Research News

	Research reveals potential approach to make ovarian tumours ‘hot’ September 23, 2020 - In recent years, researchers have begun to recognize that some tumours are naturally “hot”, meaning they contain lots of immune cells that are actively fighting the cancer cells. Other tumours are “cold”, meaning, meaning they have little to no immun
	Vascular development may be at risk in autism July 13, 2020 - A Canadian collaboration led by Dr. Baptiste Lacoste has undertaken the first ever in-depth study of vasculature in the autistic brain. The product of four years of work, a paper published today in Nature Neuroscience lays out several lines of novel
	Decoding the mystery of Parkinson’s disease July 10, 2020 - For more than 200 years, no one has been able to solve the Parkinson puzzle. While the exact cause of the disease remains a mystery, dedicated researchers at The Ottawa Hospital are gaining ground—determined to solve the puzzle.
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	TOHAMO awards $1.2M for COVID-19 research projects June 12, 2020 - Could artificial intelligence help predict which COVID-19 patients will become gravely ill? Could a home-based spit test diagnose COVID-19? Could virtual care after surgery reduce patient returns to hospital?
	Stem cells may heal lungs of premature babies March 4, 2020 - Premature babies need extra oxygen and mechanical intervention to breathe but this can damage their lungs, causing a chronic lung disease. A stem cell treatment soon to be tested in clinical trials at The Ottawa Hospital may help heal the lungs of pr
	Study in mice reveals possible new target to treat autism March 2, 2020 - The enzyme PTP1B may be a new target for treating autism spectrum disorder, according to a study published in Nature Communications.
	Margaret's Gift February 20, 2020 - Ovarian cancer claimed Margaret Craig’s life. Now her generous gift is opening new doors to preventing the disease. Margaret knew research would ultimately provide the solution to ovarian cancer. Her donation through her will is opening new doors to
	Cell therapy for premature babies: new lab study suggests wider treatment window may be possible February 19, 2020 - Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease caused by the breathing equipment that keeps premature babies alive.
	Researchers find potential biomarker to detect ovarian cancer earlier November 27, 2019 - The protein gelsolin may help doctors detect ovarian cancer earlier, according to a preliminary study led by Dr. Benjamin Tsang. Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed at a late stage because there is no reliable screening test to catch it early.
	“Wild idea” opens possible new frontier for preventing ovarian cancer October 9, 2019 - A laboratory study published in Clinical Cancer Research offers a new hypothesis about how ovarian cancer forms and suggests how it might be prevented. The study is the first to show that the natural stiffening of the ovaries called fibrosis occurs w
	Findings could improve quality of life for people with spinal muscular atrophy September 10, 2019 - People with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) could be at higher risk of cardiovascular and liver disease, according to the most comprehensive study to date. This means that screening for these conditions, establishing nutritional guidelines, and persona
	Feature grant: Researchers investigate how cholesterol regulates inflammation in white blood cells August 7, 2019 - Drs. Xiaohui Zha and Alexander Sorisky were awarded $48,000 to test whether cholesterol regulates inflammation in human white blood cells by altering gene expression.
	The Ottawa Hospital awarded 13 grants worth $11.2 million from Canadian Institutes of Health Research July 26, 2019 - Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital have been awarded 13 grants worth a total of $11.2 million from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). The new projects focus on areas such as cancer immunotherapy, hepatitis C infection, blood clots, ar
	Researchers get $745,000 boost from NSERC May 29, 2019 - Four scientists from The Ottawa Hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, were successful in the recent discovery grant competition from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
	Dr. John Bell wins public and patient engagement award April 15, 2019 - Dr. John Bell won the inaugural European Society for Gene and Cell Therapy Public and Patient Engagement Award.
