Lawson Health Research Institute
750 Base Line Road N6C 2R5 London, ON, Canada

Studies show that Veterans experience higher rates of depression, anxiety and loneliness compared to the rest of the population. Spouses of Veterans are also at greater risk of experiencing distress. A new project is seeking to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting these groups by partnering with up to 1,000 Canadian Veterans and 250 spouses of Canadian veterans. It’s currently unknown how the pandemic will impact Veterans and their spouses, but it could result i...n particularly serious outcomes, says Dr. Anthony Nazarov, Associate Scientist at Lawson and the MacDonald Franklin OSI Research Centre. To learn more about the study visit https://www.lawsonresearch.ca//pandemics-impact-canadian-v

EVENT Nov 9 @ 4:00 p.m. Research Bites: Why it is important to keep moving as we age Dr. Tim Doherty will discuss the impact of aging on mobility, why this is important, and how we can improve or prevent loss of mobility in older adults.... Details: https://www.lawsonresearch.ca//research-bites-why-it-impor

Thank you to Justin Trudeau, Peter Fragiskatos and Kate Young for taking the time to speak with health-care workers from LHSC and St. Joseph’s, including those involved in critical research to help us better understand and treat COVID-19.

New research finds that COVID-19 affects blood concentration levels of certain metabolites. Through various metabolic processes, the body breaks down molecules to produce different molecules called metabolites.These can play important roles in physiology and by studying them, we can better understand the chemical processes that are occurring. The team discovered four metabolites of importance to COVID-19 disease detection, as well as two that could be used to predict which p...atients were most at risk of dying. It’s our hope these findings can be validated in larger patient populations and then used to develop a simple blood test that shows high likelihood of infection and disease severity, providing rapid results in as little as 20 minutes, explains Dr. Douglas Fraser. This could ease the demand for current testing methods, perhaps being used as a portable, first-line screening tool in the community and for when undiagnosed patients present to hospital. Learn more: https://www.lawsonresearch.ca//biomarkers-quick-inexpensiv

Congratulations to Dr. Qingping Feng, Innovator of the Year at the WORLDiscoveries 2020 Vanguard Awards. He is recognized for his research and intellectual property related to Annexin and its use to treat inflammatory disorders. https://www.lawsonresearch.ca//dr-qingping-feng-named-inno

Triple-negative breast cancer cells can facilitate changes to the lung that both attract cancerous cells and allow them to grow. The majority of studies on metastatic cancer have focused on the characteristics of tumour cells and not on the organs to which they spread. Dr. Allan’s team is studying how the lung microenvironment itself is contributing to lung metastasis. The best way to explain lung metastasis is the seed and soil analogy, says Dr. Allan. The seeds are the b...reast cancer cells from a primary tumour and the soil is the lung’s microenvironment. Seeds can break away, but they only grow if the soil is fertile. https://www.lawsonresearch.ca//why-breast-cancer-spreads-l

Researchers are partnering with Canadian Veterans and their spouses to assess the pandemic's impact on their well-being over time. Learn more about this important research: https://www.lawsonresearch.ca//pandemics-impact-canadian-v

Join us in supporting LHSC's Gratitude Campaign!

Dr. Jeremy Burton has been appointed as Research Chair in Human Microbiome and Probiotics at Lawson Health Research Institute. Funded by an endowment through St. Joseph's Health Care London, the position is responsible for leading Lawson’s Human Microbiome and Probiotics research program. There are two pillars to Dr. Burton’s vision for microbiome and probiotics research at Lawson. The first is advancing translational research that leads to improved patient outcomes, such as ...new microbial therapies. The second is improving our understanding of the microbiome by studying its function in real-time. In most studies, we collect patient samples, put them in the freezer and then analyze them later. We now want to follow people in real-time to get a better understanding of how the microbiome functions inside the human body, notes Dr. Burton. Learn more about Dr. Burton's appointment and his vision for the future of microbiome research at Lawson: https://www.lawsonresearch.ca//golden-age-microbiome-resea Music: www.bensound.com

Lawson is #inthistogether with all of you! We encourage everyone in our community to do their part this Thanksgiving weekend and beyond to help #StoptheSpread.

