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A beneficial and cost-effective approach to mental health care that supports people as they go from hospital and back into the community is outlined in a new resource and has been recognized internationally by the World Health Organization (WHO). 

"The immediate period after discharge from hospital, usually the first month, can be one of the most vulnerable times in the life of someone experiencing a mental illness. It can be when they are most at risk of committing suicide,” explains Dr. Cheryl Forchuk, Assistant Scientific Director at Lawson Health Research Institute. “However, what we’ve seen is that there’s often a gap between when someone says ‘goodbye’ to the hospital inpatient unit and ‘hello’ to the community care provider.” 

During a virtual book launch, a research team from Lawson and several community organizations discussed details of a new publication from Routledge, From Therapeutic Relationships to Transitional Care: A Theoretical and Practical Roadmap, edited by Dr. Forchuk. The book combines theory, research and best practices into a “roadmap” for organizations and others worldwide coordinating services or studying mental health care systems. It includes a practical toolkit for implementing the Transitional Discharge Model (TDM), developed and tested in communities across Ontario.  

Purchase your copy of the book HERE and enter promo code SMAO3 at checkout for a 20% discount. 

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How Transitional Discharge  works 

TDM was born from a participatory action project with consumers of mental health services. They identified two factors that were most important to them when they were going from hospital to the community: consistency in therapeutic relationships and a supportive peer friendship.  

It became known as a “safety net of relationships” that would bridge the gap between hospital and community services.  

As a person-centred, evidence-based model, transitional discharge supports a smooth adjustment from hospital to community in two main ways:  

• The inpatient staff continue to care for discharged clients until therapeutic relationships are established with community care providers.  
• A friendship model of support with trained peer support workers who have lived experience of mental illness as they have made the same journey.  

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Perspective of a TDM client and peer support coach  

Lance Dingman was a TDM client during the early phases of the project. “It makes a big difference when you’re able to get back to living in the community and in your own dwelling. You get to make more of your own decisions and learn about what you want to do. You grow with your experience and the guidance of others who are there to support you.”  

Later becoming a peer support coach, Dingman feels implementing TDM for mental health care is important because people can learn from each other and get healthier in the process. “As a peer support worker, I sit with people and they tell me their story. It takes me back and I know what they are going through – I was where they are. I can share my own story and tell them what I did to get better.”  

Cost-analysis and savings for the system  

Dr. Forchuk’s team analyzed the cost of TDM after being tested in nine hospitals across Ontario, including London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health Care London.  

• On average, the length of stay in hospital was reduced by almost 10 (9.8) days per admission.  
• Each site saved approximately $3.3 million per year.  

“People can return home sooner because a higher level of care and support is in place when they leave hospital. If all hospitals in Ontario with mental health services were able to implement our transitional discharge model, we would save $60 million per year in hospital stay costs alone while providing enhanced mental health care.”  

International implementation  

In Scotland, the parliament has already declared TDM as a best practice after demonstrating a significant reduction in readmission rates. 

The TDM approach is now considered a “good practice” by WHO and was recently the only Canadian example included in its Guidance on community mental health services: Promoting person-centered and rights-based approaches. This set of publications provides information and support to all stakeholders who wish to develop or transform their mental health system and services to align with international human rights standards including the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 

According to Dr. Jeremy Burton, we’re in a golden age of microbiome and probiotics research.

“Thanks to advancements in next-generation sequencing, we’re learning more and more every day about the impacts of the microbiome on the human body,” states Dr. Burton. 

Effective September 1, 2020, Dr. Burton has been appointed as Research Chair in Human Microbiome and Probiotics at Lawson Health Research Institute for a five-year term. As part of the Chair’s responsibilities, Dr. Burton will also assume the title of Director for the Canadian Centre for Human Microbiome and Probiotics Research, which is located at Lawson. 

Funded by an endowment through St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation, the position is responsible for leading Lawson’s Human Microbiome and Probiotics research program. The specialized research chair was established at St. Joseph’s in 2007 as a result of a significant investment by Danone International, in recognition of groundbreaking microbiome research by Dr. Gregor Reid, the inaugural holder of the Chair. 

With extensive experience in both academia and industry, Dr. Burton is a world-renowned scientist specializing in urinary microbiome research. He points to the diversity of microbiome research at Lawson as a strength to be leveraged.

