The Research Institute of St. Joe's Hamilton

Through the SOPHIE program, Canadian life-science companies can access up to $100,000 in funding to conduct testing and bring their products to commercialization. A great program to check out! Registration information below ⤵

In our latest trainee spotlight, we feature Ann Kuganathan, a fourth year PhD student in the medical sciences graduate program at McMaster Faculty of Health Sciences. Ann works in the lab of Dr. Joan Krepinsky within the Hamilton Centre for Kidney Research at St. Joe's. Her research focuses on the mechanisms behind hypertension as she hopes to develop novel treatment options for the condition. Ann has been studying a molecule known as follistatin and its potential use as a novel treatment option for hypertension. In September, she published her first scientific article in the journal Hypertension Research. In this trainee spotlight, Ann discusses her research, why it's important to her, and how the Krepinsky Lab at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton and The Research Institute have been instrumental in her graduate studies. Check out the full spotlight here: https://bit.ly/3A30W1Q #WeAreStJoes #hypertension #healthscience #education

Our latest research, "Learning Curve Analysis of Near-Infrared Fluorescence-Guided Robotic-Assisted Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy with Indocyanine Green Dye" published in October Journal of Thoracic Oncology https://buff.ly/4dSTqo6

Our third annual Learning Pillar Week returns to St. Joe's from November 4 to 8, 2024! All St. Joe's staff, physicians, learners, researchers, and volunteers are invited to participate in this week of free Education and Research events. Learning Pillar Week features over 25 workshops, seminars, and special events for anyone interested in professional growth. Some event highlights include: 🔹 Generating Bigger and Bolder Ideas: Healthcare and Engineering Collaborative (presented by Dr. Robert Fleisig, W Booth School of Engineering Practice and Technology, McMaster University) 🔸 Streamlining Success: Mastering 5S for Efficiency and Excellence 🔹 Practical Performance Measurement: How to Select Metrics Your Staff Care About (presented by Dr. Mike Heenan) 🔸 Celebrate Research 2024 🔹 AI Workshop: A Practical Framework for the Current Use and Future Application of Gen AI Tools in Healthcare 🔸 and so much more! To register for an event and to learn more about this year's event lineup, visit www.stjoes.ca/learning. Learning Pillar Week is presented by St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton's Department of Education & Learning and The Research Institute. #WeAreStJoes #LPW2024

Today is World Menopause Day. Menopause is characterized by a loss of estrogen and other hormones that usually happens during a woman’s 40s and 50s. While menopause is defined by the absence of a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months, the menopausal transition (also known as perimenopause) typically lasts for several years leading up to when a woman reaches menopause. The average Canadian woman reaches menopause at age 52. We recently spoke with Dr. Sheryl Green, an Associate Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University and a clinical and health psychologist within the Women’s Health Concerns Clinic (WHCC) at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton. She is particularly interested in women’s health across the reproductive timeline, including during the menopause transition. In a pilot study supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research | Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada, Dr. Green found that a type of talk therapy known as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can improve perimenopausal symptoms specifically related to sexual concerns including body image and relationship satisfaction. “68 to 87 percent of women in perimenopause are experiencing sexual concerns,” said Dr. Green. “It’s not like it’s just a couple of people here and there. But women often don’t feel comfortable bringing up sexual concerns to their healthcare practitioners, or their healthcare practitioner just doesn’t ask about it. Women may also feel that it’s not that important, compared to other physical symptoms like hot flashes or night sweats, and that the sexual concerns are just something they have to live with.” The results of this study were very promising, as each and every participant experienced benefits after treatment. Check out the full story here: https://bit.ly/3Yrk8j3 #WorldMenopauseDay #CBT #WomensHealth #menopause

TODAY is your last chance to submit an abstract for our Research & Education Poster Session & Competition. Don’t miss out! Visit research.stjoes.ca/poster to submit your research abstract now. More information below ⤵

❗❗❗ Reminder: Poster Abstract Submission Deadline Tomorrow - October 18, 2024 Don’t miss out on the chance to showcase your research at our upcoming Research & Education Poster Session as part of Learning Pillar Week 2024. This is a unique opportunity for all learners from McMaster University, Mohawk College, Brock University, and Redeemer University who conduct research at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton. Submit your abstract now and get ready to present your work to key stakeholders across St. Joseph's Health System. Get those abstracts in and let’s celebrate your research! For registration details and poster requirements, visit our website at research.stjoes.ca/poster Poster presentations and judging will take place on November 7, 2024, from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM at the Charlton Campus.

