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COVID-19

The Ottawa Hospital is conducting cutting-edge research to improve our understanding of COVID-19 and develop better approaches for treatment and prevention. This page includes selected news stories about our COVID-19 research, links to researchers working in this area and related resources. Learn more below.

Research News


Powering up the body’s EVs Powering up the body’s EVs
November 9, 2023 - Dr. Alvin Tieu is receiving the Worton Researcher in Training Award from The Ottawa Hospital for his multidisciplinary research on life-threatening lung diseases
Beyond the spike: novel COVID vaccine candidate targets 7 viral proteins for strong immune response Beyond the spike: novel COVID vaccine candidate targets 7 viral proteins for strong immune response
November 2, 2023 - Despite the widespread availability of COVID-19 vaccines in many countries, SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread and make people sick and new variants remain a significant threat. Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa believe the
Obstructive sleep apnea linked with severe COVID-19 Obstructive sleep apnea linked with severe COVID-19
May 19, 2023 - A study led by Dr. Tetyana Kendzerska suggests that people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) could be at greater risk of contracting COVID-19 and having severe complications.
Show more news stories


Researchers


Name Scientific appointment Diseases, conditions and populations of interest Research and clinical approaches
Aydin, Sibel
MD
Associate Scientist
(ICD)
Arthritis, Autoimmune disease, Bone and joint degeneration, COVID-19, Population health Epidemiology, Imaging
Bell, John
PhD, FRSC, FCAHS
Senior Scientist
(CR)
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
(CR)
Aging, Anemia, Bleeding disorders, Blood cancer, Cancer, COVID-19, Health equity, Health in older peoples, Sickle cell anemia, Thalassemia, Thrombosis / thromboembolism Artificial intelligence and data science, Basic research, Bioinformatics, Biomarkers, Cancer biotherapeutics, Cell therapy, Epigenetics, Gene expression, Genetics, Genomics, Immunotherapy, Molecular and cellular biology, Stem cells, Translational research
Bissell, Mary Beth
MSc, MD, FRCPC
Clinician Investigator
(CR)
Breast cancer, Cancer, COVID-19, Population health, Women's health Clinical research
Boet, Sylvain
MD, PhD
Scientist
(ACR)
COVID-19 Anesthesiology, Behaviour, Clinical trials, Knowledge translation and implementation research, Patient engagement, Psychology, Qualitative methods, Quality Improvement, Surgery, Systematic reviews, Translational research
Cameron, Bill
MD FRCPC FACP FIDSA
Senior Scientist
(ICD)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COVID-19, Cystic fibrosis, HIV, Infectious disease, Sexually transmitted infections, Tuberculosis Clinical research, Epidemiology, Immunization, Immunotherapy, Pharmacology
Cooper, Curtis
MD, FRCPC
Scientist
(ICD)
COVID-19, Hepatitis C, HIV, Infectious disease, Influenza Clinical research, Immunization
Cowan, Juthaporn
MD, PhD, FRCPC
Associate Scientist
(ICD)
Autoimmune disease, COVID-19, Infectious disease Immunization, Immunotherapy, Patient engagement
Crawley, Angela
Ph.D.
Senior Scientist
(ICD)
Cancer, COVID-19, Hepatitis C, HIV, Infectious disease, Liver cancer, Liver disease Basic research, Cancer immunotherapy, Clinical research, Disease models, Immunization, Immunotherapy, Molecular and cellular biology, RNA sequencing, Translational research
Diallo, Jean-Simon
PhD
Senior Scientist
(CR)
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
El-Chaar, Darine
MD, FRCSC, Msc
Scientist
(ICD)
Autoimmune disease, COVID-19, Diabetes, Infectious disease, Inflammatory bowel syndrome, Maternal and fetal health, Newborn and child health, Population health, Pregnancy, Women's health Clinical research, Clinical trials, Cohort studies, Epidemiology, Health research methods, Health services research, Public health, Qualitative methods, Quality Improvement, Systematic reviews
English, Shane
MD
Senior Scientist
(ACR)
COVID-19, Septic shock, Subarachnoid hemorrhage, Traumatic brain injury Clinical research, Critical care, Patient engagement
Fergusson, Dean
PhD, MHA, FCAHS
Program Director and
Senior Scientist
(MIR)
Cancer, COVID-19, Kidney disease, Septic shock, Vascular, heart and metabolic disease Clinical trials, Health services research, Health technology, Patient engagement, Pragmatic trials, Surveys, Translational research, Biostatistics, Clinical research, Cluster randomized trials, Cohort studies, Critical care, Health research methods, Qualitative methods, Quality Improvement, Systematic reviews, Transfusions
Grimshaw, Jeremy
MBCHB, PHD
Senior Scientist Emeritus
(MIR)
COVID-19 Behaviour, Cluster randomized trials, Health professional behaviour change, Health research methods, Health services research, Knowledge translation and implementation research, Patient engagement, Qualitative methods, Quality Improvement, Surveys, Systematic reviews
Hatcher, Simon
