The Thrombosis Group at the Ottawa Health Research Institute and the Thrombosis Program at the Ottawa Hospital are a centre of excellence in both clinical research and clinical care of thrombosis related illness. We are devoted to generating practice changing knowledge in the areas of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (venous thromboembolism).  The research group and clinical program are also focused on studying tendencies to develop venous blood clots called thrombophilia. 

Mission

Practice changing knowledge generation, developing tomorrow's leaders and  delivering quality cost effective care. 

The primary mission is to energetically better the lives of patients with thromboembolic disease and thrombophilia through practice changing clinical research.  We also seek to energetically better the lives of patients through the education of the next generation of leaders in thrombosis and thrombophilia (expert clinicians, educators and researchers).  Finally and importantly to deliver quality cost effective care to patients suffering from thromboembolic disease and thrombophilia in the Ottawa region. 

 Vision 

It is our vision to be world leaders in developing practice changing knowledge generation in the areas of thromboembolism and thrombophilia.  Our group has a strongly established presence in the development of diagnostic algorithms for suspected deep vein thrombosis and suspected pulmonary embolism and the use of bedside tools to exclude these diagnoses (clinical prediction rules and D-dimer).  We are growing an important research program in thrombophilia testing and management of thrombophilic patients. We also seek to be leaders in the next generation of experts in thromboembolism and thrombophilia through our clinical and research fellowship programs.  Finally, and importantly, we seek to deliver cost effective quality care to patients with thromboembolism and thrombophilia in the Ottawa region through the development of an Ottawa Regional Clinical Thrombosis Program with arms of the program including thromboembolism management, peri-operative anticoagulation and oral anticoagulation management. 

Physicians/Scientists:

Senior Scientist: Dr. Phil Wells

Scientists: Dr. Marc Rodger

Affiliate Scientists: Dr. Melissa Forgie and Dr. Dimitrios Scarvelis.

Thrombosis clinicians: Dr. Cathy Code, Dr. Alan Karovitch. 

Thrombosis Program Team

Our Facilities

The Thrombosis Clinic of the Ottawa Hospital is an extremely active facility that treats over 8,000 out-patients a year.  The clinic operates seven days a week, 365 days a year to ensure appropriate access and timely care for patients requiring diagnosis and treatment of venous thromboembolism.  The Thrombosis Program also offers in-patient consultation services, seven days a week, 365 days a year to the Ottawa Hospital, Civic and General Campuses. 

Our Collaborators

The VECTOR (VEnous thromboembolic Clinical Trials ORganization) Group consists of five thrombosis experts who collaborate on clinical trials related to venous thromboembolic disease.  Drs. Phil Wells and Marc Rodger are based in Ottawa, Dr. Mike Kovacs is in London, Dr. Susan Kahn is in Montreal, and Dr. David Anderson is in Halifax.  VECTOR been very successful at diverse research endeavours including clinical trials, population-based studies, meta-analyses, observational research, economic analysis, and genetic studies.  This multi-centre research partnership provides the advantage of widening expertise and greater study recruitment. The VECTOR investigators have also initiated collaborative research relationships with other investigators from various fields. 

Laboratory

The Thrombosis Group received a grant from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation and the Ontario Innovation Trust in 2001 to establish a laboratory for the study of the effects of thrombophilia and to research and identify potential new thrombophilias.  This lab has been established within the CHEO Hospital and is operated under the supervision of Dr. Nancy Carson.  The lab is staffed with two full-time laboratory technicians devoted to Thrombosis Research.

The Thrombosis Research Group is currently involved with several studies that will result in creation of an extensive DNA bank for future study and discovery of Thrombophilia.  This bank is eventually expected to house close to 10,000 samples, providing unique opportunities for future research.

“Practice changing knowledge generation, developing tomorrow's leaders and delivering quality cost effective care.”