Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Research News

	Am I still a safe driver? This 5-min test could start the conversation August 18, 2023 - A five-minute questionnaire could help doctors start a conversation with older adults who have medical conditions that may affect their ability to drive.
	Does “prehab” before surgery improve patient outcomes? Pilot sets the stage for national trial October 5, 2022 - A home-based prehabilitation or “prehab” program designed to help older adults with frailty recover from cancer surgery has shown promise in a randomized pilot trial, particularly for patients who had a high level of adherence to the program.
	Hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring compound, awakens stem cells to repair damaged muscle August 4, 2022 - A new study published in the journal Science reveals a unique form of cell communication that controls muscle repair.
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	Supercharging stem cells November 12, 2021 - Dr. Jeff Dilworth is receiving The Ottawa Hospital’s Chrétien Researcher of the Year Award for his groundbreaking research, which could bring new energy to exhausted stem cells and help them repair the body
	Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital awarded eight grants worth $5 million from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research August 10, 2021 - These projects will advance science and improve health in areas such as cancer immunotherapy, orthopedic surgery, long-term care, neuromuscular disease, blood clots, vascular disease, aging, kidney disease and Inuit health.
	Research unravels links between fasting, lifespan and muscle stem cells June 2, 2021 - Intermittent fasting (or skipping meals) has often been reported to increase lifespan in various animals, but the observation that it also affects muscle stem cell function has been less well-studied.
	Stem cells go ‘all in’ to repair damaged muscles May 12, 2021 - When faced with a major muscle injury, muscle stem cells need to find the right balance between repair and self-preservation. New research led by Dr. Jeff Dilworth shows for the first time that upon injury, muscle stem cells prioritize immediate repa
	Two researchers at The Ottawa Hospital receive Ontario Early Researcher Awards September 1, 2020 - Two researchers from The Ottawa Hospital affiliated with the University of Ottawa received Early Researcher Awards from the Ontario Research Fund.
	Dr. Doug Manuel awarded title of Distinguished University Professor September 24, 2019 - The physician and researcher has dedicated his career to improving the health of communities and reducing inequities in health care.
	Same-day physician access could prevent 1 in 6 hospitalizations in long-term care homes September 11, 2019 - According to a study led by Dr. Daniel Kobewka, residents of long-term care homes that had same-day physician access were 21 percent less likely to be hospitalized and 14 percent less likely visit an emergency department compared to homes where resid
	Clinical trials offer strong foundation for better patient care May 16, 2019 - Clinical trials are an important step toward developing new treatments and learning more about diseases and conditions. In honour of International Clinical Trials Day, read how some of the researchers at The Ottawa Hospital are making huge contribut
	Do-not-resuscitate (DNR) and do-not-hospitalize (DNH) orders not enough to prevent potentially avoidable hospital visits: study April 15, 2019 - Do-not-resuscitate (DNR) and do-not-hospitalize (DNH) orders in long-term care homes (nursing homes) across Ontario led to reductions in rates of hospitalizations and hospital deaths, but did not eliminate these potentially inappropriate transfers, a
	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
	Stem cell researchers tackle muscle weakness in older people May 30, 2018 - For most people, muscle loss is a normal part of aging that makes daily tasks harder. Muscle loss called sarcopenia happens more quickly, leading to falls and decreased mobility. One reason for this muscle loss is that stem cells that help repair dam
	The Ottawa Hospital awarded $12.7M for research, double the national CIHR success rate January 30, 2018 - Sixteen research groups at The Ottawa Hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, have been awarded $12.7 million in the most recent project grant competition from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). This represents a success r
	Researchers turn back the clock to watch aging in fast forward July 20, 2017 - Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a rare genetic disease that resembles rapid aging, with young children displaying hardened blood vessels, fragile bones and wrinkles among other symptoms. It usually results in death during the teenage
	Researcher aims to make surgery safer for frail patients September 29, 2016 - Anesthesiologist and scientist Dr. Daniel McIsaac is doing research to better understand why some older patients recover quickly after surgery while others do not. As Canada’s population ages, more older patients are coming to hospital for sur
	$530,000 grant to find Canadians’ most important risk factors for dementia March 30, 2016 - Drs. Doug Manuel and Peter Tanuseputro have been awarded a $530,000 grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to build models that will predict dementia incidence and the future burden of the disease on the Canadian population.
	Frail patients more likely to die in the year after surgery February 24, 2016 - While all surgeries come with risks, a recent study led by Dr. Daniel McIsaac found that frail, elderly patients are more likely to die in the year after surgery than other patients. The study published in JAMA Surgery reviewed the health records

