Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Research News

	Lab discovery suggests possible new approach for treating progressive multiple sclerosis July 26, 2024 - A new study from The Ottawa Hospital and uOttawa shows that a microRNA molecule called miR-145-5p could be key to developing new treatments for progressive multiple sclerosis (MS).
	Study strengthens link between Epstein-Barr virus and multiple sclerosis April 23, 2024 - “Our findings help confirm a strong relationship between MS and the Epstein-Barr virus across the lifespan, which could be a new target for treatment and prevention.”
	Can a blood test predict if MS attacks will come back after stopping treatment? March 15, 2024 - Some people prefer to stop immune-suppressing treatment if their disease has been stable for years, but there’s no way to know whether their symptoms will return.
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	New Scientist Profile: Dr. Giulia Fadda investigates poorly understood neuroinflammatory conditions April 5, 2023 - Neurologist Dr. Giulia Fadda wants to know what causes widespread brain damage in neuroinflammatory conditions like progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Patients with this kind of MS relentlessly get worse over time.
	Stem cell treatment banishes disease for MS patient April 2, 2023 - John Chafe had a job in a bank with the goal of running it one day. But his plans were sidetracked by an aggressive form of multiple sclerosis (MS). In 2001, he became the second person in a world-first clinical trial of its kind that virtually elimi
	After 18 years with MS—“I really feel like I’m cured.” April 2, 2023 - “It’s now 12 years since my stem cell transplant. I really feel like I’m cured,” said Heather Harris, who has no symptoms of the disease. She works full-time as a school principal, and is back to camping, skiing, running and driving a manual shift ca
	New scientist profile: Dr. Gauruv Bose aims to use AI and big data to predict the course of MS January 18, 2023 - Neurologist Dr. Gauruv Bose wants a crystal ball to see the future of his patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
	A conversation with stem cell pioneer Dr. Harold Atkins October 4, 2022 - When Dr. Harry Atkins was young, he wanted to be an architect. Everything changed with one high school biology project, and now Dr. Atkins is pioneering the use of stem cells to reprogram people’s immune systems.
	MS stem cell transplant gives priceless second chance September 1, 2022 - Thanks to a life-changing stem cell transplant at The Ottawa Hospital, Geneviève Bétournay has a whole new perspective on the possibilities that lie ahead for her.
	How well do COVID-19 vaccines work in people with cancer, immune conditions and other populations of interest? July 15, 2021 - Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa have been awarded more than $8 million to lead four national studies that will answer important questions about COVID-19 vaccines, including how well they work in people with cancer and
	How well do COVID-19 vaccines work in people with inherited and medication-related immune deficiencies? July 15, 2021 - People with inherited immune deficiencies have a greater risk of developing severe COVID-19 and may be less likely to respond to vaccines. People with multiple sclerosis, arthritis and other immune-mediated diseases may also be at risk because medica
	Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and Faculty of Medicine support three translational research projects through Blueprint Excelerator March 10, 2021 - The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) and the Faculty of Medicine are providing up to $150,000 in in-kind support to help translate three laboratory research projects into clinical applications. The three projects will receive support from th
	Can a diabetes drug help repair damaged nerve insulation? Mouse study shows it might. January 27, 2021 - A study in mice led by Dr. Jing Wang suggests that the diabetes drug metformin may be able to repair damage to nerve insulation caused by diseases like MS and stroke.
	Common supplement being tested as potential treatment for progressive MS June 27, 2019 - Lipoic acid (LA), a natural antioxidant, has shown promising results in a small pilot trial in helping people with multiple sclerosis (MS) walk faster and preventing brain atrophy.
	Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recommended as a standard of care for certain kinds of MS in the U.S. March 13, 2019 - The American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation has recommended that stem cell transplantation for MS, which has been pioneered at The Ottawa Hospital, be considered a “standard of care, clinical evidence available” for people with certain
	Researchers to advance science and improve health with new CIHR funding February 14, 2019 - Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, are playing a lead role in nine new projects funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). These projects will advance science and improve health in areas su
	Could a molecule triggered by running help treat MS? April 20, 2018 - Dr. David Picketts’ team discovered in 2016 that a molecule triggered by running can help repair certain kinds of brain damage in animal models. The molecule, called VGF nerve growth factor inducible, helps heal the protective coating that surrounds
	Ottawa scientist wins Canada's top stem cell prize for multiple sclerosis trial September 6, 2017 - Dr. Harold Atkins, stem cell transplant physician and scientist at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa, will receive the prestigious Till & McCulloch Award for “exceptional contributions to global stem cell research.” The award will
	Common acne medication shows promise in treating multiple sclerosis June 1, 2017 - Clinical trial shows that minocycline, an oral acne medication, can slow the progress of relapsing-remitting MS A common oral acne medication could provide new, affordable treatment options for Canadians suffering from relapsing-remitting multip
	Information for patients: Chemo and blood stem cell transplantation for rare autoimmune diseases January 4, 2017 - A number of media stories have recently highlighted The Ottawa Hospital’s use of chemotherapy and blood stem cell transplantation to treat rare autoimmune diseases, such as myasthenia gravis, stiff person syndrome and scleroderma. These stories have
	MS breakthrough: Replacing diseased immune system halts progression and allows repair June 9, 2016 - Clinical trial suggests chemo and blood stem cell combination therapy should be considered for people with early, aggressive MS A clinical trial published in The Lancet, a top medical journal, shows that an intensive procedure that completely wipe
	The Ottawa Hospital leads first Canadian clinical trial of mesenchymal stem cell therapy for multiple sclerosis January 29, 2015 - The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada and the Multiple Sclerosis Scientific Research Foundation announced today a $4.2 million grant to support the first Canadian clinical trial of mesenchymal stem cell therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS), led by

