Five groups from The Ottawa Hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, were successful in the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s recent grant competition. Drs. Dar Dowlatshahi, Tim Ramsay and Elizabeth Rochon were awarded $290,000* to test whether a tablet-based speech therapy that stroke patients use from their beds in between appointments can help them recover their ability to speak. Dr. Dowlatshahi also received a $240,000 clinician-scientist phase 2 award to support his acute stroke recovery research program. Dr. Hsiao-Huei Chen was awarded $280,000 to identify which signalling pathways are disrupted by the PTP1B enzyme during stroke and test whether a drug that blocks this enzyme can improve recovery in mouse models. Dr. Paul Albert was awarded $250,000 to test whether using light to stimulate the brain can reduce depression after a stroke in animal models, a completely new area of research. Dr. Michel Shamy was awarded a national new investigator award ($260,000) for his research program on the ethics of clinical trials, and a seed catalyst grant ($100,000) to support a study of women-only trials in stroke. Dr. Alexander Sorisky was awarded $262,992 to study how high levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone increase an individual’s risk of heart attack.
*Local co-investigators: Karen Mallet, Grant Stotts, Michel Shamy.
These researchers are also supported by generous donations to the The Ottawa Hospital.
The Ottawa Hospital: Inspired by research. Driven by compassion
The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals with over 1,100 beds, approximately 12,000 staff and an annual budget of over $1.2 billion. Our focus on research and learning helps us develop new and innovative ways to treat patients and improve care. As a multi-campus hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, we deliver specialized care to the Eastern Ontario region, but our techniques and research discoveries are adopted around the world. We engage the community at all levels to support our vision for better patient care. See www.ohri.ca for more information about research at The Ottawa Hospital.
University of Ottawa: —A crossroads of cultures and ideas
The University of Ottawa is home to over 50,000 students, faculty and staff, who live, work and study in both French and English. Our campus is a crossroads of cultures and ideas, where bold minds come together to inspire game-changing ideas. We are one of Canada’s top 10 research universities—our professors and researchers explore new approaches to today’s challenges. One of a handful of Canadian universities ranked among the top 200 in the world, we attract exceptional thinkers and welcome diverse perspectives from across the globe. www.uottawa.ca
Media Contact
Amelia Buchanan
Senior Communication Specialist
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Office: 613-798-5555 x 73687
Cell: 613-297-8315
ambuchanan@ohri.ca
