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Dr. Donna Goldhawk, an imaging scientist at Lawson Health Research Institute (Lawson), is providing a unique and valuable learning experience to senior high school students. Since 2009, she has accepted students to train in her hospital-based research laboratory at St. Joseph’s Health Care London in partnership with secondary schools in the Thames Valley region.

Dr. Goldhawk recruits students in partnership with the Partners in Experiential Learning (PEL) program. This unique academic co-op education program in London, Ontario identifies high school students interested in health research and prepares them for placement in a health research environment. The students earn senior high school credits and receive training in basic laboratory research.

Originally conceived by Dr. Jim Koropatnick, a cancer scientist at Lawson, and Mr. Rodger Dusky, a retired secondary school teacher, PEL has been running successfully since 2004. It is a partnership between the Thames Valley District School Board, London District Catholic School Board, the Ontario Ministry of Education, Western University, London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health Care London. In Dr. Goldhawk’s experience, PEL attracts an excellent calibre of student who is eager to learn, aspiring to further education and capable of contributing to the science of molecular imaging.

Through the Ontario Research Fund (ORF), the Ministry of Research and Innovation also recognizes the value of attracting youth to the scientific enterprise and provides funding to support youth outreach. Dr. Goldhawk oversees one such initiative, approved under a grant entitled “Heart Failure: Prevention through Early Detection Using New Imaging Methods”. She works with PEL to attract summer students with an interest in molecular imaging.

This year, a total of three ORF summer studentships are available at the following collaborating research labs: Lawson Health Research Institute (London), University of Ottawa Heart Institute (Ottawa) and Sunnybrook Research Institute (Toronto). To learn more about these summer studentships, please email Dr. Goldhawk at @email by May 25, 2018.

Participating students can expect experiential learning tailored to their current understanding of science and aimed at expanding this knowledge for a fuller appreciation of biomedical research.

“ORF youth outreach recognizes the role of medical imaging in today’s workplace and promotes the study of cardiovascular disease in the next generation of researchers,” says Mr. Dusky. “This fills a clear gap in knowledge and career planning for high school youth.”

In Dr. Goldhawk’s laboratory, for example, cardiac research is focussed on the measurement of iron contrast using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). “Many cells have naturally distinct iron metabolism. However, we are also using genes from magnetic bacteria to improve the magnetic sensitivity of mammalian cells. MRI can then be used to detect disease processes in living subjects.”

“We are particularly interested in reporter gene expression for MRI, a term coined to describe how changes in the pattern of gene activity, and its related protein activity, may be visualized.” Her research group uses laboratory models to track these biological molecules, particularly those involved in cardiac inflammation and cancer growth and metastasis.

Her current team of four graduate and four undergraduate students span various stages of their chosen programs. In this setting, high school students step into a work atmosphere where they interact with colleagues at multiple levels. In addition, since molecular imaging research is inherently interdisciplinary, students acquire training in both biology and physics.

Dr. Goldhawk finds that students exposed to high-quality science education more easily envision themselves in positions of responsibility within the health care sector. Youth learn that developing a scientific career is a process with many choices for fusing interests with a specific occupation.

“To retain the interest of talented young scientists, it is essential to provide them with interesting challenges that reward their curiosity and ambition to learn,” explains Dr. Goldhawk. “In hospital-based research institutes, youth are also exposed to the clinical side for which our research is targeted. This is a quality scientific experience for youth interested in expanding their outlook, performance, technical, problem-solving and record-keeping skills. I think it is essential to build these opportunities into our scientific programs.”

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Above: Suhail Shukri, 2018 PEL student at Oakridge Secondary School, and Sarah Donnelly, 2013 PEL student at Wilfred Laurier Secondary School and current MSc candidate at Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, training with Dr. Jeremy Burton and Dr. Donna Goldhawk at Lawson Health Research Institute. 