📢 Meet Our 2023 Research Poster Winner! We're excited to spotlight Nandhitha Ragunayakam, a winner of our Poster Competition during 2023 Learning Pillar Week! 🌟 Supported by Dr. Sarah Svenningsen, Nandhitha carried out a study on the use of ventilation MRI to assess airflow obstruction in asthma patients (summary below). Her findings offer valuable insights for improving the clinical management of severe asthma. During the Research Poster Event, Nandhitha showcased her project to St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton's clinical and non-clinical staff. The constructive feedback from the judges has been crucial in enhancing her research methodology and presentation for future projects. Do you have a project you want to showcase? Looking for feedback on your research? 👉 Submit your abstract for our 2024 Research & Education Poster Session today! Visit research.stjoes.ca/poster for details. Abstracts due October 18. Research Summary ⏬ ⏬ Asthma is a chronic airway disease that impacts 3.8 million Canadians. It is typically characterized by reversible airflow obstruction, which is evaluated clinically using spirometry – an effort-dependent breathing test. Ventilation magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a novel, non-invasive, and effort-independent approach to regionally measure lung ventilation, a functional consequence of airflow obstruction. In 55 patients with severe asthma, we observed that airflow obstruction assessed by spirometry and MRI agreed for 80% of participants; however, of those in disagreement (n=11), 45% had abnormal ventilation with normal spirometry, and 55% had normal ventilation with abnormal spirometry. Therefore, in severe asthma, airflow obstruction assessed by spirometry and ventilation MRI is associated, but discordant in a subset of patients. Ventilation MRI can detect regional airflow obstruction, which has the potential to improve the clinical management of severe asthma. #WeAreStJoes

Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder that affects millions worldwide. Though psychosis is the hallmark symptom of this serious mental illness, cognitive impairment is another core feature that significantly impacts patients' daily functioning and quality of life. In this podcast episode, we delve into the critical intersection of schizophrenia and cognitive impairment, exploring its far-reaching effects and the challenges it presents for both patients and healthcare providers. Joined by Chris Summerville, CEO of the Schizophrenia Society of Canada and Dr. Heather McNeely, clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist in the schizophrenia and community integration service at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, this discussion explores the various domains of cognition affected and how these impairments manifest in patients' lives. https://lnkd.in/eJ6H7vcy #CdnHealth #WorldMentalHealthDay

📢 Meet Our 2023 Research Poster Winner! We're thrilled to spotlight Michelle Sherren, one of the winners of our Poster Competition during the 2023 Learning Pillar Week! 🌟 Under the expert guidance of Dr. Kim Madden and Dr. Moin Khan, Michelle conducted a fascinating research project assessing patient perspectives on cannabis use for musculoskeletal pain. Her findings offer valuable insights that can help healthcare providers align pain treatment strategies with patient preferences, ultimately improving pain management in orthopedics. Michelle had the opportunity to present her research to St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton's clinical and non-clinical staff, receiving valuable feedback from the judges. This feedback has been instrumental in refining her research methodology and presentation. Do you have a project you want to showcase? Looking for feedback on your research? 👉 Submit your abstract for our 2024 Research & Education Poster Session today! Visit research.stjoes.ca/poster for details. Research Summary ⏬ ⏬ Title: Patient perceptions on the use of cannabis for treating musculoskeletal pain (POSIT-2): A protocol for a survey 5 years after legalization”. As the use of cannabis for pain management continues to gain prominence, the evaluation of patient perspectives on its use for musculoskeletal pain relief became crucial for providing evidence-based care that aligned with patient preferences. The goal of this study was to conduct a survey and compare findings to a similar survey implemented in 2018, to ascertain whether patient perceptions on cannabis use for musculoskeletal pain had changed since legalization. At the time of presenting this poster, the team had obtained ethics approval and were in the data collection stage in the clinics. The study targeted patients seeking musculoskeletal pain treatment at orthopedic clinics in Hamilton and anticipated surveying 425 participants. The team would assess demographic information, attitudes towards cannabis, pain management experiences, and perceived effectiveness using a questionnaire. Next, they would analyze results using descriptive statistics and multivariable linear regression, then summarize demographic data and attitudes towards cannabis. They then categorized patient experiences with pain management based on preferred consumption methods and potential opioid-reducing effects. They used multivariable linear regression to assess associations between patient characteristics and perceived effectiveness. Finally, the team compared this data to 2018 data which would identify shifting perceptions over time. By assessing patient perspectives on cannabis use for musculoskeletal pain, this study contributed to understanding patients’ perception of cannabis to inform future studies. The study's findings had the potential to guide healthcare providers in aligning treatment strategies with patient preferences, ultimately improving pain management in orthopedics. #WeAreStJoes