	Breakthrough reveals how a stem cell decides between two fates March 29, 2019 - Dr. Marjorie Brand’s team discovered how a blood stem cell decides whether to become a red blood cell or a platelet-forming cell in a new study published in Cell Stem Cell. By using a technique that measures tiny amounts of proteins in individual cel
	Enzyme could help develop better approaches to prevent chronic kidney disease March 1, 2019 - An enzyme called Nox5 may help researchers develop new approaches to prevent chronic kidney disease in people with diabetes or high blood pressure, according to a study published in Antioxidants and Redox Signalling.
	Discovery points to innovative new way to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy January 31, 2019 - Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa have discovered a new way to treat the loss of muscle function caused by Duchenne muscular dystrophy in animal models of the disease. As reported in Cell Stem Cell, the team restored mus
	Research shows how good heart growth turns bad January 30, 2019 - More than 17 percent of Canadians have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, a condition that makes it more difficult for the heart to pump blood around the body. At first, heart muscle grows to meet the challenge, but eventually this growth becom
	Award-winning immunology research shows how cancer surgery paralyzes part of the immune system January 11, 2019 - Surgery is very effective in removing solid cancers, but it also suppresses the immune system in a way that makes it easier for remaining cancer cells to survive and spread. New research led by Dr. Rebecca Auer shows that surgery paralyzes immune cel
	How “exosomes” target injured kidney cells and bring them back to life December 20, 2018 - The kidneys are one of the most sensitive organs in the body. They are often the first to shut down during a critical illness like septic shock and the last to come back (if they come back at all). Dr. Kevin Burns and his team previously found that “
	Experimental contraceptive could give women the power to prevent pregnancy and STIs November 30, 2018 - While condoms are the gold standard for preventing pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), there is a need around the world for solutions that can be used independently by women. New research led by Dr. Nongnuj Tanphaichitr brings a pot
	Depression linked to “junk DNA” in the serotonin receptor gene November 21, 2018 - The human genome is thought to be 75 to 90 percent meaningless “junk DNA”, but researchers are increasingly finding that some of this junk may actually do something important. For example, new research led by Dr. Paul Albert and Dr. Eitan Friedman sh
	Worm study points to similarities in how neurons maintain their shape in old age and after damage November 21, 2018 - Neurons are among the most long-lived and carefully-shaped cells in the human body, with long axons that send signals to different parts of the body. Unlike other cells that can be replaced when needed, neurons tend to be around for a long time, some
	Researchers get $788,000 boost from NSERC November 21, 2018 - Four scientists from The Ottawa Hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, were successful in the recent discovery grant competition from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Dr. Barbara Vanderhyden and Da
	Dr. William Stanford has been named The Ottawa Hospital’s Chrétien Researcher of the Year for his work on blood cancer and other diseases October 23, 2018 - When Dr. William Stanford first became a biological scientist, he simply followed his curiosity and was happy to let others pursue any practical applications of his research. Today, he goes on bedside rounds with clinicians, meets with patients and d