“Our program is conducting a diverse array of microbiota-related research from probiotic studies to fecal transplants to the investigation of drug-microbiome interactions,” explains Dr. Burton. “There’s a lot of interest in conducting microbiome research as it’s become clear how it affects so many human systems. We are also working with a number of other groups across the city – both clinical and basic sciences – to meet their microbiota-related research needs.”

There are two pillars to Dr. Burton’s vision for microbiome and probiotics research at Lawson. The first is advancing translational research that leads to improved patient outcomes, such as new microbial therapies. The second is improving our understanding of the microbiome by studying its function in real-time.

“In most studies, we collect patient samples, put them in the freezer and then analyze them later. We now want to follow people in real-time to get a better understanding of how the microbiome functions inside the human body,” notes Dr. Burton. “We hope to accomplish this by harnessing technologies already available at Lawson. For example, we’ve been collaborating with the Lawson Imaging program to look at bacteria in real-time using the Institute’s imaging technology.”

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Above: Dr. Jeremy Burton (right) in the lab with Dr. Kait Al (left), Postdoctoral Fellow

Dr. Burton is known for forging strong interdisciplinary relationships to enhance knowledge translation, especially within the Division of Urology.

“Dr. Burton has established a robust academic laboratory and strategic partnerships that are advancing the Institute’s scientific mandate. He is a natural leader,” says Dr. David Hill, Lawson Scientific Director. “As Research Chair in Human Microbiome and Probiotics, Dr. Burton will further Lawson’s reputation in the field.”

Dr. Burton will build on a 30-year legacy of microbiome research.

“There’s a long history of microbiome research at Lawson and St. Joseph’s,” he says. “We were lucky to have visionaries like Dr. Gregor Reid – my predecessor in this position – who have helped revolutionize the field.”

For Dr. Burton, this is the next step in an illustrious career with Lawson. He first joined the Institute and Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry as a Postdoctoral Fellow in 2001 after completing his BSc, MSc and PhD at the University of Otago in New Zealand.

“I had a very productive time as a Fellow, publishing something like 15 manuscripts in two years. It was an amazing experience and a time that I really relished.” 

He was then recruited to industry in 2003 where he developed a strong background in clinical trials and global business development.  

“Working in industry helped shape me into the principal investigator that I am today. But there were so many questions about the microbiome that I wanted to answer and I ultimately found myself back in academia.”

Dr. Burton rejoined Lawson as a Scientist in 2011. Prior to his appointment as Lawson Research Chair in Human Microbiome and Probiotics, he held the title of Deputy Director of the Canadian Centre for Human Microbiome and Probiotics Research since 2011 and Miriam Burnett Chair in Urological Sciences since 2013. He is also an Associate Professor in the Departments of Surgery and Microbiology and Immunology at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry. 

“What brought me back to London is the people and the collaborative environment. Researchers cross departmental and divisional borders with ease. As a scientist, I can walk from my lab to a clinic, and clinician-researchers can do the same in reverse. Everyone has a ‘can do’ attitude and they are willing to test big ideas with one another.”

Learn about recent microbiome and probiotics research at Lawson:

• Gut microbiome may influence how cancer patients respond to oral therapies, study suggests
• New urinary microbiome study could be first step in providing personalized care to patients with ureteral stents
• Fecal transplants show promise as treatment for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
• Café Scientifique: The invisible world inside us
• Using probiotics to protect honey bees against fatal disease
• Could microorganisms in poop help treat the deadliest form of skin cancer?
• Researchers find gut microbiome plays an important role in atherosclerosis
• Probiotics for respiratory tract infections could save Canada nearly $100 million a year

New clinical protocol after general surgery cuts opioid prescribing in half

Recognizing the role that opioid prescribing plays in the national opioid crisis, a team of researchers at Lawson and Western University have developed a new clinical protocol called STOP Narcotics. The protocol includes a combination of patient and health care provider education and an emphasis on non-opioid pain control. The study found that they were able to reduce the overall amount of opioids being prescribed after general surgery by 50 per cent while still adequately treating a patient’s post-operative pain. Read more. 

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Probiotics for respiratory tract infections could save Canada nearly $100 million a year

A recent study suggests the use of probiotics to prevent respiratory tract infections in Canada could result in nearly $100 million per year in savings. There is growing evidence that probiotics can reduce the risk of respiratory tract infections and lower their frequency, as well as reduce the duration of an infection, antibiotic use and absences from work. Replicating a research model used in France, researchers examined the potential clinical and economic impacts in Canada. Read more. 