With nearly 300 guests in attendance, health research was celebrated at the fourth annual Lawson Impact Awards on Wednesday, April 19 at the London Convention Centre.

The Lawson Impact Awards celebrates hospital-based research that makes a difference by advancing scientific knowledge and applying it directly to patient care. With awards in seven categories, the annual event honours Lawson scientists, staff, trainees and partners who demonstrate excellence.

“The Lawson Impact Awards recognizes those who have made exceptional contributions to science and innovation. This year's winners include individuals, groups and partners who work tirelessly to improve our understanding of health and disease in Canada and around the world,” says Dr. David Hill, Scientific Director, Lawson Health Research Institute.

This year’s Lawson Impact Awards winners include:

• Dr. Peeyush Lala - Scientist Career Award
• Drs. Glenn Bauman and Aaron Ward - Innovation Award
• Dr. Gediminas Cepinskas - Dr. Joseph Gilbert Research Contribution of the Year Award
• IDB Holland bv - Industry Partner of the Year Award
• Helen and Andy Spriet - Community Partner of the Year Award
• Arthroplasty Clinical Research Team (Dr. Lyndsay Somerville, Codie Primeau and Bryn Zomar)  - Staff Award of Excellence
• Charles Ishak - Leadership Award (Student & Trainee)

The recipients of Lawson’s 2017 Strategic Research Fund (SRF) were also revealed at the Lawson Impact Awards. The Lawson SRF is an annual competition that supports projects that will advance science in alignment with Lawson’s strategic research goals, as outlined in the Lawson Strategic Plan 2014-2018. For the second year in a row, the 2017 competition was focused on “inflammation”. The following two projects were awarded $50,000 over a two-year period:

• “Re-setting the breast microbiome to lower inflammation and risk of cancer” – Drs. Muriel Brackstone and Gregor Reid
• “Assessing acute cardiac inflammation after left-sided breast cancer radiotherapy with hybrid PET/MRI” – Drs. Stewart Gaede and Gerald Wisenberg

A highlight of the event was a keynote presentation from record-breaking Canadian astronaut, aquanaut and researcher, Dr. Dave Williams, titled “The Art of the Possible: Innovation Transforming Healthcare”. Dr. Williams provided an inspiring talk that used examples from his space shuttle missions and health research to illustrate how the impossible can be made possible.

In addition, this year’s event honoured Canada’s 150th year as a nation by paying tribute to Canadian scientists and the contributions they’ve made on the world stage. Acknowledging the role of Lawson scientists in continuing this legacy, attendees were also asked to provide their feedback about the future of innovation. These insightful ideas will be shared in the months to come as Lawson continues to celebrate Canada 150.

To view videos of each award winner, visit the Lawson YouTube page. To see more photos from the event, visit Lawson's Facebook page. 

When young adults with type 1 diabetes move from paediatric to adult care they often drop out of medical care and their diabetic control deteriorates. This can lead to increased diabetes-related hospital admissions and acceleration of diabetic complications. Lawson Health Research Institute scientists Drs. Tamara Spaic and Cheril Clarson have developed a structured transition program that has been shown to improve care during this high-risk period.

The new transition program was implemented as part of a multi-center randomized controlled trial, which began in 2012 and is concluding this year. Drs. Spaic and Clarson found that the program led to better clinic attendance among participants. During the time when patients received the intervention, they also reported being more satisfied with their care and felt that the emotional burden of their diabetes had decreased.

“The transition from paediatric to adult diabetes care coincides with the time in patients’ lives when they are going away to college or university, starting their careers, and becoming independent from their parents. On top of these other changes, they are taking on responsibility for managing their own care, which requires a high level of patient involvement and can be a big adjustment in itself,” explains Dr. Clarson who is also a pediatric endocrinologist at Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and a professor at Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry.

The transition program was designed to provide additional support to young adults making the transition to adult care and included having a certified diabetes educator act as a dedicated Transition Coordinator. The coordinator attended the patients’ clinic visits, and was accessible between visits by email, text or phone to problem solve specific diabetes care issues, and to guide patients as they adjusted to care at a new facility.

