Subventions d'équipe de l'IRCuO

Following a rigorous peer-review process, we're incredibly excited to announce that we were able to fund 3 innovative research teams and 2 project renewals in this recent call. This was made possible by seed funding from the uOBMRI and matching funds from various partners that together will support these critical basic and clinical research developments. The uOBMRI's mission is to reduce barriers in research and encourage collaboration. As a result, we're proud to share the following research projects that will be implemented, thanks to our researchers and partners.

"Enhancing Primary Care Practice and Equity for Patients with Dementia through eConsult"

Principal Applicant

Clare Liddy, Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Bruyère Research Institute, The Ottawa Hospital (TOH)

Co-Applicants

• Sathya Karunananthan, University of Ottawa, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI)
• Arya Rahgozar, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Ottawa
• Doug Archibald, Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Bruyère Research Institute
• Amy Hsu, Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Bruyère Research Institute, Carleton University
• Celeste Fung, St Patrick's Home
• Frank Knoefel, Bruyère Research Institute, Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Carleton University
• Mwali Mury, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa
• Stefan de LaPlante, Hôpital Montfort
• Hélène O’Connor, Hôpital Montfort
• Mohamed Gazarin, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Winchester District Memorial Hospital
• Deanne Houghton, Care partner

Description

Dementia affects nearly half a million Canadians. Primary care providers (PCPs) such as family doctors and nurse practitioners are the first point of contact for most patients with dementia, which makes them the group best suited to detect and manage the condition in its early stages. However, many PCPs struggle to provide optimal care for patients with dementia and their care partners due to a lack of training and knowledge of resources. One solution is electronic consultation, or eConsult: a secure online platform that allows PCPs to send clinical questions to specialists across a range of fields. With the support of this innovative tool, many PCPs gain the information they need to treat patients without sending them for a face-to-face specialist visit — something that can be especially challenging for patients with dementia. In this project, we aim to learn how PCPs and specialists use eConsult to provide care for patients with dementia, and what aspects of the service can be improved to better support this group. We will pay particular attention to rural, minority Francophone, and long-term care populations, to better understand the unique challenges these groups face accessing care. Additionally, we will use the latest machine learning methods to identify gaps in PCP knowledge related to dementia care and create central resources supporting dementia education for PCPs.

"Development of a Neurocognitive Testing Service: Expanding uOBMRI Capacity for Incorporating Innovative and Cross-theme Research Using Cognitive and Patient Reported Outcomes”

Principal Applicant

Lisa Walker, The Ottawa Hospital (TOH), Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI), University of Ottawa, Carleton University

Co-Applicants

• Jason Berard, OHRI, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa
• Dar Dowlatshahi, TOH, OHRI, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa
• Mark Freedman, TOH, OHRI, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa
• Jodi Warman, TOH, OHRI, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), University of Ottawa
• Michael Schlossmacher, TOH, OHRI, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa
• Simon Beaudry, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa
• Nafissa Ismail, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa
• Andra Smith, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa
• Frank Knoefel, Bruyère Research Institute, Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Carleton University
• Amy Hsu, Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Bruyère Research Institute, Carleton University
• Shawn Marshall, The Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre

Description

The aim is to develop a neurocognitive testing service (NCTS) to support uOBMRI researchers in including cognitive/mental health outcomes in their studies given their impact on the quality of life in those with neurological conditions. This service meets a need in that dedicated neuropsychological expertise is not currently available for our research community outside of clinical practice. The service will provide expertise in research design, consultation, and psychometric test administration, as well as data analysis/interpretation. The NCTS will support research across all 4 uOBMRI scientific priority themes and will advance the institute’s capacity to serve as leaders in cognitive and patient-reported outcomes research in Canada.

