montero-Odasso’s “Gait and Brain Study” at St. Joseph’s Health Care London’s Parkwood Institute.
The researchers found that participants with higher dual-task gait costs had a smaller grey matter volume in the left entorhinal cortex. Although grey matter volume loss is a common finding in people with Alzheimer’s disease, it is still unclear which areas of the brain are first affected by neurodegeneration. This finding points to the entorhinal cortex as a susceptible brain region in early stages of cognitive decline. This is in line with previous studies reporting that progression to Alzheimer’s disease is associated with volume loss in the entorhinal cortex.
The study therefore suggests that cognitive and motor dysfunction in older adults with MCI share common changes to the brain. This further supports that dual-task gait changes may be a measurable motor marker for neurological degeneration happening in Alzheimer’s disease.
“These novel results show that early brain changes common to pre-dementia states can be manifested by the way patients walk,” says Dr. Montero-Odasso, scientist at Lawson, geriatrician at St. Joseph’s Health Care London, and professor at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry. “This evidence supports walking while performing a cognitively demanding task as an important way to help predict dementia.”
The study, “Entorhinal Cortex Volume Is Associated With Dual-Task Gait Cost Among Older Adults With MCI: Results From the Gait and Brain Study,” is published in The Journals of Gerontology: Series A.
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Critieria for admission to LTV Program Feb 2024.doc Complex Care Program Parkwood Institute Patients Eligible for transfer to the Long Term Ventilation Beds There are six beds within the Complex Care Program at Parkwood Institute that provide a clinical setting for individuals requiring long-term m...
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ICU patients with non-brain-related injuries may suffer undetected cognitive dysfunction
LONDON, ON - A new study led by Western University and Lawson Health Research Institute has found that most patients entering hospital intensive care units (ICU) for non-brain-related injuries or ailments also suffer from some level of related cognitive dysfunction that currently goes undetected in most cases.
The findings were published today in the influential scientific journal, PLOS One.
Many patients spend time in the ICU for reasons that have nothing to do with a known brain injury, and most health care providers and caregivers don’t have any evidence to believe there is an issue with the brain. For example, a patient may have had a traumatic injury that does not involve the brain, yet still requires breathing support to enable surgeons to fix damaged organs, they may have issues with their heart or lungs, they may contract a serious infection, or they may simply be recovering from a surgical procedure like an organ transplant that has nothing directly to do with their brain.
For the study, Western researchers from the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry and the Brain and Mind Institute and researchers from Lawson assessed 20 such patients as they left the ICU and every single patient had detectible cognitive deficits in two or more cognitive areas of investigation, including memory, attention, decision-making and reasoning. Again, this is in spite of the fact that, on the face of it, they had no clear brain injury.
The discovery was made using online tests, developed by renowned Western neuroscientist Adrian Owen and his teams at the Brain and Mind Institute and BrainsCAN, which were originally designed to examine cognitive ability in patients following brain injuries but for this purpose, are being used to detect cognitive deficits in people who have spent time in an intensive care unit without a diagnosed brain injury.
“Many people spend time in an intensive care unit following a brain injury and, of course, they often experience deficits in memory, attention, decision-making and other cognitive functions as a result,” explains Owen, a professor at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry. “In this study, we were interested to see how patients without a specific brain injury fair after leaving the ICU. The results were astonishing.”
Why cognitive ability declines even in non-brain related visits to the ICU likely varies from patient to patient, but Dr. Kimia Honarmand from Schulich Medicine & Dentistry says the lesson to be learned is that many conditions affect brain function, even though they might not directly involve the brain.
“If you are having trouble breathing, your brain may be starved of oxygen. If you have a serious infection, the inflammation that occurs as a result of infection may affect brain function. If you are undergoing major surgery, you might be given drugs and have procedures that may affect your breathing, which in turn may affect the flow of oxygen to the brain,” explains Dr. Honarmand. “What we have shown here is that all or any of these events can lead to deficits in brain function that manifest as impairments in cognition. And healthy cognition is a vital determinant of functional recovery.”
Dr. Marat Slessarev, Lawson Scientist, says these findings can shift how the medical community treats incoming patients and more importantly, outpatients following ICU visits.
“Historically, the clinical focus has been on just survival. But now we can begin to focus on good survival,” says Dr. Slessarev, also an associate member at the Brain and Mind Institute and an assistant professor at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry. “These sensitive tests will enable doctors to both detect cognitive impairment and track cognitive performance over time, which is the first step in developing processes for optimizing brain recovery.”
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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.
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.
Media Contacts
Celine Zadorsky
Senior Media Relations Consultant
Communications & Public Engagement
T: 519-685-8500 ext. 73502
Celine.zadorsky@lhsc.on.ca
Illuminating the body's smallest secrets
Lawson Research Institute’s cyclotron facility is a formidable partner in the fight against disease.