Normally performed in-person, monitoring visits with clinical research sponsors help ensure that clinical trials are being conducted in a responsible manner and in accordance with sponsor requirements. Research institutes and sponsors across the province have had to explore alternate means for monitoring in alignment with public health directives. At Lawson, the Quality Assurance and Education Program quickly mobilized to establish remote monitoring solutions and guidance.

Researchers from Lawson and Western University have collaborated to created a new portable temperature regulating device, which can be used to transport a wide array of temperature-sensitive items including organs, vaccines and pharmaceuticals. Temperature requirements for safe and effective vaccine transport are narrow, especially for COVID-19 vaccines currently under development. Our device may be one of the only options available to meet the strict criteria for worldwide vaccine transport, said Steven Jevnikar.

A new study is testing the use of an online patient care platform called VIRTUES designed by the Cardiac Arrythmia Network of Canada (CANet) to help track symptoms for COVID-19 positive patients. They also use a home-based pulse oximeter to measure pulse rate & oxygen saturation. https://www.lawsonresearch.ca//evaluating-virtual-symptom-

Check out this piece from Global News! Get to know the people beind the scenes here at Lawson, working on essential COVID-19 research.

Frontline hospital workers in Southwestern Ontario are invited to participate in an online survey to share their experiences during the pandemic. The goal is to understand impacts unique to our region in order to develop strategies that address the needs of hospital workers.

Abiraterone acetate is a highly effective therapy used in the treatment of prostate cancer that has been resistant to other treatments. Unlike traditional therapies, it is taken orally. When drugs are taken orally, they make their way through the intestinal tract where they come into contact with billions of microorganisms, says Dr. Jeremy Burton. While it’s long been a mystery why abiraterone acetate is so effective, our team wondered if the gut microbiome plays a role. They discovered that patients’ gut microbiomes changed drastically after taking abiraterone acetate, and bacteria in the gut metabolized the drug leading to a significant increase in a bacterium called Akkermansia muciniphila - referred to as a 'next-generation probiotic'.

To ensure living donation is safe for both the donor and the recipient, a thorough evaluation is needed looking at medical, physical and psychosocial considerations," says Dr. Amit Garg. Read more here: https://www.lawsonresearch.ca//benchmarking-evaluation-pro

Dr. Anat Kornecki and her team were the first in North America to perform a Contrast Enhanced Spectral Mammography (CESM) guided breast biopsy. The procedure is faster, more accurate, more cost effective, and also more comfortable for the patient than an MRI biopsy. Dr. Kornecki explains, this new approach has the potential to provide rapid and accurate access for patients and reduce costs. With CESM biopsy technology we are also able to perform biopsy of lesions that are lo...cated in areas that MRI guided biopsy cannot reach. https://www.lawsonresearch.ca//first-contrast-enhanced-spe

Dr. Alexandra Zorzi's research is helping us better understand the genetic makeup of tumours in children with cancer. The ultimate goal is to provide precision medicine by matching tumour DNA to a targeted medication. The study, PRecision Oncology For Young peopLE (PROFYLE) is supported by The Terry Fox Foundation.

A team from Lawson and Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry - Western University has made significant steps forward in understanding COVID-19. By analyzing blood samples from critically ill patients at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), the researchers have identified biomarkers to predict how severely ill a patient will become and therapeutic targets for both blood clots and the cytokine storm. Weve begun answering some of the biggest COVID-19 questions asked by clin...icians and health researchers, says Dr. Douglas Fraser. While the findings need to be validated with larger groups of patients, they could have important implications for treating and studying this disease. Learn more about this research which was made possible with generous donor support to London Health Sciences Foundation: https://www.lawsonresearch.ca//researchers-unravel-two-mys

Dr. Hachinski is the co-founder of the worlds first successful stroke unit. I am extremely appreciative and proud to be recognized with the F.N.G. Starr Award, however I am just the face of this honour. Behind me stands an amazing team. I feel that my greatest strength is to recognize and work with talent.