"Pragmatic Measures to Evaluate Physical Activity as Therapy in Non-Sport Concussed Adults”

Principal Applicants

Roger Zemek, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute (CHEORI), University of Ottawa

Co-Applicants

• Andrée-Anne Ledoux, CHEORI, University of Ottawa, Carleton University
• Andra Smith, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa
• Richard Webster, CHEORI
• Achelle Cortel-Leblanc, University of Ottawa
• Jacquie van Ierssel, CHEORI
• Veronik Sicard, CHEORI
• Lindsay Bradley, Carleton University
• Nick Reed, University of Toronto
• Tom Schweizer, University of Toronto
• Kim Connelly, University of Toronto
• Lawrence Richer, University of Alberta
• Charlotte Anderson, 360 Concussion Care
• Cathy Pakenham, 360 Concussion Care
• John Leddy, University at Buffalo
• Barry Willer, University at Buffalo

Description

Concussion impacts a wide spectrum of people across age, sex, gender, and mechanism of injury. In addition to symptom burden, concussion can result in significant missed work, missed school, increased anxiety and depression, and lower quality of life. Following concussion, the autonomic nervous system can become impaired: heart rate and blood pressure instability can increase symptoms. When physical activity worsens symptoms, a negative feedback cycle occurs – people become disengaged in activities, leading to social withdrawal, fears of the condition, increased stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic disability. Our team invented a structured physiology-based treatment in a controlled setting for autonomic dysfunction, known as the Buffalo Concussion Protocol. The Buffalo protocol has been studied primarily in youth athletes (mostly males) to return them to competitive sport, but it has not been studied in non-athlete adults. We do not know whether impairments in the autonomic system are as common in adults as in youth. Our team also discovered that 90% of concussed youth met criteria for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), an autonomic disorder. We hypothesize that autonomic dysfunction (AD) is highly common in the general population post-concussion. Further, we hypothesize that the Buffalo Concussion Protocol is a feasible therapy for adult non-athletes. We believe that targeting the autonomic dysfunction will improve the heart and the circulatory system as well as the brain and mind. If we can demonstrate the effectiveness of this treatment in a controlled setting, we can treat all patients early after injury through interdisciplinary care to prevent persistent post-concussive symptoms (PPCS), which impact hundreds of thousands of Canadians a year. This “exercise as medicine” has the potential to facilitate earlier return to school, work, and life, and may prevent some of the significant long-term sequelae of concussion, including depression, anxiety, drug abuse, and suicide.

"Mindfulness-Based Intervention/Training Post-Concussion"

Principal Applicant

Andrée-Anne Ledoux, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute (CHEORI), University of Ottawa, Carleton University

Co-Applicants

• Roger Zemek, CHEORI, University of Ottawa
• Andra Smith, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa
• Gary Goldfield, CHEORI, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa
• Lisa Walker, TOH, OHRI, University of Ottawa, Carleton University
• Natalia Jaworska, IMHR, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Carleton University
• Veronik Sicard, CHEORI
• Martin Osmond, CHEORI, Department of Pediatrics, University of Ottawa
• Clare Gray, CHEO, Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa
• Kristian Goulet, CHEO, Department of Pediatrics, University of Ottawa
• Nick Reed, University of Toronto
• Peter Anderson, CHEO, University of Ottawa
• Molly Cairncross, Simon Fraser University
• Noah Silverberg, The University of British Columbia
• Erin McCarthy (collaborator)
• Valérie Béland (collaborator)
• Bechara Saab (collaborator)
• Nick Barrowman, CHEO (collaborator)

Description

Concussion in youth is a public health concern. Physical symptoms (such as headache or dizziness), concentration problems, and emotional changes (such as sadness and anxiety) are common following concussions. One third of children with concussion continue to experience symptoms for more than a month. Concussion can affect youth’s confidence in their abilities to manage stressful events, lower children’s quality of life and may prevent or curtail participation in activities such as schoolwork, socializing, and sports. The ability to adapt to the injury and regulate emotions and stress is important to reduce the risk of prolonged symptoms. Early psychological intervention may improve one’s ability to adapt post-injury, resulting in greater acceptance of change, reduced stress, and recovery of emotional and cognitive symptoms. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) have been shown to improve coping skills, depression, anxiety and attentional focus. Rather than solely relying on patient self-report to determine recovery, studies that also include objective measures of recovery are urgently needed. Our proposed study will combine state-of-the-art, advanced MRI scans with patient self-report to determine if MBI delivered via a smart-phone application (‘app’) results in increased quality of life, brain function and lowers the risk of symptom burden compared to usual care. We believe that using the app will foster adaptive skills with the goal of regulating brain function and emotions thus reducing post-concussive symptoms. Our results will validate the app-based MBI which promises an innovative preventive and accessible concussion treatment for youth, thus increasing access to cutting-edge therapies.