BSc MBBS MMedSc MD FRCPC FRANZCP MRCPsych
Scientist
(NS)
Anxiety, Brain and neuromuscular disease, COVID-19, First Nations, Inuit and Métis Health, Health equity, Mental health, Traumatic brain injury, Depression, Health in disadvantaged peoples, Suicide Clinical research, Digital and mobile health, Health economics, Health professional behaviour change, Health research methods, Health services research, Health technology, Knowledge translation and implementation research, Patient engagement, Prevention, Public health, Qualitative methods, Clinical trials, Cluster randomized trials, Epidemiology, Psychology, Systematic reviews
Ilkow, Carolina
PhD
Senior Scientist
(CR)
Breast cancer, COVID-19, Ovarian cancer, Pancreatic cancer Basic research, Cancer biotherapeutics, Cancer immunotherapy, Extracellular vesicles / exosomes, Gene therapy, Immunization, Immunotherapy, Molecular and cellular biology, Oncolytic viruses, Translational research, Viral therapy
Lalu, Manoj
MD, PhD, FRCPC
Scientist
(ACR)
Blood cancer, COVID-19, Heart disease, Stroke, Vascular, heart and metabolic disease Anesthesiology, Basic research, Cell therapy, Clinical research, Clinical trials, Disease models, Health research methods, Model organisms, Patient engagement, Regenerative medicine, Stem cells, Translational research
Manuel, Douglas
MD, MSc, FRCPC
Senior Scientist
(MIR)
Aging, Alzheimer's, Cancer, COVID-19, Dementia, Diabetes, Frailty, Global health, Health equity, Health in disadvantaged peoples, Health in older peoples, Immigrant and refugee health, Infectious disease, Obesity, Parkinson's, Population health, Stroke, Vascular cognitive impairment, Vascular, heart and metabolic disease Artificial intelligence and data science, Big data, Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, Digital and mobile health, Epidemiology, Health research methods, Health services research, Prevention, Public health
Mei, Shirley
PhD, MSc
Investigator
(RM)
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
Pakhale, Smita
MD, FRCPC, MSc (Epi & Biostat)
Senior Scientist
(ICD)
COVID-19, First Nations, Inuit and Métis Health, Health equity, Health in disadvantaged peoples, Lung disease, Sickle cell anemia Clinical research, Clinical trials, Cohort studies, Epidemiology, Health economics, Health promotion, Health services research, Patient engagement, Pragmatic trials, Public health, Quality Improvement
Presseau, Justin
PhD
Senior Scientist
(MIR)
Chronic pain, COVID-19, Diabetes, Health equity, Hepatitis C, Immigrant and refugee health, Inflammatory bowel syndrome, Retinal disease, Vision Artificial intelligence and data science, Health services research, Patient engagement, Psychometrics, Public health, Qualitative methods, Quality Improvement, Rapid reviews, Transfusions, Transplantation, Behaviour, Psychology, Health professional behaviour change, Knowledge translation and implementation research, Health promotion, Cluster randomized trials, Surveys
Seely, Andrew
MD/PhD
Scientist
(ACR)
COVID-19 Artificial intelligence and data science, Critical care
Stanford, William
PhD
Senior Scientist
(RM)
Aging, Blood cancer, Cancer, COVID-19, Lung cancer, Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), Vascular, heart and metabolic disease Artificial intelligence and data science, Molecular and cellular biology, Regenerative medicine, Stem cells, Systems biology
Stewart, Duncan
MD, FRCPC
Senior Scientist
(RM)
COVID-19, Heart disease, Pulmonary hypertension, Septic shock, Vascular, heart and metabolic disease Extracellular vesicles / exosomes, Stem cells, Cell therapy, Clinical trials, Molecular and cellular biology, Regenerative medicine, Translational research
Thavorn, Kednapa
BPharm, MPharm, PhD
Senior Scientist
(MIR)
Cancer, COVID-19, Diabetes, Gastrointestinal disease, Glaucoma, Global health, Health equity, Health in disadvantaged peoples, Health in older peoples, HIV, Immigrant and refugee health, Population health, Septic shock, Stroke, Thrombosis / thromboembolism, Vision Clinical research, Cohort studies, Epidemiology, Health economics, Health research methods, Health services research, Knowledge translation and implementation research, Patient engagement, Pharmacy, Public health, Quality Improvement, Systematic reviews
Thiruganasambandamoorthy, Venkatesh
MBBS, CCFP-EM, MSc
Senior Scientist
(ACR)
Cardiac arrest, COVID-19, Heart disease, Vascular, heart and metabolic disease Artificial intelligence and data science, Clinical decision rules, Clinical research, Emergency medicine, Epidemiology, Health services research
Tinmouth, Alan
MD, FRCPC, MSc (Clin Epi)
Senior Scientist
(ICD)
COVID-19, Sickle cell anemia, Thalassemia Clinical trials, Epidemiology, Transfusions
Wilson, Kumanan
MD, MSc, FRCPC
Senior Scientist
(MIR)
COVID-19, Global health, Infectious disease, Newborn and child health, Population health Artificial intelligence and data science, Big data, Biomarkers, Clinical research, Digital and mobile health, Epidemiology, Health services research, Health technology, Immunization, Public health, Transfusions, Translational research