Despite the use of antibiotics, ureteral stents often become encrusted with minerals and coated with bacteria. This can lead to complications like infection and the need for replacement surgery. Researchers found that nearly all the stents, whether visibly coated or not, had unique bacterial profiles that were most associated with a patient’s medical condition rather than antibiotic use. For patients with ureteral stents, they may benefit from a personalized approach to care and antibiotic treatment. These findings challenge long-held beliefs that the urinary tract is a sterile environment devoid of bacteria.

Drs. Michael Silverman and Saverio Stranges provide expert opinion on COVID-19 and schools re-openings. "Previous studies have shown long-term educational, social, and medical harms from school exclusion, with very young children and those from marginalized groups such as immigrants and racialized minorities most affected. The policy and ethical implications of ongoing mandatory school closures, in order to protect others, need urgent reassessment in light of the very limited data of public health benefit."

Research shows that how well you sleep and for how long is linked to increased odds of living with multiple chronic conditions. Promotion of good sleep habits should be given greater focus in clinical practice and public health. Sleep is still a neglected clinical and public health issue, and this study provides additional evidence of the potential role of sleep for the prevention and management of several chronic conditions, says Dr. Saverio Stranges.

This multi-centre clinical trial aims to address a global shortage of intravenous (IV) sedatives while improving patient outcomes.

New published study: Stroke can be the first presenting symptom of younger patients with COVID-19 A London research team led by Dr. Luciano Sposato found that approximately two in every 100 patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 will suffer a stroke, and 35 per cent will die as a result. In younger patients, nearly 50 per cent had no other visible symptoms of the virus at the time of the stroke. Learn more about the results: https://www.lawsonresearch.ca/stroke-can-be-first-presentin

A team of clinician-researchers are studying a new method of feeding tube insertion. The study is assessing a new device called the PUMA-G System with 25 patients at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC). The new method uses balloons and magnets to guide insertion, and may offer improved patient safety while providing cost savings to the health care system. Learn more in the latest issue of inside LHSC: https://inside.lhsc.on.ca//london-team-first-in-the-world-

Dr. Justin Yan and his colleagues studied data from patients who presented with hyperglycemia to the Emergency Department over a one-year period. They compared patients who had been followed by specialized diabetes care to those who had not. They found that patients who had received specialized diabetes care were less likely to revisit the ED due to hyperglycemia and to be hospitalized due to hyperglycemia within 30 days of their initial ED visit.

A new study will examine whether inhaled sedatives can replace those that are delivered intravenously in COVID-19 patients requiring ventilation. The clinical trial aims to address a global shortage of intravenous (IV) sedatives while improving patient outcomes. Preliminary studies in non-COVID patients with severe respiratory failure suggest that inhaled sedatives can reduce lung inflammation, shorten the duration of ventilation and potentially improve survival. Inhaled se...datives could therefore reduce the pandemics strain on ventilator capacity while improving patient outcomes, says Dr. Marat Slessarev. The researchers will recruit approximately 800 patients from across Canada and the United States including patients from London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC). Each patient will be randomized to receive either IV sedatives or inhaled sedatives. Patient outcomes such as survival and length of ventilation will be compared between the two groups to determine which method of sedation is most effective.

The CONCOR-1 Trial is testing the use of convalescent plasma transfusions as a possible treatment for COVID-19. Dr. Ziad Solh explains, "we dont yet know if this treatment will show benefit, but it does show promise as similar treatments have had some success in studies of other viral infections such as SARS. Convalescent plasma donation is being coordinated through Canadian Blood Services. For this study, they are currently collecting plasma from eligible donors under the age of 67 who have fully recovered from COVID-19 and have been symptom free for at least 28 days.

Dr. Chris Bailey and his colleagues studied whether a surgical treatment called microdiscectomy results in better patient outcomes for those with chronic sciatica compared to non-operative care. Our results suggest there is a 70 per cent greater chance of significant improvement with surgery over non-operative care, says Dr. Bailey. In addition, we found that delayed surgery had an inferior outcome to expedited surgery.

Lawsons Communication & External Relations team has been recognized with four IABC London Virtuoso Awards, which honour strategic work that exceeds the global standard of the communications profession. Our team earned awards for media relations and special events, including one for London Health Research Day 2019 with the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry - Western University. Congratulations to all!