“From Global to Local – Global Signal Topography as Novel Diagnostic Markers in Psychiatric Disorders”

Principal Applicant

Georg Northoff, The Royal's Institute of Mental Health Research (IMHR), University of Ottawa and Carleton University

Co-Applicants

• Natalia Jaworska, IMHR, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Carleton University
• Naista Zhand, IMHR, Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa
• Annemarie Wolff, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa
• André Longtin, Department of Physics, University of Ottawa
• Mustafa Yagoub, Faculty of Engineering, University of Ottawa

Description

The overall activity of the brain (global activity) has been shown to change in psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety disorders. How these changes contribute to the presentation of symptoms and how this activity can be used to help diagnose patients remains to be determined. Dr. Northoff and colleagues will combine state of the art brain imaging with computer science to analyze the changes that occur in the global activity of the brain to help diagnose various psychiatric disorders. They will also begin to explore a therapeutic study using magnetic stimulation which alters this global activity.

Following a rigorous peer-review process, we're incredibly excited to announce that we were able to fund 7 innovative research teams in this recent call. This was made possible by seed funding from the uOBMRI and matching funds from various partners that together will support these critical basic and clinical research developments. The uOBMRI's mission is to reduce barriers in research and encourage collaboration and as a result, we're proud to share the following research projects that will be implemented, thanks to our researchers and partners.

"A Pilot Study of Hyperacute Mechanical Endoscopic Minimally Invasive Surgical (MIS) Intracranial Hemorrhage Evacuation (HEALME)"

Principal Applicant

Richard Aviv, The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa

Co-Applicants

The Ottawa Hospital

• Adele Budiansky
• Brian Drake
• Dar Dowlatshahi
• Kednapa Thavorn
• Manoj Lalu
• Michel Shamy
• Olivier Miguel
• Shane English
• Tim Ramsay
• Shawn Hicks

The Ottawa Hospital, Carleton University

• Gerd Melkus

CHEO

• Elka Miller

Waterloo University

• Alex Wong

Description

The impacts of brain bleeds (cerebral hemorrhages) are vast, resulting in a 40% death rate and leaving survivors with serious long-term disabilities. As a bleed expands the risk of death and disability increases, underscoring the need for rapid onset treatment. Dr. Richard Aviv and colleagues have found that minimally invasive surgery is the most promising treatment for these bleeds. They will now perform a clinical trial using this therapy in the time window when expansion is occurring. Vital to this, is their artificial intelligence imaging expertise to hasten patient selection and stroke team notification. The results from this study will apply a “time is brain" to brain bleeds.

"The Gut Microbiome in Disease"

Principal Applicant

Daniel Figeys, University of Ottawa

Co-Applicants

uOttawa Faculty of Medicine

• Alain Stintzi

Bruyère 

• Andrew Frank

uOttawa Faculty of Health Sciences

• Marie-Claude Audet

uOttawa Faculty of Social Sciences

• Nafissa Ismail

Description

The gut microbiome produces important factors for a healthy brain; imbalance in the production of these factors has been linked to neurodegenerative diseases and mental health. It is imperative to develop gut-brain axis programs to reveal the therapeutic possibilities of this system. Dr. Daniel Figeys and colleagues propose to spearhead this initiative at the uOBMRI. They will first focus on proof-of-concept projects showing that the gut microbiome is different during health versus disease and that modulating factors produced by the gut can lead to improvement in the brains and minds of patients affected by different diseases.

"Mindfulness-Based Intervention/Training Post-Concussion"

Principal Applicant

Andrée-Anne Ledoux, CHEO and Univeristy of Ottawa

Co-Applicants

CHEO

• Clare Gray
• Kristian Goulet
• Nick Barrowman

CHEO, uOttawa Faculty of Medicine

• Gary Goldfield
• Martin Osmond
• Peter Anderson
• Roger Zemek

The Ottawa Hospital, uOttawa Faculty of Medicine          

• Lisa Walker

Institute of Mental Health Research, uOttawa Faculty of Medicine        

• Natalia Jaworska        

uOttawa Faculty of Social Sciences

• Andra Smith

University of Toronto

• Nick Reed

University of British Columbia

• Molly Cairncross
• Noah Silvergerg

Parent-Engagement Leader

• Kathy Leeder

CEO of Mobio

• Bechara Saab

Description

Emotional changes (such as sadness and anxiety) are common following concussions. One third of children with concussion continue to experience symptoms for more than a month.  Concussion can affect youth’s confidence in their abilities to manage stressful events, lower children’s quality of life and may prevent or curtail participation in activities such as schoolwork, socializing, and sports. Dr. Andrée-Anne Ledoux and colleagues are showing that the ability to regulate these distressful thoughts may be pivotal to effective concussion treatment. They are using Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI), which encourage non-judgment and acceptance of thoughts and emotions as they occur. They will investigate how MBI can facilitate recovery mechanisms resulting in improved symptoms for those who have sustained a concussion.