Researchers

Name	Scientific appointment	Diseases, conditions and populations of interest	Research and clinical approaches
Berardi, Philip MD, PhD, FRCPC	Clinician Investigator (Cancer Research)	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
Burger, Dylan PhD	Senior Scientist (Inflammation and Chronic Disease)	Aging, Diabetes, Heart disease, Hypertension, Kidney disease, Maternal and fetal health, Obesity, Thrombosis / thromboembolism, Type 1 diabetes, Vascular cognitive impairment, Vascular, heart and metabolic disease	Basic research, Biomarkers, Disease models, Exercise, Extracellular vesicles / exosomes, Imaging, Model organisms, Molecular and cellular biology, Pharmacology, Proteomics, Regenerative medicine, Stem cells, Transgenic/knockout models, Translational research
Chen, Hsiao-Huei PhD	Senior Scientist (Neuroscience)	Aging, Autism, Dementia, Depression, Heart disease, Maternal and fetal health, Mental health, Tourette's, Alzheimer's, Alzheimer's, Anxiety, Diabetes, Obesity, Schizophrenia, Stroke, Vascular, heart and metabolic disease	Disease models, Drug development, Gene expression, Neuro-stimulation, Optogenetics, Transgenic/knockout models, Basic research, Molecular and cellular biology, Translational research
Coutu, Daniel PhD	Scientist (Regenerative Medicine)	Aging, Arthritis, Autoimmune disease, Bleeding disorders, Blood cancer, Bone and joint degeneration, Bone and joint injuries, Musculoskeletal conditions, Osteoporosis	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
Dilworth, Jeffrey PhD	Senior Scientist Affiliate (Regenerative Medicine)	Aging, Muscular dystrophy, Neuromuscular disease	Basic research, Epigenetics, Gene expression, Genomics, Molecular and cellular biology, Proteomics, Regenerative medicine, Stem cells
Eagles, Debra MD, MSc., FRCPC	Scientist (Acute Care Research)	Aging, Frailty	Emergency medicine
Freeman, Ellen PhD	Affiliate Investigator (Methodological and Implementation Research)	Aging, Vision	Epidemiology
Gray, Douglas PhD	Senior Scientist Emeritus (Cancer Research)	Aging, Cancer, Lung cancer, Parkinson's	Basic research, Disease models, Genomics, Imaging, Transgenic/knockout models, Genetics, Model organisms, Molecular and cellular biology
Kendzerska, Tetyana MD, PhD	Associate Scientist (Inflammation and Chronic Disease)	Aging, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Heart disease, Lung disease, Population health, Women's health	Biostatistics, Clinical research, Cohort studies, Epidemiology, Health research methods, Health services research, Systematic reviews
Lemaire, Edward PhD	Affiliate Investigator (Methodological and Implementation Research)	Aging, Bone and joint degeneration, Bone and joint injuries, Concussion, Global health, Musculoskeletal conditions, Spinal cord injury, Traumatic brain injury, Traumatic injuries	Big data, Clinical research, Clinical trials, Health research methods, Quality Improvement, Rehabilitation, Health technology
Liu, Johné PhD	Senior Scientist (Inflammation and 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
Manuel, Douglas MD, MSc, FRCPC	Senior Scientist (Methodological and Implementation Research)	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
McBurney, Michael PhD	Program Director and Senior Scientist Emeritus (Cancer Research)	Aging, Diabetes, Cancer	Molecular and cellular biology, Transgenic/knockout models, Basic research
McIsaac, Daniel MD, MPH, FRCPC	Scientist (Acute Care Research)	Aging, Frailty, Health in older peoples, Pain, Population health	Anesthesiology, Artificial intelligence and data science, Big data, Biostatistics, Clinical research, Clinical trials, Cohort studies, Digital and mobile health, Epidemiology, Health services research, Patient engagement, Peri-operative medicine, Public health, Quality Improvement, Risk assessment, Surgery, Systematic reviews
Rahgozar, Arya PhD	Scientist (Methodological and Implementation Research)	Aging, Alzheimer's, Brain and neuromuscular disease, Dementia, Parkinson's	Artificial intelligence and data science, Digital and mobile health
Schlossmacher, Michael MD, DABPN, FRCPC	Program Director and Senior Scientist (Neuroscience)	Aging, Brain and neuromuscular 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
Stanford, William PhD	Senior Scientist (Regenerative Medicine)	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
Thake, Miriam MD	Clinician Investigator (Inflammation and Chronic Disease)	Aging, Dementia, Frailty, Health in older peoples	Knowledge translation and implementation research
Allen, Matti MD, PhD	Clinician Investigator (Neuroscience)	Aging, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Brain and neuromuscular disease, Genetic myopathy, Muscular dystrophy, Myasthenia gravis, Neuromuscular disease, Spinal muscular atrophy	Biomarkers, Clinical research, Exercise, Neuro-stimulation, Rehabilitation, Systems biology, Translational research
Chandramouleeshwaran, Susmita MD	Clinician Investigator (Neuroscience)	Aging, Mental health

Related Resources

The Ottawa Hospital Geriatrics program

Search for clinical trials at The Ottawa Hospital related to this disease or condition.

Publications

The following research publications are pulled from PubMed using the search terms "Aging" 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.

Retinal Vessel Traits and Age-Related Eye Disease in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.
2025-06-14

Functional significance of extracellular vesicles as mediators of cardiometabolic and cardiorenal diseases upon aging.
2025-06-05

Does the Association Between Eye Disease and Cognitive Function Vary by Genetic Risk of Cognitive Decline? An Analysis of Hospital Data With Replication in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.
2025-06-02

Healthcare workers' current practices, knowledge/awareness, barriers, and attitudes/perceptions related to pneumococcal vaccination of older adults: A mixed-methods systematic review.
2025-06-02

Irisin and betatrophin responses to 9 h of passive heat exposure: Influence of age, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes.
2025-06-01

Effect of pedestal fan use on serum stress biomarkers in older adults exposed to simulated daylong indoor overheating.
2025-06-01

Barriers and enablers to referral of older adults to hearing care: a cross-sectional questionnaire study of Australian general practitioners.
2025-06-01

Empowering advanced practice radiation therapists through medical directives: A progressive step in radiation therapy in Canada.
2025-05-17

Evaluation of the virtual care experience for persons in prospective cohorts with HIV during the COVID pandemic.
2025-05-01

A stress-dependent TDP-43 SUMOylation program preserves neuronal function.
2025-03-28

View more on PubMed