Clinical Trials

The following list of clinical trials is pulled from ClinicalTrials.gov using the search terms "COVID-19” 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.

NCTTitleConditionStatusContact
NCT05115617Pregnant and Lactating Individuals & Newborns COVID-19 Vaccination Prospective Cohort Study (NCT05115617)SARS-CoV2 Infection, Covid19, Vaccine Reaction, Pregnancy Related, ImmunogenicityRECRUITING 
NCT02735707Randomized, Embedded, Multifactorial Adaptive Platform Trial for Community- Acquired Pneumonia (NCT02735707)Community-acquired Pneumonia, Influenza, COVID-19RECRUITING 
NCT05513560RECLAIM: Recovering From COVID-19 Lingering Symptoms Adaptive Integrative Medicine (NCT05513560)Long COVID, Post COVID Condition, Post Acute Sequelae of COVID-19RECRUITING 
NCT05246098REVIVe: Frailty, Rehabilitation, and Outcomes in Critically Ill Adult and Pediatric Survivors of COVID-19 or ARI (NCT05246098)Respiratory Disease, COVID-19, Viral InfectionRECRUITINGaseely@toh.ca
NCT04415060SedAting With Volatile Anesthetics Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients in ICU: Effects On Ventilatory Parameters And Survival (NCT04415060)Covid19, Hypoxic Respiratory FailureRECRUITING 
NCT05258578Tele-BARICARE to Manage COVID-19-Related Distress (NCT05258578)Obesity, Bariatric Surgery Candidate, Mental Health Disorder, Eating DisordersRECRUITINGdasandre@toh.ca


Publications

The following research publications are pulled from PubMed using the search terms "COVID-19" 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.

Sex differences in COVID-19 vaccine confidence in people living with HIV in Canada.
2024-11-25

Association between maternal mRNA covid-19 vaccination in early pregnancy and major congenital anomalies in offspring: population based cohort study with sibling matched analysis.
2024-11-22

Accuracy of the Canadian COVID-19 Mortality Score (CCMS) to predict in-hospital mortality among vaccinated and unvaccinated patients infected with Omicron: a cohort study.
2024-11-21

Obesity does not influence SARS-CoV-2 humoral vaccine immunogenicity.
2024-11-19

COVID-19-related research data availability and quality according to the FAIR principles: A meta-research study.
2024-11-18

Beyond Hemoglobin A1c-Outcomes That Matter to Individuals With Type 1 Diabetes in Adopting Digital Health Interventions for Self-Management Support: Qualitative Study.
2024-11-13

Burden of Illness Associated With Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Influenza, and Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Infants and Young Children in Ontario, Canada, 2018-2023: A Population-Based Canadian Immunization Research Network Study.
2024-10-30

Consensus Considerations and Good Practice Points for Use of Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems in Hospital Settings.
2024-10-25

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Canadian Dermatology Residency Match: A Four-Year Retrospective.
2024-10-22

Comparing AI/ML approaches and classical regression for predictive modeling using large population health databases: Applications to COVID-19 case prediction.
2024-10-22

View more on PubMed