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Blood test can predict optimal treatment for advanced prostate cancer, study finds

An international collaborative study between Lawson, 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. The study used a liquid biopsy test that examines circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in blood samples from patients with advanced prostate cancer who are deciding whether to switch from hormone-targeting therapy to chemotherapy. Read more. 

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Machine learning could predict medication response in patients with complex mood disorders

Mood disorders like major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder are often complex and hard to diagnose, especially among youth when the illness is just evolving. This can make decisions about medication difficult. In a collaborative study by Lawson, The Mind Research Network and Brainnetome Center, researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm that analyzes brain scans to better classify illness in patients with a complex mood disorder and help predict their response to medication. Read more. 

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Lawson researchers receive $4.4 million to study personalized medicine at LHSC

Personalized medicine is the analysis of a patient’s DNA to predict how they will respond to medications. Led by Dr. Richard Kim, scientist at Lawson and clinical pharmacologist at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), researchers at Lawson have received $4.4 million to study an expanded personalized medicine program at LHSC that involves full integration of research into patient care. Read more. 

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Drinking more water does not slow decline of kidney function for patients with kidney disease clinical trial shows

A study published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) by researchers at Lawson and Western University found that coaching patients with Chronic Kidney Disease to drink more water does not slow down the decline of their kidney function. Read more. 

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Funding for unique strategy to prevent homelessness after hospital discharge

On September 10, the Ministry of Families, Children and Social Development, announced that Lawson will receive $223,572 from the Homelessness Partnering Strategy’s Innovative Solutions to Homelessness funding stream to support the project “No Fixed Address Version 2 Expansion” research project. This research will further refine the No Fixed Address strategy for reaching and supporting patients during the crucial transitional period when they are being discharged from the hospital and re-integrated into the community. Read more. 

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Synthetic surfactant could ease breathing for patients with lung disease and injury

Human lungs are coated with a substance called surfactant which allows us to breathe easily. When lung surfactant is missing or depleted, which can happen with premature birth or lung injury, breathing becomes difficult. In a collaborative study between Lawson and Stanford University, scientists have developed and tested a new synthetic surfactant that could lead to improved treatments for lung disease and injury. Read more. 

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Research team develops clinically-validated 3D printed stethoscope

A team of researchers have developed an open-source, clinically validated template for a 3D printed stethoscope for use in areas of the world with limited access to medical supplies – places where a stethoscope could mean the difference between life and death. Read more. 

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Family environment influences emotional well-being of children with epilepsy

Children with epilepsy have a higher risk of developing emotional and behavioural disorders, including depression, anxiety and poor self-esteem, yet it has been difficult for researchers to pinpoint why this occurs. Researchers at Children’s Health Research Institute, a Lawson program, have found that family environment influences the relationship between clinical characteristics of epilepsy at diagnosis and children’s emotional well-being two years later. Read more. 

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How the brain is folded provides researchers with an accurate marker to predict psychosis in high-risk patients

By using images of the brain to look at how its outer surface is folded on itself, researchers can predict which high-risk patients will develop psychosis with more than 80 per cent accuracy.  Before now, there has been no way to examine young people before they become ill to reliably identify who will develop acute psychosis and who will not. Read more. 

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High-dose radiation can improve survival in cancer patients once thought incurable

Cancer that spreads from an original tumour to other parts of the body is generally considered incurable. In an international study led by Lawson, researchers challenged this idea by showing that high-dose radiation can improve survival in patients with cancer that has spread to five or less sites. The study called SABR-COMET was the first randomized phase II clinical trial of its kind. Read more. 

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From the moment the COVID-19 pandemic was declared in March 2020, our teams at Lawson Health Research Institute have been at the forefront. Researchers at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and St. Joseph’s Health Care London immediately began to work towards understanding the new virus in an effort to discover lifesaving health-care solutions.

To date, dozens of research projects have been advanced through Lawson with some receiving international attention as ‘world firsts’.  As we mark the three-year anniversary of COVID-19 being declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), we share with you  COVID-19 research highlighted over the past year.

Study finds acute kidney injury associated with severe COVID-19 leads to high mortality rates

Severe cases of a COVID-19 infection can cause a host of serious complications, including acute kidney injury. In a published study, scientists at Lawson found that acute kidney injury in patients with a severe COVID-19 infection leads to a high mortality rate. 