	Chance discovery linking diet to type 1 diabetes started whole new field of research October 22, 2018 - In the early 1980's, Dr. Fraser Scott was conducting nutritional studies on rats that were supposed to develop type 1 diabetes—except they didn't. He discovered that changing the diet of these diabetes-prone rodents had prevented the disease. Making
	New research sinks lipid raft concept October 17, 2018 - Lipid rafts are in every cell biology text book, but new research led by Dr. Xiaohui Zha shows that they probably don’t exist in most real cells. Originally described in the 1980s, lipid rafts were thought to be semi-rigid blocks of cholesterol, sphi
	Trainee receives Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Award September 25, 2018 - Marc-Olivier Deguise, a MD/PhD student in Dr. Rashmi Kothary's lab, will receive the 2018 Jim Glionna Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Award for medical students in a ceremony in Montreal on May 2, 2019. This award recognizes medical students with a tra
	$1.7 million to advance research on colon cancer, brain development, kidney disease and severe fluid loss July 20, 2018 - Four research groups at The Ottawa Hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, have been awarded $1.7 million in the most recent project grant competition from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Their projects will advance sci

Researchers

Name	Scientific appointment	Diseases, conditions and populations of interest	Research and clinical approaches
Addison, Christina PhD	Senior Scientist (Cancer Therapeutics)	Bone and joint degeneration, Cancer, Lung cancer, Lung disease, Pancreatic cancer, Prostate cancer, Breast cancer	Basic research, Clinical research, Cohort studies, Disease models, Drug development, Genetics, Imaging, Model organisms, Translational research, Molecular and cellular biology
Albert, Paul PhD	Senior Scientist (Neuroscience)	Mental health, Vascular cognitive impairment, Anxiety, Depression, Intellectual disabilities, Parkinson's, Schizophrenia, Stroke, Suicide	Basic research, Epigenetics, Exercise, Gene expression, Translational research, Disease models, Epigenetics, Genetics, Imaging, Molecular and cellular biology, Optogenetics, Transgenic/knockout models
Angel, Jonathan MD, FRCPC	Senior Scientist (Chronic Disease)	HIV, Infectious disease	Basic research, Clinical research, Translational research
Ardolino, Michele PhD	Scientist (Cancer Therapeutics)	Blood cancer, Brain cancer, Breast cancer, Cancer, Colorectal cancer, Head and neck cancer, Liver cancer, Lung cancer, Ovarian cancer, Pancreatic cancer, Prostate cancer, Skin cancer, Soft tissue sarcoma	Basic research, Cell therapy, Clinical research, Disease models, Immunization, Immunotherapy, Model organisms, Molecular and cellular biology, Transgenic/knockout models, Translational research
Atkins, Harold MD, FRCPC	Scientist (Cancer Therapeutics)	Autoimmune disease, Autoimmune diseases of the nervous system, Blood cancer, Cancer, Multiple sclerosis, Myasthenia gravis, Stiff person syndrome	Basic research, Cancer biotherapeutics, Cancer immunotherapy, Cell therapy, Clinical trials, Immunotherapy, Oncolytic viruses, Regenerative medicine, Stem cells, Translational research, Transplantation, Viral therapy
Auer, Rebecca MD, MSc, FRCSC	Senior Scientist (Cancer Therapeutics)	Cancer, Colorectal cancer, Ovarian cancer, Pancreatic cancer	Basic research, Cancer biotherapeutics, Cancer immunotherapy, Cell therapy, Clinical research, Clinical trials, Immunotherapy, Molecular and cellular biology, Oncolytic viruses, Peri-operative medicine, Quality Improvement, Surgery, Translational research, Viral therapy
Aviv, Richard MBChB, FRCR (UK), FRCPC, dABR	Clinician Investigator (Neuroscience)	Brain and neuromuscular disease, Brain cancer, Head and neck cancer, Multiple sclerosis, Stroke, Subarachnoid hemorrhage, Traumatic brain injury, Vascular cognitive impairment, Vascular, heart and metabolic disease	3D printing, Artificial intelligence and data science, Basic research, Big data, Bioinformatics, Biomarkers, Clinical research, Cluster randomized trials, Disease models, Health economics, Health technology, Imaging, Patient safety, Quality Improvement, Translational research