Health care workers are facing unprecedented demands as a result of the pandemic and many may be working under extreme physical and psychological stress, says Dr. Don Richardson. Researchers are seeking 500 Canadian health care workers to participate in a study on moral distress and psychological wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal is to better understand the pandemics impact on health care workers in order to minimize moral distress and support wellbeing during future pandemic events.

Thank you! Your donations have helped fund important health research initiatives here in London. Check out the latest issue of Your Impact for more info.

Researchers have launched a new study to investigate the use of bovine lipid extract surfactant suspension (BLES) for treating severe cases of COVID-19 that require ventilation. Manufactured in London, Ontario, BLES is currently used worldwide to help improve lung function in premature babies. Researchers are confident that it can help adults who develop acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Two COVID-19 projects in London have received funding through Canadian Institutes of Health Research . Researchers will study virus transmission in surgical smoke, and the family physicians role in pandemic plans. Accelerating high-quality research and real-time evidence is a priority for Canada in its fight against COVID-19. I congratulate the successful teams for their essential work aimed at better preventing, detecting and treating COVID-19 at the individual and population levels, said Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health.

Lawson is home to the Canadian Centre for Human Microbiome and Probiotic Research. Our scientists collaborate to unravel the mysteries of the microbiome and are using that knowledge to improve health and health care. From fecal transplants in the treatment of cancer to probiotics for honey bees, they are making a major impact. Learn about a few of their projects in this video from our last Caf Scientifique event. #WorldMicrobiomeDay

Our researchers are the first in the world to profile the bodys immune response to COVID-19. By studying blood samples from critically ill patients at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), the research team identified a unique pattern of six molecules that could be used as therapeutic targets to treat the virus. Understanding the immune response is paramount to finding the best treatments. Our next step is to test drugs that block the harmful effects of several of these molecules while still allowing the immune system to fight the virus, says Dr. Douglas Fraser, lead researcher at Lawson and Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry - Western University.

Researchers are studying how a sense of mattering makes a positive impact for older adults, especially during the pandemic. "Its a reminder that older adults are sensitive to these issues and that some of the remedies are as simple as picking up a phone, letting someone know that youre thinking about them, that you care about them, that you miss them and that they do matter.

The randomized controlled trial found that fecal transplants in patients with NAFLD result in a reduction in how easily pathogens and other unwanted molecules pass through the human gut and into circulation, known as intestinal permeability. The results could have implications for the treatment of numerous conditions including metabolic syndrome and autoimmune diseases. The team is in need of young, healthy stool donors for fecal transplants. All donors are required to go through a screening process. Those interested in becoming a stool donor can contact Dr. Seema Nair Parvathy, Research Coordinator, Fecal Transplant Program, at 519-646-6100 ext. 61726.

Researchers are developing AI software to identify which patients are likely to have recurring lung cancer. We hope that by combining different sources of information, we can obtain better disease characterization to more accurately determine if a patient will be cured," explains Jaryd Christie, a Masters candidate working with Dr. Sarah Mattonen. Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canada. While the standard treatment for patients with early-stage lung cancer is surgery, up to half of these patients may develop a recurrence after their treatment.

This study demonstrates that if we can find a way to boost the amount of antioxidants in the brain, we might be able to help patients transition out of hospital more quickly, reduce their suffering more quickly and help them return earlier to their work and studies, says Dr. Lena Palaniyappan

#BlackOutTuesday

When research requests related to COVID-19 began coming in, Lawson Clinical Research Services (LCRS) and the Center for Clinical Investigation and Therapeutics (CCIT) got to work immediately, getting new studies up and running within days. Sue Tereschyn, Manager of LCRS, recognizes that everyone had to pivot on a dime and change the entire way we do business. "Our staff have really risen to the challenge."... Learn more here: https://www.lawsonresearch.ca//lawson-teams-respond-rapidl