By accessing data collected through the Ontario Renal Network (ORN), Dr. Peter Blake, Lawson Researcher and Provincial Medical Director at the Ontario Renal Network, and his colleagues examined 271 people at 27 renal programs across the province, including patients at LHSC, who received dialysis for acute kidney injury due to a COVID-19 infection. Read more.

Study shows a decline in Veterans’ mental health throughout the pandemic

In published findings from Lawson, more than half of Canadian Veterans reported a decline in their mental health over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.
When it comes to mental health conditions, Veterans are an at-risk population, often having higher rates of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, scientists at Lawson wanted to understand its effects on this already at-risk population. 

To examine the potential impacts the research team launched a longitudinal study recruiting Canadian Veterans and spouses of Canadian Veterans. Participants complete online questionnaires every three months, with questions focused on mental health and virtual health care services. Read more.

Virtual care associated with significant environmental and patient cost savings

A study published in JAMA Network Open by researchers at ICES, Lawson and Western University found that virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and patient travel-related expenses, such as gasoline, parking or public transit costs.
Findings show that for more than 10 million patients with at least one appointment during the study period (63 million visits in total), virtual care was associated with estimated savings of:
•    3.2 billion kilometers of patient travel;
•    545 to 658 million kilograms of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions; and
•    $569 to $733 million (Canadian [US $465-$599 million]) in expenses for gasoline, parking, or public transit. Read more. 

London researchers discover novel method to diagnose long COVID

Published in Molecular Medicine, researchers at Lawson found that patients with post-COVID-19 condition (long COVID) have unique biomarkers in their blood. The team is now working on developing a first of its kind blood test that could be used to diagnose long COVID. The discovery could also lead to new therapeutics for this condition.

The researchers studied 140 blood samples from participants at LHSC and St. Joseph’s Health Care London, including St. Joseph’s Post-Acute COVID-19 Program. Participants were those with presumed long COVID, hospital inpatients with acute COVID-19 infection and healthy control subjects. Read more.

Researchers are combining new technologies to examine blood proteins in COVID-19 patients

Published in the Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, a team at Lawson discovered unique patterns of blood plasma proteins in critically ill patients that may help develop a more personalized approach to treating severe COVID-19.

Called the plasma proteome, the proteins studied are released by cells that often play an important role in the body’s immune response to viruses. The research team studied how they adapt and change to a COVID-19 infection. Read more. 

Thanks to decades of work by dedicated researchers like London, Ont.-based Dr. Paul Adams, haemochromatosis has become much easier to diagnose, though many people are still unaware of the genetic condition. And while treatment options are effective, they are limited, according to a new review published in The Lancet.

In Canada and the United States, one in 227 people have haemochromatosis, making it more common than cystic fibrosis. However, the U.K. Biobank Project, a large-scale biomedical database and research resource, found that only 12 per cent of people who have the condition actually know they have it.

Dr. Adams, a Scientist at Lawson Health Research Institute and Professor at Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, explains, “The most common genetic test done in Canada and the U.S. is the best way to make the diagnosis, but you have to think of the condition and the doctor has to know that there is a genetic test available. So those two steps are some of our stumbling blocks.”

In Ontario, testing and diagnosis often comes only after some other issue arises, “One day someone stumbles on the fact that there's a liver abnormality, or the patient is complaining of fatigue and the doctor orders blood tests, thinking blood iron is going to be low,” Dr. Adams explains. “And then it turns out to be very high.” 

Most common in people of Northern European ancestry, haemochromatosis results in excess iron in the body and includes symptoms such as fatigue and arthritis pain, and can lead to serious complications like cirrhosis of the liver, liver cancer and death.

Starting in January 2000, Dr. Adams conducted a multi-year study involving 20,000 London, Ont. residents that helped change how haemochromatosis is diagnosed – moving from testing iron levels to genetic testing. With iron levels affected by alcohol consumption, obesity, inflammation and some types of cancer, the previous measure led to many false positive tests. 

But knowing when genetic testing should be done remains a challenge. The underdiagnosis and lack of awareness also remain an issue when it comes to more serious complications.

“If this is diagnosed early, like as a young adult, then this can be treated and those complications won’t develop,” Dr. Adams says. “If you donate blood, treatment is very similar to that procedure and it's tolerated extremely well in most. People who have a lot of excess iron will have this blood taken once a week until their iron levels come down.” 

He hopes this new publication will lead to better diagnosis and treatment, and sees a future in emerging biological therapies.

Dr. Adams continues to be involved in global research, including work with the U.K. Biobank Project on genomic testing, and is investigating partnerships to develop future gene editing treatment.