Bell, John PhD	Senior Scientist (Cancer Therapeutics)	Cancer, COVID-19	Basic research, Cancer biotherapeutics, Cancer immunotherapy, Cell therapy, Immunization, Immunotherapy, Oncolytic viruses, Translational research, Viral therapy
Berardi, Philip MD, PhD, FRCPC	Clinician Investigator (Cancer Therapeutics)	Blood cancer, Cancer	Basic research, Bioinformatics, Biomarkers, Cell therapy, Epigenetics, Gene expression, Genetics, Genomics, Immunotherapy, Stem cells, Translational research
Brand, Marjorie PhD	Senior Scientist (Regenerative Medicine)	Blood cancer, Sickle cell anemia, Thalassemia, Vascular, heart and metabolic disease	Artificial intelligence and data science, Basic research, Bioinformatics, Disease models, Epigenetics, Gene expression, Genomics, Imaging, Model organisms, Molecular and cellular biology, Proteomics, Stem cells, Systems biology, Transgenic/knockout models
Burger, Dylan PhD	Senior Scientist (Chronic Disease)	Aging, Chronic disease, Diabetes, Hypertension, Kidney disease, Type 1 diabetes, Vascular cognitive impairment, Vascular, heart and metabolic disease	Basic research, Biomarkers, Disease models, Imaging, Molecular and cellular biology, Pharmacology, Proteomics, Regenerative medicine, Stem cells, Transgenic/knockout models, Translational research
Burns, Kevin MD CM, FRCPC	Senior Scientist (Chronic Disease)	Diabetes, Kidney disease, Vascular, heart and metabolic disease	Basic research, Biomarkers, Cell therapy, Clinical research, Disease models, Gene expression, Molecular and cellular biology, Regenerative medicine, Stem cells, Transgenic/knockout models, Translational research
Cameron, Bill MD, FRCPC, FACP	Senior Scientist (Clinical Epidemiology)	HIV, Infectious disease	Basic research, Clinical research
Campbell, Mark MD, MSc	Clinician Investigator (Regenerative Medicine)	Bone and joint degeneration, Musculoskeletal conditions, Stroke	Basic research, Regenerative medicine, Rehabilitation, Translational research
Chen, Hsiao-Huei PhD	Senior Scientist (Neuroscience)	Autism, Depression, Mental health, Alzheimer's, Alzheimer's, Anxiety, Diabetes, Obesity, Schizophrenia, Stroke, Vascular, heart and metabolic disease	Disease models, Gene expression, Optogenetics, Transgenic/knockout models, Basic research, Molecular and cellular biology, Translational research
Clemons, Mark MB BS, BMedSci, MSc, MD, FRCP, FRCPC	Associate Scientist (Cancer Therapeutics)	Breast cancer, Cancer	Basic research, Clinical research, Clinical trials, Health research methods, Knowledge translation and implementation research
Coutu, Daniel PhD	Scientist (Regenerative Medicine)	Aging, Arthritis, Autoimmune disease, Bleeding disorders, Blood cancer, Bone and joint degeneration, Bone and joint injuries, Chronic disease, Musculoskeletal conditions, Osteoporosis	3D printing, Basic research, Bioinformatics, Biomaterials, Cell therapy, Gene expression, Gene therapy, Genetics, Genomics, Imaging, Immunotherapy, Molecular and cellular biology, Proteomics, Regenerative medicine, Stem cells, Surgery, Systems biology, Transgenic/knockout models, Translational research
Crawley, Angela Ph.D.	Scientist (Chronic Disease)	COVID-19, Hepatitis C, HIV	Basic research, Clinical research, Translational research
Diallo, Jean-Simon PhD	Senior Scientist (Cancer Therapeutics)	Cancer, COVID-19, Infectious disease	Artificial intelligence and data science, Basic research, Cancer biotherapeutics, Cancer immunotherapy, Drug development, Gene therapy, Immunization, Immunotherapy, Molecular and cellular biology, Oncolytic viruses, Translational research, Viral therapy
Dilworth, Jeffrey PhD	Senior Scientist (Regenerative Medicine)	Aging, Muscular dystrophy, Neuromuscular disease	Basic research, Epigenetics, Gene expression, Genomics, Molecular and cellular biology, Proteomics, Regenerative medicine, Stem cells