One of the patients in the study, Nicole, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 13. She was 19 when she participated in the structured transition intervention program, moving from paediatric care at Children’s Hospital, LHSC to adult care at St. Joseph’s Health Care London (St. Joseph's). She found that the additional guidance helped her make a more gradual and, ultimately successful, transition.

“Having my Transition Coordinator attending my appointments with me made me feel more comfortable talking to my new healthcare team. Following appointments, as well as any other time during the transition, she answered all the questions I had,” says Nicole. “Moving to adult care can be really overwhelming but I think if young patients have a positive experience during the transition they will be more likely to maintain proper diabetes care habits as they take on responsibility for their own care.”

The study enrolled 205 young adults with type 1 diabetes between the ages of 17 and 20. Patients were recruited from three paediatric centers and their care was transitioned to three adult centres. The trial was a multi-centre partnership among Children’s Hospital, LHSC; St. Joseph’s; Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario; The Ottawa Hospital and Trillium Health Partners in Mississauga.

The study participants were randomly assigned to two groups, with 104 patients in the structured transition care program and 101 patients receiving standard care. Patients were seen in the paediatric care setting for six months and then transferred to adult care, where they continued with either the transition program or standard care for one year.

“Our hope is that support from a Transition Coordinator will become a standard of care for young adults with type 1 diabetes during the transition from paediatric to adult care. A similar model could also be considered for other chronic childhood conditions, such as cystic fibrosis, congenital heart disease and inflammatory bowel disease,” says Dr. Spaic, an adult endocrinologist at St. Joseph’s and an assistant professor at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry.

Future publications from the trial will include a one-year follow-up evaluation after completion of the intervention, as well as an economic analysis to determine if the intervention is associated with health cost savings.

The Government of Canada recently launched an independent review of federal funding for fundamental science.

“The review will assess the program machinery that is currently in place to support science and scientists in Canada. The scope of the review includes the three granting councils along with certain federally funded organizations such as the Canada Foundation for Innovation,” stated The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science. “This work will be a core component of the Government’s Innovation Agenda as science and research are key to Canada’s innovation and economic objectives.”

The review is being led by a panel of distinguished research leaders and innovators, chaired by Dr. David Naylor, President Emeritus and Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto. This independent and non-partisan body for the Fundamental Science Review will provide the Minister with non-binding advice and recommendations on the most significant issues associated with the current system of federal support for investigator-led science. 

The panel is seeking input from the research community and Canadians on how to optimize support for fundamental science. In response, Lawson’s Research Executive Committee has prepared a written commentary on the country’s research system. 

“We are answering a call for evidence and input on what works, what doesn’t work, why not and alternate options,” says Dr. David Hill, Lawson Scientific Director. “Most of the issues addressed have to do with strategic coordination, strategic investment and strategic policy.”  

Dr. Hill explains that relative to competitor nations, there has been a serious lack of financial investment into fundamental science through all three federal research councils relative to Canada’s potential for global scientific performance and economic benefits. 

“A particular victim of under-investment has been CIHR pillars 3 and 4 whereby fundamental research findings at a clinical or pre-clinical level cannot be effectively tested and translated within our health systems or applied to population health,” states Dr. Hill. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research pillars 3 and 4 represent health systems and services and the social, cultural and environmental factors that affect the health of populations. 

There has been no overall fundamental science strategic plan that crosses the federal research councils and other funding agencies across the country. This lack of central vision harms not only the strategic direction of science and an ability to rapidly change in an evolving world, but also the overall quality of training for our present cohort of scientists and those of tomorrow, and their access to state-of-the-art equipment. Moreover, there is a lack of effective research partnership programs where private sector companies can co-fund to advance fundamental science. 

See the full letter that has been submitted to the panel on behalf of the institute. 