Researchers

Name	Scientific appointment	Diseases, conditions and populations of interest	Research and clinical approaches
Atkins, Harold MD, FRCPC	Senior Clinician Investigator (CR)	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
Aviv, Richard MBChB, FRCR (UK), FRCPC, dABR	Clinician Investigator (NS)	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	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
Bose, Gauruv MD, FRCPC	Associate Scientist (NS)	Autoimmune diseases of the nervous system, Multiple sclerosis	Artificial intelligence and data science, Biomarkers, Clinical decision rules, Clinical trials, Cohort studies, Health economics
Chakraborty, Santanu MBBS, MRCP, DMRD, FRCR, FRCP(C)	Senior Clinician Investigator (NS)	Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Brain cancer, Concussion, Dementia, Head and neck cancer, Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, Spinal cord injury, Stroke, Traumatic brain injury	Bioinformatics, Clinical research, Health economics, Health professional behaviour change, Imaging, Immunization, Patient safety, Quality Improvement, Risk assessment
Fadda, Giulia MD	Associate Scientist (NS)	Autoimmune diseases of the nervous system, Multiple sclerosis	Bioinformatics, Biomarkers, Biostatistics, Clinical research, Imaging, Immunotherapy, Molecular and cellular biology, Patient engagement, Translational research
Freedman, Mark HBSc, MSc, MD, CSPQ, FAAN, FRCPC	Senior Scientist (NS)	Multiple sclerosis	Cell therapy, Clinical research, Regenerative medicine, Clinical trials
Kothary, Rashmi Ph.D.	Senior Scientist (RM)	Neuromuscular disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, 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
Picketts, David Ph.D.	Senior Scientist (RM)	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
Ramsay, Timothy PhD	Senior Scientist (MIR)	Addiction, Alzheimer's, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Anxiety, Ataxia, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Autism, Bipolar, Brain and neuromuscular disease, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Colorectal cancer, Concussion, Cystic fibrosis, Dementia, Depression, First Nations, Inuit and Métis Health, HIV, Immigrant and refugee health, Influenza, Kidney disease, Lung cancer, Macular degeneration, Men's health, Multiple sclerosis, Muscular dystrophy, Myasthenia gravis, Obesity, Ovarian cancer, Parkinson's, Pulmonary hypertension, Septic shock, Spinal cord injury	Artificial intelligence and data science, Behaviour, Biomaterials, Biostatistics, Cell therapy, Clinical decision rules, Clinical research, Clinical trials, Cohort studies, Critical care, Drug development, Emergency medicine, Epidemiology, Health professional behaviour change, Health promotion, Health research methods, Health services research, Health technology, Immunization, Immunotherapy, Palliative care, Patient decision aids, Pharmacology, Pharmacy, Prevention, Psychology, Psychometrics, Public health, Qualitative methods, Quality Improvement, Regenerative medicine, Rehabilitation, Risk assessment, Shared decision making, Surgery, Surveys, Systematic reviews, Transfusions, Translational research, Transplantation, Viral therapy
Santos, Marlise MD (FRCPC), MSc, MPH	Clinician Investigator (NS)	Alzheimer's, Anxiety, Ataxia, Autoimmune disease, Autoimmune diseases of the nervous system, Blood cancer, Brain and neuromuscular disease, Brain cancer, 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, Sickle cell anemia, Spinal cord injury, Stroke, Subarachnoid hemorrhage, Thrombosis / thromboembolism, Traumatic brain injury, Traumatic injuries, Vascular cognitive impairment, Vascular, heart and metabolic disease	Artificial intelligence and data science, Basic research, Behaviour, Biostatistics, Cancer biotherapeutics, Clinical decision rules, Clinical research, 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
Walker, Lisa PhD, C.Psych	Clinician Investigator (NS)	Anxiety, Autoimmune disease, Autoimmune diseases of the nervous system, Brain and neuromuscular disease, Dementia, Depression, Mental health, Multiple sclerosis	Behaviour, Biomarkers, Clinical research, Exercise, Imaging, Psychology, Psychometrics, Rehabilitation, Stem cells, Systematic reviews, Translational research
Wang, Jing Ph.D.	Senior Scientist (RM)	Alzheimer's, Multiple sclerosis, Stroke	Cell therapy, Disease models, Epigenetics, Imaging, Molecular and cellular biology, Regenerative medicine, Stem cells, Transgenic/knockout models