Tucked behind the protective lower walls of St. Joseph’s Hospital lies a futuristic workshop of sorts – a place where science, technology and leading-edge medical care converge.
Within a behemoth, 62-ton machine, a swirling vortex of powerful magnetic fields and electric pulses is creating bursts of radioactive isotopes – tiny, potent sparks of life-saving potential. In the hands of technologists, researchers and clinicians, these chemical elements become diagnostic tracers and therapeutic agents, each particle revealing secrets of the human body.
The machine is a cyclotron - a type of particle accelerator and the only one of its kind in the region. At Lawson Research Institute’s Cyclotron & PET Radiochemistry Facility, scientists are producing a steady and timely supply of short-lived radioisotopes every day to study, detect and treat disease.
These radioisotopes become a beacon in positron emission tomography (PET) scans, illuminating the hidden shadows of cancer and other diseases. Others provide a precise map of the intricate pathways of blood flow, biological functions, location of specific cells and proteins, and the body’s skeletal architecture.
A formidable partner in the fight against disease, “the cyclotron facility is a hub for Southwestern Ontario that is uncovering the possibilities for improving patient care in numerous ways,” says Michael Kovacs, PhD, Lead, Lawson’s Cyclotron & PET Radiochemistry Facility and Program Lead, Lawson Imaging Research Program.
St. Joseph’s cyclotron supports a wide variety of research projects including imaging applied to oncology, cardiology, neurology, psychiatry, metabolic disease, infectious diseases, bioelectromagnetics and other areas.
“The scope of discoveries already making a difference, and the possibilities within reach, are a source of great pride for Lawson and for London,” adds Frank Prato, PhD Lawson scientist and Chief Medical Physicist at St. Joseph’s.
For Kovacs, Prato, their teams and partners, St. Joseph’s cyclotron is a testament to ingenuity and innovation, a world where every spin and burst of charged particles brings a promise of hope and healing.
Powering innovation
Generous donors to St. Joseph’s Health Care London have made both advanced research and next-level technology a reality. During the past few years, more than $1.1 million in donations funded extensive renovations to the Cyclotron & PET Radiochemistry Facility, making it possible to increase production of isotopes and expand life-saving care.
Recently, $1 million in donations supported a new PET/CT – the heart of the Canada’s first national GE centre of excellence in molecular imaging and theranostics being developed at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
Imaging “hidden” regions of the heart
After suffering a heart attack, some patients develop a microvascular obstruction, an area of the injured heart with extremely poor blood flow. These patients are at an increased risk of developing heart failure in the future.
Medical imaging technologies such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) can be used to study the remodeling process after a heart attack that can lead to a microvascular obstruction. However, poor blood flow makes it difficult to get contrast agents into the obstruction. Contrast agents are used in medical imaging to show contrast between different types of tissue, such as damaged and healthy tissue.
Benjamin Wilk, a PhD candidate at Lawson Health Research Institute and Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, will investigate whether a hybrid PET/MRI system and a new method of administering contrast agents can allow researchers to image microvascular obstructions and study these “hidden” regions in the heart.
Contrast agents are usually injected as a bolus, meaning the entire injection is administered immediately. In this study, participants will instead receive a constant infusion of an MRI contrast agent and PET tracer, which means the injection will be delivered over the course of an hour. The MRI contrast agent they are using is sensitive to blood flow and scar tissue, and the PET tracer is sensitive to inflammatory cells.
This will allow researchers to study the anatomy, blood flow and inflammatory processes in microvascular obstructions a week after heart attack. Participants will then be imaged again after six weeks to study the long-term effects on heart function.
“Studying the heart after a heart attack using novel contrast agent injection strategies with simultaneous PET/MRI could provide crucial information for treatment planning, helping us reduce the number of people affected by heart failure in the future,” says Wilk. “This project could also lead to further research into finding better ways to administer PET tracers and MRI contrast agents. These methods could be applied to different diseases as well.”
Wilk received a Lawson Internal Research Fund (IRF) Studentship to conduct the study, which will be supervised by Dr. Frank Prato, Assistant Director, Lawson and leader of the Lawson Imaging research program at St. Joseph’s Health Care London.
“Lawson's IRF is valuable for students for many reasons. It not only allows us to conduct further research, it also enriches our experience by giving us opportunities to write grants and attend conferences,” adds Wilk.
The IRF is designed to provide Lawson scientists the opportunity to obtain start-up funds for new projects with the potential to obtain larger funding, be published in a high-impact journal, or provide a clinical benefit to patients. Funding is provided by the clinical departments of London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health Care London, as well as the hospital foundations (London Health Sciences Foundation and St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation).
Scientist