The panel is surveying international best practices for funding science and examining whether emerging researchers face barriers that prevent them from achieving career goals. It will look at what must be done to address these barriers and what more can be done to encourage Canada’s scientists to take on bold new research challenges. 

Individual researchers are also being called upon to provide input. A set of targeted questions have been developed to gain further insight on specific topics and inform the recommendations. All Lawson researchers are invited to provide their thoughts about the funding process available to Canadian investigators, including peer-review processes, national and international collaborations, and multidisciplinary research, as well as coordination between the programs being provided by the granting councils and other funding organizations. 

Visit the website to find out more about how to submit responses by Sept. 30. 

“This is an opportunity to send a strong, balanced message to the review panels,” says Dr. Hill. “It is safe to say the future of Canadian health research hangs in the balance.” 

The city of London, Ontario is home to a vibrant health research community. On Wednesday, May 9, researchers from across the city gathered to discuss the importance of equity, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) in the careers of health researchers. Through participation at Exchange: A London Health Research Day Forum on Diversity & Inclusivity, guests discussed the challenges associated with EDI and potential solutions for the future.

Exchange was held the evening before London Health Research Day, the region’s premier research showcase event which features nearly 400 trainee presentations. Trainees are the future of Canadian science and EDI is crucial to that future. This is a topic of national importance that has garnered attention and action from the federal government, funding agencies and scientists across the country.

Recognizing the importance of this topic, Canada’s Minister of Science, The Honorable Kirsty Duncan, and local Member of Parliament for London North Centre, MP Peter Fragiskatos, shared video greetings with Exchange guests.

“The Exchange event highlights a vital area of discussion. It is important to not only recognize but embrace the differences between scientists and the diverse perspectives they bring to research,” said Rebecca Sullivan, a third year PhD candidate at Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, training in Savita Dhanvantari’s lab at Lawson Health Research Institute, and one of the organizers of the event. “Becoming aware of our own unconscious biases and trying to change these culturally ingrained implicit associations is the only way to make active change in science!”

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Above: Rebecca Sullivan, a third year PhD candidate, leading a scenario-based group activity at Exchange

The evening’s first presenter was Dr. Janet Smylie, Director of the Well Living House Applied Research Centre for Indigenous Infant, Child and Family Health at St. Michael’s Hospital and CIHR Applied Public Health Research Chair in Indigenous Health Knowledge and Information. Dr. Smylie, who also delivered the keynote presentation at London Health Research Day, spoke about the role of anti-Indigenous racism and discrimination within health care professions, including its impact on research. This included a discussion of Dr. Smylie’s own research in the field of Indigenous health.

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Above: Dr. Janet Smylie presenting on "Addressing anti-Indigenous racism and discrimination within health care professions"

Greta Bauer, PhD, a professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, spoke about the role of epidemiology as a toolkit for building equity in health research. This included a discussion on incorporating intersectionality and multidimensionality into population health research methodology.

“The purpose of this work is to give researchers the measurement and statistical tools they need to shift the focus from studying broad population average effects to more heterogeneity within populations,” said Greta. “The whole point is to better study not only diversity in health outcomes, but in the processes that generate those outcomes.”

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Above: Greta Bauer, PhD, presenting on "Epidemiology as a toolkit for building equity"

This talk was followed by a presentation on Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+). GBA+ is an analytical tool used to assess how diverse groups of women, men and gender-diverse people may experience policies, programs and initiatives. The “plus” in GBA+ acknowledges that GBA goes beyond biological (sex) and socio-cultural (gender) differences. We all have multiple identity factors that intersect to make us who we are; GBA+ also considers many other identity factors, like race, ethnicity, religion, age, and mental or physical disability. GBA+ is a method for collecting and reviewing data in an unbiased manner, one that leaves aside many of the assumptions that can mask the GBA+ impacts of a given initiative. Alysha Croker, PhD, Manager, Tri-Agency Institutional Program Secretariat, discussed how GBA+ is being used in research and grant funding, including at the federal funding agencies.