Earlier this year, Drs. Elizabeth Finger and Javeed Sukhera, and medical residents Adam (Zeke) Guy and Melissa Schorr, received clinical research funding from the Physicians Services Incorporated (PSI) Foundation. Their work includes: Exploring new treatment options for frontotemporal dementia Looking at how patient care for marginalized populations may be influenced by stigma and bias Learning different approaches for analyzing clinical data to identify strategies that w...ill enhance the validity and efficiency of analysis in comparative effectiveness research Learn more: https://www.lawsonresearch.ca//psi-funding-supports-new-cl

The randomized controlled trial will enroll up to 60 critically ill patients from London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC). The ultimate goal is to determine whether this drug reduces hyperinflammation associated with sepsis in order to prevent respiratory and multi-organ failure, explains Dr. Claudio Martin. https://www.lawsonresearch.ca//provincial-funding-enables-

Three local studies, led by teams from Lawson and Western University, are among the initial 15 projects funded through the Government of Ontarios COVID-19 Rapid Research Fund. The three studies will be investigating: - A human protein for treatment of critically ill COVID-19 patients... - Developing a point-of-care blood test for COVID-19 - Studying the impact of modified operating conditions for retail food outlets

Planning is also underway at Lawson for the phased resumption of non-essential research activity. Our plan is being developed to align with those of our hospitals, following provincial guidelines. We will share more information as details are finalized. https://www.lawsonresearch.ca/coronavirus-covid-19-updates

The list of projects that will receive funding through the Ontario COVID-19 Rapid Research Fund includes a clinical trial, led by Dr. Claudio Martin, which will examine the efficacy of using a manufactured form of a human protein called Annexin A5 as a therapy to treat sepsis in critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Dr. Robert Arntfield and his team are investigating whether an AI neural network could be used to diagnose COVID-19 by training it to recognize the distinct features in ultrasound lung scans of patients with confirmed COVID-19. Machines are able to find patterns that humans cannot see or even imagine. Lung ultrasound scans of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia produce a highly abnormal imaging pattern. This pattern isnt unique to COVID-19, and can be seen in other causes of pneumonia. It is plausible, however, that there are details that distinguish COVID-19 at the pixel level that cannot be perceived by the human eye, explains Dr. Arntfield.

The St. Josephs Health Crisis Fund helps enable scientists at Lawson to discover new treatments for COVID-19.

Today we are recognizing the work of clinical research professionals and their contributions to public health and medical progress. Do you know the difference between clinical research and ... clinical trials? See more

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced $450 million in new funding to help Canadas academic research community. This good news follows a tremendous effort by organizations and individuals across Canada to secure support for hospital-based research. While we know pressure remains, this will help us maintain other critically needed research as we pursue the battle against COVID-19.... We thank the federal government for recognizing the importance of protecting Canadas research enterprise and providing urgently-needed financial support.

The microbes in our body play a big role in what happens to us in disease and health." Studies looking at how probiotics help with respiratory tract infections have been done, and Dr. Gregor Reid hopes to see similar studies related to COVID-19.

Researchers have designed a non-invasive ventilation mask that could significantly reduce aerosolization when treating patients with COVID-19. It is currently being tested with patients at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC). The aim is to reduce infection risks associated with non-invasive ventilation and lessen the demand for invasive ventilators. The clinical research team worked with engineers from General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada to develop the device within six day...s. This is the result of a rapid response partnership. It represents a collaboration between health research and industry partners, and many departments within our own hospital," says Dr. Adam Dukelow, Chief Medical Officer and Emergency Department Physician at LHSC. Learn more: https://www.lawsonresearch.ca//non-invasive-ventilation-ma

Research finds further evidence linking common class of medication and dementia onset. Anticholinergics are commonly used to treat a wide range of conditions, including allergies, overactive bladder, and psychiatric disorders. https://www.lawsonresearch.ca//class-medication-used-overa

Evidence suggests that COVID-19 causes a heightened immune response in severely ill patients. Lead researcher, Dr. Chris McIntyre, came up with the idea to use a modified version of a standard dialyzer to reprogram white blood cells and alter the immune response. The ultimate goal is to improve patient survival and lessen their dependency on oxygen and ventilation, explains Dr. McIntyre.