"From Global to Local – Global Signal Topography as Novel Diagnostic Markers in Psychiatric Disorders"

Principal Applicant

Georg Northoff, The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre and University of Ottawa

Co-Applicants

uOttawa Faculty of Education

• Mustafa Yagoub

uOttawa Faculty of Education, Carleton University

• Mehrshad Golesorkhi  

Institute of Mental Health Research

• Naista Zhang
• Sarah Tremblay

Zhejiang Univeristy, China, IMHR

• Jianfeng Zhang 

Lived Experience

• Philipp Murat

Description

The overall activity of the brain (global activity) has been shown to change in psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety disorders. How these changes contribute to the presentation of symptoms and how this activity can be used to help diagnose patients remains to be determined. Dr. Northoff and colleagues will combine state of the art brain imaging with computer science to analyze the changes that occur in the global activity of the brain to help diagnose various psychiatric disorders.  They will also begin to explore a therapeutic study using magnetic stimulation which alters this global activity.

"I3-PD – Integrating Teams and Disease Mechanisms in the Genetics, Lipidomics and inflammation of Parkinson’s"

Principal Applicant

Michael Schlossmacher, The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa

Co-Applicants

uOttawa Faculty of Medicine

• Max Rousseaux
• Steffany Bennett
• Subash Sad

The Ottawa Hospital

• Angela Crawley
• Julianna Tomlinson

Carleton University

• Natalina Salmaso

National Research Council of Canada

• Miroslava Cuperlovic-Culf

Description

A person’s genetic make-up as well as external environmental factors contribute to the onset of typical Parkinson disease (PD). It is proposed that PD begins as chronic inflammation in the gut that spreads to the brain, causing damage. Dr. Schlossmacher and colleagues will determine if PD-linked genes change the way the body deals with inflammation. They will investigate if this change in inflammation occurs before the damage to the brain begins. Their results will show that the link between environmental factors and onset of PD is through a person experiencing chronic inflammation. These findings will help to shape future therapies for PD.

"Improving the Experience of Neuroprostheses by Understanding Coding Principles of the Prefrontal Cortex"

Principal Applicant

Katalin Toth, University of Ottawa

Co-Applicants

The Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Carleton University

• Adam Sachs

uOttawa Faculty of Medicine

• Jean-Claude Béïque
• Richard Naud

uOttawa Faculty of Law

• Jennifer Chandler

Description

Tens of thousands of people in Canada suffer from debilitating neurological diseases and traumas such as ALS, stroke and spinal cord injury that rob them of the freedom of executing motor functions in a meaningful way. Using brain-computer interface technologies can improve quality of life for these patients. Dr. Toth and colleagues will refine the performance of these technologies by improving the understanding of how the brain sends signals to the rest of the body on its intent to move.  They will investigate how these signals are turned into actions by utilizing computer programs that are able to decode these signals in a high-throughput manner.

"Accelerating the Clinical Translation of a Growth Factor Releasing Duraplasty to Promote Stroke Recovery"

Principal Applicant

Eve Tsai, The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa

Co-Applicants

uOttawa Faculty of Medicine

• Greg Cron
• Greg Silasi   
• The Ottawa Hospital
• Jing Wang

uOttawa Faculty of Engineering

• Xudong Cao   

Description

Stroke is one of the leading causes of long-term adult disability in Canada. It affects fifty thousand Canadians per year and can leave up to 90% of survivors with impairment. Currently, no therapies exist to repair the brain after stroke. Dr. Tsai and colleagues will create a biomaterial that can deliver targeted, sustained and sequential release of regeneration factors to the area of the brain affected by the stroke. They will test the application of this biomaterial in a stroke model to establish the efficacy of this novel treatment option with the hope that it could provide significant functional improvements to severely impaired patients.