People looking for more information about haemochromatosis can reach learn more on the Canadian Haemochromatosis Society’s website.

Lawson Health Research Institute (Lawson) has long been a leader in biomedical imaging. The first Canadian magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of a human occurred at St. Joseph’s Health Care London (St. Joseph’s). The country’s first positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) scanners were also installed at St. Joseph’s. New developments in imaging research continue to enhance the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of a wide range of diseases, from cancer to post-traumatic stress disorder.

On May 23, Lawson hosted a Café Scientifique event where a panel of Lawson Imaging scientists discussed their cutting-edge work. Guests had the opportunity to ask questions as part of an open-forum discussion to gain insights from the speakers, and from one another.

In celebration of Canada’s 150th anniversary as a nation, this event is the first of a two-part series focusing on the future vision for health care in Canada and the legacy that research at Lawson will leave.

Imaging of the heart: Seeing the cause of chest pain more clearly

By Dr. Ting-Yim Lee, Lawson scientist, Medical Physicist at St. Joseph’s, professor at Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, and scientist at Robarts Research Institute

When patients with chest pain arrive in the emergency department, they are given an electrocardiogram (ECG) and blood test. These diagnostic tests determine if the pain has a non-cardiac cause (such as heart burn), if it is caused by a heart attack, or if the patient has angina (plaque formation in the coronary arteries that either reduces or temporarily cuts off blood flow to the heart) but did not have a heart attack.

If a patient has angina, they are then given additional diagnostic testing to see whether a blood clot has formed and where it is located. This is determined by two different imaging techniques: x-ray imaging (angiogram) and nuclear imaging. This process is invasive and means that patients must be scheduled for two different exam days. Using two techniques also means that there can be image misalignment, and the images often provide poor detail.

Dr. Ting-Yim Lee’s lab has pioneered a Computed Tomography (CT) method for imaging blood flow to the heart muscle (CT Perfusion), which can help patients avoid unnecessary tests and treatment, as well as reduce health care costs.

“CT imaging is a non-invasive imaging technique that uses x-rays to create high-detail cross-sectional images of the body. Using this method, we can evaluate the degree of blockage in coronary arteries – with one diagnostic test instead of two,” says Dr. Lee.

Using light and sound to improve breast surgery

By Dr. Jeffrey Carson, Lawson scientist and associate professor at Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry

“Most women diagnosed with breast cancer undergo surgery, and months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. They must deal with the discomfort, side-effects, emotional stress and financial burden of treatment. Almost one in four surgeries for breast cancer must be repeated, meaning many women have to go through this all over again,” says Dr. Jeffrey Carson.

In breast conserving surgery, there is a high chance of repeat surgery as the surgeon must see and remove 100 per cent of the tumour in order for it to be successful. They are not able to determine whether the entire tumour was removed until after the surgery has been completed.

Dr. Carson and his team at St. Joseph’s have developed a technology called Intraoperative Photoacoustic Tomography (iPAT), which has the potential to reduce the chance of repeat surgery for breast cancer. The technology is able to image surgery specimens in the operating room during surgery, allowing surgeons to determine whether the whole tumour has been removed before the surgery is complete.

How imaging can improve the management of epilepsy

By Dr. Udunna Anazodo, postdoctoral fellow at Lawson

Most patients with epilepsy are effectively treated with antiepileptic drugs. However, 36 per cent will not respond to the drugs. For these patients, surgery on the area of the brain that is causing seizures is the standard of care – if patients are good surgical candidates.

“If patients with epilepsy are to undergo surgery there must be a good indication of where the seizure focus is and it must be possible to determine that removing this portion of the brain will not affect brain function,” says Dr. Udunna Anazodo.

To see whether they are good candidates for surgery, patients must undergo an invasive procedure called intracranial monitoring, where electrodes are placed on the brain.

Dr. Anazodo has been studying how PET/MRI can be used to map seizures with the goal of minimizing the need for invasive intracranial monitoring. This technique makes it possible to locate areas in the brain that cause seizures and to see if the seizures affect brain functions.

See photos from the event on Lawson’s Facebook page.

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Above: Café Scientifique presenters (from left to right): Drs. Jeffrey Carson, Frank Prato (moderator), Ting-Yim Lee and Udunna Anazodo.

It’s been another year of transformational research at Lawson Health Research Institute. Our teams have published groundbreaking findings and launched new studies that will have a profound impact on patient care.