Forster, Alan MD, FRCPC, MSc	Senior Scientist (Clinical Epidemiology)	Population health	Basic research, Epidemiology, Health services research, Health technology, Patient safety, Quality Improvement
Gray, Douglas PhD	Senior Scientist (Cancer Therapeutics)	Aging, Cancer, Lung cancer, Parkinson's	Basic research, Disease models, Genomics, Imaging, Transgenic/knockout models, Genetics, Model organisms, Molecular and cellular biology
Ilkow, Carolina PhD	Scientist (Cancer Therapeutics)	Breast cancer, COVID-19, Ovarian cancer, Pancreatic cancer	Basic research, Cancer biotherapeutics, Cancer immunotherapy, Gene therapy, Immunization, Immunotherapy, Molecular and cellular biology, Oncolytic viruses, Translational research, Viral therapy
Ito, Caryn PhD	Senior Investigator (Regenerative Medicine)	Blood cancer, Cancer	Basic research, Bioinformatics, Biomarkers, Drug development, Epigenetics, Molecular and cellular biology, Proteomics, Regenerative medicine, Stem cells, Systems biology, Translational research
Klein, Ran PhD	Clinician Investigator (Clinical Epidemiology)	Cancer, Heart disease, Vascular, heart and metabolic disease	Basic research, Biomarkers, Clinical decision rules, Health technology, Imaging
Kothary, Rashmi Ph.D.	Senior Scientist (Regenerative Medicine)	Neuromuscular disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Dystonia, Multiple sclerosis, Muscular dystrophy, Spinal muscular atrophy	Basic research, Disease models, Drug development, Epigenetics, Epigenetics, Gene therapy, Genetics, Imaging, Lipidomics, Model organisms, Molecular and cellular biology, Proteomics, Regenerative medicine, Transgenic/knockout models, Translational research
Lacoste, Baptiste PhD	Scientist (Neuroscience)	Stroke, Vascular cognitive impairment, Autism	Basic research, Disease models, Gene expression, Genomics, Stem cells, Genetics, Imaging, Model organisms, Molecular and cellular biology, Transgenic/knockout models
Lalu, Manoj MD, PhD, FRCPC	Associate Scientist (Clinical Epidemiology)	Blood cancer, COVID-19, Heart disease, Stroke, Vascular, heart and metabolic disease	Basic research, Cell therapy, Clinical research, Clinical trials, Disease models, Health research methods, Model organisms, Patient engagement, Regenerative medicine, Stem cells, Translational research
Liu, Johné PhD	Senior Scientist (Chronic Disease)	Aging, Cancer, Infertility, Maternal and fetal health, Pregnancy, Women's health	Basic research, Clinical research, Clinical trials, Disease models, Drug development, Translational research
Lorimer, Ian PhD	Senior Scientist (Cancer Therapeutics)	Brain and neuromuscular disease, Brain cancer, Cancer	Basic research, Cancer biotherapeutics, Cell therapy, Disease models, Molecular and cellular biology, Translational research
Mattar, Pierre PhD	Scientist (Regenerative Medicine)	Ataxia, Autism, Glaucoma, Intellectual disabilities, Macular degeneration, Retinal disease, Vision	Basic research, Bioinformatics, Cell therapy, Epigenetics, Gene expression, Genetics, Genomics, Model organisms, Molecular and cellular biology, Proteomics, Regenerative medicine, Stem cells, Systems biology, Transgenic/knockout models
McBurney, Michael PhD	Program Director and Senior Scientist Emeritus (Cancer Therapeutics)	Aging, Diabetes, Cancer	Molecular and cellular biology, Transgenic/knockout models, Basic research
Mei, Shirley PhD, MSc	Investigator (Regenerative Medicine)	COVID-19, Septic shock	Basic research, Biomarkers, Cell therapy, Critical care, Disease models, Epigenetics, Gene therapy, Knowledge translation and implementation research, Molecular and cellular biology, Regenerative medicine, Stem cells
Perkins, Theodore PhD	Senior Scientist (Regenerative Medicine)	Brain and neuromuscular disease, Cancer, Muscular dystrophy, Musculoskeletal conditions, Neuromuscular disease	Artificial intelligence and data science, Basic research, Big data, Bioinformatics, Biomarkers, Biostatistics, Epigenetics, Gene expression, Genetics, Genomics, Proteomics, Regenerative medicine, Stem cells, Systems biology, Translational research