“Diverse research teams can lead to more innovation, greater collective intelligence and an increased capacity to tackle complex issues,” said Alysha, when discussing the importance of EDI in the careers of health researchers.

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Above: Alysha Croker, PhD, presenting on "Incorporating Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) in research and beyond"

The evening also included a presentation from Shantal Feltham, founder and CEO of Stiris Research, a North American clinical trials management company based in London. Shantal discussed the importance of ensuring that clinical trials are designed to recruit diverse research participants that represent real patient populations. She also discussed her own experiences and perspectives as a female entrepreneur.

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Above: Shantal Feltham delivering a presentation titled "That’s a great idea – It’ll never work"

A group of health research trainees concluded the night with a scenario-based presentation and activity. Audience members were divided into small groups and given a diversity scenario to discuss. Topics ranged from the experiences of LGBTQ+ researchers, racial diversity, physical ability barriers in research labs and more. Notes and ideas from these conversations were recorded and displayed the next day at London Health Research Day.

“Exchange highlighted EDI in health research in action. It featured talks by leading female researchers on issues in Indigenous health and LGBTQ health, implementation of equity in the Canada Research Chairs program, and female entrepreneurship in the field of health research,” said Savita Dhavantari, PhD, assistant director and scientist at Lawson and assistant professor at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry. Savita was also one of the Exchange organizers and the facilitator for the event. “Above all, I hope attendees were encouraged to be fearless in advocating for equity, diversity and inclusivity in health research.”

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Above: Guests at Exchange discussing a diversity scenario

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Above: Savita Dhanvantari, PhD, facilitating the Exchange event

From looking through the microscope to drafting publications, health research trainees are the heart and future of Canadian science. On May 10, 2018, health research trainees from across the city of London gathered to present their innovative science at the seventh annual London Health Research Day.

Nearly 400 trainees, including Master’s and PhD candidates, postdoctoral fellows and medical students, presented research spanning all areas of health. Together, the presenters represent medical labs from across Lawson Health Research Institute and Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry and Faculty of Health Sciences. This includes labs at Robarts Research Institute, London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health Care London.

Andrew Nicholson, a postdoctoral fellow working with Dr. Ruth Lanius, presented on his team’s research with fMRI imaging and machine learning to predict post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its dissociative subtype with the hopes of one day improving early diagnosis. Meanwhile, Jessica Rodgers, a PhD student working with Dr. Aaron Fenster, presented on her team’s development of a 3D transvaginal ultrasound system. This innovation produces a 360° 3D image to improve needle placement during interstitial gynecologic brachytherapy, a process where devices containing radioactive materials are inserted directly into body tissue to combat gynecologic cancers.

More than 750 participants, judges and guests attended to learn about the latest in health research.

“London Health Research Day is the largest event of its kind in Ontario. The event allows trainees from across our city to present their best science and hone their research presentation skills,” says Dr. David Hill, Scientific Director, Lawson Health Research Institute.

Dr. Doug Jones, Chair of the London Health Research Day Academic Committee and Vice Dean, Basic Medical Sciences at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, acknowledged the exceptional science and strong presentations delivered by the event’s participants.

Participants presented either poster or platform presentations, with a portion selected for judging. Trainees also participated in the LHRD Poster Passport program. For each poster presentation they listened to and provided feedback on, they received a sticker to add to their passport. If they collected six different stickers, they were entered into a draw for a chance to win prizes like an Apple iPad.

The Lucille and Norton Wolf Health Research Lecture Series 2018 keynote presentation was given by Dr. Janet Smylie. Her presentation was titled “Our Health Counts: Community Partnered Approaches to Indigenous Health Assessment and Response.” Dr. Smylie is Director of the Well Living House Applied Research Centre for Indigenous Infant, Child and Family Health at St. Michael’s Hospital and CIHR Applied Public Health Research Chair in Indigenous Health Knowledge and Information. She is a global leader in the field of Indigenous health and health research.