The following are 12 highlights of research and innovation from across London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and St. Joseph’s Health Care London (St. Joseph’s). From trialing new cancer treatments to advancing understanding of mental health, our research teams have achieved a number of important milestones. 

1. New study suggests blood plasma proteins hold answers to better understanding long COVID

Lawson researchers continued to advance understanding of COVID-19 this past year. In one study, researchers found that unique patterns in blood plasma proteins of patients with suspected long COVID could act as a drug target to improve patient outcomes. Read more.

2. New study finds exercise, cognitive training combo boosts mental sharpness in seniors

A study from Lawson and Western University found that a combination of computerized cognitive training and aerobic-resistance exercises can improve functions like memory, attention, recognition and orientation in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. The results suggest a new way to address declining mental sharpness in older adults. Read more.

3. $7.55 million in funding to take LHSC-developed technology global

Technology to diagnose rare genetic disorders developed by researchers at Lawson and LHSC will be going global thanks to $7.55 million in funding from Genome Canada grant and Illumina Inc. The new artificial intelligence-led technology could allow rare diseases to be diagnosed with a simple blood test. Read more.

4. Fecal transplants show promise in improving melanoma treatment

Fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) from healthy donors are safe and could improve response to immunotherapy in patients with advanced melanoma, according to results from a world-first multi-centre clinical trial led by Lawson researchers. Read more.

5. New study shows technology could play an important role in mental health support

A team of Lawson researchers found that the use of ‘smart home’ technology like touch screen devices, activity trackers, weigh scales and medication dispensers may lead to better outcomes for those living with both mental health and physical disorders. The study found that participants using the technology started logging more exercise, making healthier food choices and not missing medication doses. Read more.

6. Canadian children’s hospital visits for suicidal thoughts, self-poisoning and self-harm up during pandemic, study finds

A national study with Lawson researchers found that during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, adolescent emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations for suicidal thoughts, self-harm and self-poisoning increased across Canada, with the greatest increase occurring among adolescent girls. Read more.

7. St. Joseph’s to become Canada’s first centre of excellence in molecular imaging and theranostics

A partnership between Lawson, St. Joseph’s Health Care London and GE HealthCare will create Canada’s first centre of excellence in molecular imaging and theranostics at St. Joseph’s. The centre will focus on using precision diagnostic imaging and targeted therapy to advance personalized treatment of cancer and other diseases. Read more.

8. Researchers investigate a new method of sedation for paediatric patients

Intravenous sedatives are normally used to sedate critically ill children. However, they can contribute to a complication called delirium, which includes symptoms of confusion, disorientation, agitation, excessive drowsiness and poor attention. To improve outcomes, scientists at Children’s Health Research Institute (a program of Lawson), Sunnybrook Research Institute and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) are collaborating on a pilot study to understand whether inhaled sedation could be a better alternative to keep critically ill children sedated and comfortable. Read more.

9. New robotic 3D ultrasound may improve accuracy of liver cancer ablation therapy

A technique that turns a normal ultrasound into a 3D image is showing promise in making thermal ablation for liver cancer treatment more accurate in a study from Lawson and Western University. Thermal ablation – using heat to destroy a cancerous tumour – can have fewer complications and a shorter recovery time than surgery. Read more.

10. Assessing neurofeedback in stroke survivors

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is used to detect changes in brain oxygen levels using light, but more recently it has also been used to develop brain-computer interfaces – allowing patients with brain injuries to control a device with their thoughts. Researchers at Lawson launched a new study to assess whether fNIRS can be used to improve patient outcomes during stroke rehabilitation. Read more.

11. Specific type of inflammation may be linked to risk of colorectal cancer

A preclinical study found that a specific type of inflammation may be linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer. Previously, the degree of inflammation caused by illnesses like colitis, Crohn’s disease and other forms of inflammatory bowel disease were shown to be an important indicator of the development of colorectal cancer. However, this new study found the type of inflammation, rather than the severity and duration, may be more important in determining cancer risk. Read more.

12. New study examining if probiotics can improve outcomes in knee replacement surgeries

Lawson researchers launched a study to assess whether daily probiotics can improve outcomes in patients undergoing a total knee replacement surgery. Of the more than 70,000 knee replacement surgeries in Canada each year, nearly 10 per cent of patients experience complications. With patients who are considered healthy likely to have better outcomes, the research team is interested in improving the gut microbiome as a way to support patients’ overall health. Read more.