Picketts, David Ph.D.	Senior Scientist (Regenerative Medicine)	Autism, Brain and neuromuscular disease, Intellectual disabilities, Multiple sclerosis, Stroke, Vision	Basic research, Disease models, Epigenetics, Molecular and cellular biology, Regenerative medicine, Stem cells, Transgenic/knockout models
Rudnicki, Michael OC, PhD, FRS, FRSC	Program Director and Senior Scientist (Regenerative Medicine)	Muscular dystrophy, Neuromuscular disease	Basic research, Bioinformatics, Disease models, Epigenetics, Genetics, Genomics, Model organisms, Molecular and cellular biology, Proteomics, Regenerative medicine, Stem cells, Transgenic/knockout models
Sabourin, Luc PhD	Senior Scientist (Cancer Therapeutics)	Breast cancer, Muscular dystrophy, Skin cancer	Basic research, Disease models, Drug development, Gene expression, Genetics, Molecular and cellular biology, Proteomics, Stem cells, Transgenic/knockout models
Santos, Marlise MD (FRCPC), MSc, MPH	Clinician Investigator (Clinical Epidemiology)	Alzheimer's, Anxiety, Ataxia, Autoimmune diseases of the nervous system, Brain and neuromuscular disease, Brain cancer, Concussion, Dementia, Depression, Global health, Head and neck cancer, Health equity, Health in disadvantaged peoples, Infectious disease, Intellectual disabilities, Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, Population health, Spinal cord injury, Stroke, Subarachnoid hemorrhage, Thrombosis / thromboembolism, Traumatic brain injury, Traumatic injuries, Vascular cognitive impairment, Vascular, heart and metabolic disease	Basic research, Behaviour, Clinical decision rules, Clinical trials, Cohort studies, Critical care, Epidemiology, Health economics, Health research methods, Health services research, Health technology, Imaging, Patient safety, Pragmatic trials, Prevention, Public health, Qualitative methods, Quality Improvement, Shared decision making, Surgery, Surveys, Systematic reviews
Schlossmacher, Michael MD, DABPN, FRCPC	Program Director and Senior Scientist (Neuroscience)	Aging, Brain and neuromuscular disease, Chronic disease, Crohn's, Dementia, Inflammatory bowel syndrome, Dementia, Parkinson's	Basic research, Biomarkers, Cohort studies, Disease models, Drug development, Genetics, Lipidomics, Molecular and cellular biology, Proteomics, Risk assessment, Transgenic/knockout models, Translational research
Sorisky, Alexander MD, CM, FRCPC	Program Director and Senior Scientist (Chronic Disease)	Obesity, Diabetes, Heart disease	Basic research, Molecular and cellular biology
Tanphaichitr, Nongnuj PhD	Emeritus Scientist (Chronic Disease)	HIV, Infectious disease, Infertility, Men's health, Sexually transmitted infections, Women's health	Basic research, Contraceptive development, Drug development, Imaging, Lipidomics, Molecular and cellular biology, Proteomics
Tiberi, Mario PhD	Senior Scientist (Neuroscience)	Parkinson's, Schizophrenia, Stroke	Basic research, Drug development, Molecular and cellular biology, Proteomics, Translational research
Trudel, Guy MD	Clinician Investigator (Clinical Epidemiology)	Bone and joint degeneration, Musculoskeletal conditions	Basic research, Biomarkers, Molecular and cellular biology, Regenerative medicine, Rehabilitation
Tsang, Benjamin PhD	Senior Scientist Emeritus (Chronic Disease)	Infertility, Ovarian cancer	Basic research, Translational research
Vanderhyden, Barbara PhD	Senior Scientist (Cancer Therapeutics)	Cancer, Infertility, Ovarian cancer, Women's health	Basic research, Bioinformatics, Biomarkers, Cancer biotherapeutics, Disease models, Drug development, Epigenetics, Gene expression, Genomics, Immunotherapy, Model organisms, Molecular and cellular biology, Oncolytic viruses, Stem cells, Transgenic/knockout models, Translational research, Viral therapy
Woulfe, John PhD, MD	Associate Scientist (Neuroscience)	Brain and neuromuscular disease, Brain cancer, Cancer, Parkinson's	Basic research, Clinical research, Translational research