Related Resources

Autoimmune disease research at The Ottawa Hospital

Information for MS patients interested in chemo and blood stem cell combination therapy at The Ottawa Hospital

The Ottawa Hospital MS Clinic

Clinical Trials

The following list of clinical trials is pulled from ClinicalTrials.gov using the search terms "Multiple sclerosis” and “Ottawa Hospital.” More advanced search options are available. If you find a clinical trial that interests you, you can bring the information to the next appointment with your care team and ask if you are eligible for the study. If so, they may be able to refer you to the study team. Visit ohri.ca/patients to learn more about participating in research and clinical trials.

Note that ClinicalTrials.gov is hosted by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and is only available in English. Please note that we cannot guarantee a response from the person listed in the ‘Contact’ column.

Publications

The following research publications are pulled from PubMed using the search terms "Multiple sclerosis" and "Ottawa Hospital", with publication date of 2020 or later. More advanced search options are available. Note that PubMed is hosted by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and is only available in English.

The role of serum neurofilament light (sNfL) as a biomarker in multiple sclerosis: insights from a systematic review.
2025-05-15

Role of soluble biomarkers in treating multiple sclerosis and neuroinflammatory conditions.
2025-04-19

The utility of serum neurofilament light chain in MOGAD: Current insights and future directions.
2025-04-05

Physical Activity Together for MS: Quality Participation Experiences of People With Multiple Sclerosis and Their Caregivers in a Dyadic Physical Activity Intervention.
2025-01-01

An interdisciplinary approach is necessary in the treatment of cognitive decline in multiple sclerosis: Yes.
2025-03-01

Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for treatment of multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder - recommendations from ECTRIMS and the EBMT.
2025-03-01

Typical and Emerging Diagnostic MRI Features in Multiple Sclerosis.
2025-02-01

Canadian Association of Radiologists Central Nervous System Diagnostic Imaging Referral Guideline.
2025-01-30

Feasibility of Simon 2-Stage Futility Trials in Early Parkinson Disease: Analysis of the PRECEPT and DATATOP Trial Datasets.
2025-01-14

Long-term follow-up of patients with a first clinical demyelinating event (clinically isolated syndrome) who received cladribine tablets in CLASSIC-MS: Findings for the ORACLE-MS cohort.
2025-01-01

View more on PubMed