Dr. Smylie also participated the evening of May 9 in Exchange: A London Health Research Day Forum on Diversity & Inclusivity. She was joined by leading female researchers who presented on issues of equity, diversity and inclusivity in the careers of health researchers and potential solutions for the future.

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Above: Dr. Janet Smylie delivers The Lucille and Norton Wolf Health Research Lecture Series 2018 keynote presentation at London Health Research Day

LHRD 2018 also included a special presentation by Dr. Alastair Buchan titled “Precision Stroke Medicine and the Role of Translational Clinical Research.” Dr. Buchan is a world-renowned neurologist and stroke medicine researcher from the University of Oxford. He has roots with past training and work experience at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry and London Health Sciences Centre.

The event concluded with a Networking and Awards Reception where poster and platform awards were presented to the day’s top-scoring participants. For a full list of winners, please visit the London Health Research Day website.

To see more photos from the event, visit the London Health Research Day website. 

London Health Research Day is presented in partnership by Lawson Health Research Institute and Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry.

“I just wasn’t myself,” says Major Ronald Miller when reflecting on his experience with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). “I could see a significant change in my personality that just wasn’t me.”

Major Miller first joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1971 as a young infantry private in the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment and later became an Officer in the Royal Canadian Artillery, which included a tour in Germany during the Cold War.

After the Cold War, he reoriented his career towards peacekeeping which saw him deployed to seven different conflict zones.  “It was during the Civil War in El Salvador in 1991 that I experienced a number of incidents that first triggered my PTSD,” explains Major Miller. “From that time forward the PTSD was always there but I suppressed it.”

It wasn’t until 2016 that Major Miller’s PTSD resurfaced.  After retiring from the Canadian Armed Forces in 2008, he started working a number of contracts in support of the military.

“Over the years, I was exposed to the kind of death and destruction that can be rather difficult from a psychological standpoint. The older I got, the less I was able to suppress those experiences. In fall 2016, I was supporting a NATO military exercise in the UK when I began experiencing horrible nightmares every night. I knew I needed to seek help.”

He reached out to Veteran Affairs Canada and was referred to the Operational Stress Injury (OSI) Clinic at Parkwood Institute, a part of St. Joseph’s Health Care London, where he was diagnosed with PTSD. It was there that he learned about PTSD research being conducted by Dr. Ruth Lanius, Scientist at Lawson Health Research Institute and Psychiatrist at London Health Sciences Centre. 

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“I saw the need to help by participating in research, not only for myself but for my friends who have succumbed to the illness.” 

Major Miller participated in Dr. Lanius’ neuroimaging research which uses advanced imaging technologies like PET/MRI to study differences in brain activity and neural connections between healthy individuals and those with different subtypes of PTSD. Dr. Lanius hopes that patterns of brain activity can one day be used as an objective biomarker to accurately diagnosis different subtypes of PTSD and uncover new targets for therapy.

“The research experience was interesting. I was interviewed while in the MRI and had to talk about incidents that trigger my PTSD to study my brain waves,” explains Major Miller. 

In one study, Dr. Lanius is studying patterns of brain activity for those with ‘moral injury,’ an intense feeling of shame or guilt that can sometimes affect veterans with PTSD. 

“Sometimes you’re involved in situations that you don’t have control over but that you feel responsible for,” says Major Miller. “You wonder, ‘Could I have done something differently?’”

 

Major Miller was happy to participate in any study that might help. Today, he is managing his PTSD through a combination of therapies that work for him. 

“My biggest fear was giving up the things I love. I’ve been a soldier since day one and I’m sure I will be until the day I die. It’s important we come up with solutions to ensure our veterans receive proper care. Through research, we can tailor treatment to the individual rather than looking for a broad brush solution that might not suit everyone.”

This story is also featured on Research Canada’s Patient Stories website.