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Dr. Graham King's lifetime (so far) of research and patient impact

You likely wouldn’t know Dr. Graham King is one of Canada’s most accomplished orthopaedic surgeons unless you heard it first from a patient, colleague or international specialist. Quietly modest, he isn’t apt to tell you the elbow implant that he and his team developed is now one of the most widely used in the world.

So, it’s not surprising the Lawson Scientist and surgeon would also be among the last to tell you the Canadian Orthopaedic Association (COA) has made him a lifetime achievement award-winner for his considerable contributions to teaching, research and clinical care. Read the full story. 

Order of Canada honour for mental health research Cheryl Forchuk

Cheryl Forchuk, a Lawson Scientist and Distinguished University Professor, was honored with the Order of Canada in June 2025. Her contributions have significantly shaped policies and practices in mental health care and homelessness across Canada. “A lot of my work is trying to give value and a voice to these populations,” says Forchuk. Find details about her Order of Canada appointment and her significant work on the Governor General's website or on our website. Share on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn 

Common cough medicine could slow Parkinson’s-related dementia

A 12-month clinical trial using Ambroxol showed the common cough medicine could slow the progression of dementia in people with Parkinson’s disease. The study led by Dr. Stephen Pasternak and published in JAMA Neurology showed that memory, psychiatric symptoms and GFAP (a blood marker linked to brain damage) all remained stable for participants taking Ambroxol, compared with worsening symptoms and increased GFAP for a group taking a placebo. Read more on our website about the landmark study, or watch the CTV London news story, one of more than a dozen media organizations worldwide that covered the story. 

Unlocking innovation: Oncology research and education day highlights

On June 12, 2025, the Best Western Plus Lamplighter Inn in London, Ontario, hosted the 21st Annual Oncology Research and Education Day. Organized by the Schulich Department of Oncology, the event brought together more than 300 health-care professionals, researchers and educators for workshops, panels and networking. Lawson researchers and trainees presented at oral and poster sessions, emphasizing innovation and collaboration in cancer care. With eight oral presentations and 105 posters, the day celebrated achievements and fostered new partnerships in oncology. Learn more or join next year’s event here.

Patients inspire trainee to explore new frontiers in pulmonary imaging

If you ask Ahmed Mohammed, a Master’s student in Medical Biophysics at Western University, what gets him up in the morning, it's seeing technology meaningfully improve lives. Supervised by Lawson Scientists and medical physicists, Ting-Yim Lee, PhD, and Stewart Gaede, PhD, Mohammed’s research focuses on using advanced CT scans to provide clearer, more precise views of how air and blood flow through lungs - allowing for faster, more accurate diagnoses. For Mohammed, each scan is more than just a set of data – “it's the story of a real patient, facing illness but holding onto hope.” Mohammed plans to expand his research by comparing his new technique to existing methods, hoping to improve lung cancer diagnosis and care. Visit Lawson online to see how we LEAD in medical imaging. 

In the News

Area hospitals report increase in frequency and severity of e-scooter and e-bike injuries | CBC news 

Dr. Graham King, Chief of Surgery at St. Joseph's Roth McFarlane Hand and Upper Limb Centre and Lawson Scientist, was recently cited in a CBC article on increasing severe injuries from e-scooters and e-bikes. He reports that many cases require surgery for facial, wrist and compound fractures. Read more about the causes and how to prevent e-scooter and bike injuries in the full article. 

Lawson LEADS video series – Aging

In the newest of our video series highlighting world-leading research at Lawson, discover how Lawson LEADS research into aging, about how an interdisciplinary team of experts is discovering how to slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases and offer hope for healthier aging. Be sure to recognize and share your colleagues’ successes on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

In June 2025, Lawson Research Institute was actively conducting 826 clinical research studies, underscoring its dedication to advancing patient-centered medical innovation. 

Visit Lawson’s Webpage to discover more about our clinical trials and how to get involved. 

Teamwork, patients inspire clinical research assistant

Clinical trials are the foundation of innovative patient care at Lawson. As part of a series celebrating people who provide exceptional care, grow stronger communities and contribute to a healthier world, we visit clinical research assistant Heather LaPier in nephrology and metabolic research. Discover the values that inspire her best work, along with her random but cool hobby outside of work. Check out our noteWORTHY profile. 

HDRN marks milestone anniversary

July 2 marks the first anniversary of the Health Data Research Network (HDRN) Canada Pragmatic Trials Training Program. During the past year, the program has fostered a dynamic learner-centred environment by delivering weekly modules, spotlighting exemplar trials and creating opportunities for learners to engage in expert-led discussions and debates. From regular facilitated sessions to organizing its first annual conference, the program has supported a strong community of emerging pragmatic trialists. Lawson has two Highly Qualified Personnel as learners in the program. 

Looking ahead, the program remains committed to promoting culturally safe, patient-oriented research and supporting the next generation of pragmatic trialists.

Learn more by visiting pragmatictrialstraining.ca and sharing their Annual Report. 

Office of Research Services

Meet our Research Quality and Education team in the Office of Research Services.  

The Research Quality and Education team supports the Lawson and London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute (LHSCRI) community in meeting their obligations to conduct high quality research through audits, risk mitigation strategies and education. The Research Quality and Education team provides tools, templates and videos to assist research staff in maintaining compliance via the ORS intranet site. If you have questions about the research regulatory framework requirements, quality assurance reviews or institutional standards and best practices, the Research Quality team is your go-to contact for expert advice and assistance. 

• Research Quality intranet site - Quality Assurance and Education 
• General contact email address:  

Lawson staff - researchqualityandeducation@sjhc.london.on.ca or  

LHSCRI staff researchqualityandeducation@lhsc.on.ca 

Janet Knechtel, Manager of Research Quality and Education in the Office of Research Services, brings more than 30 years of research experience to her role. Knechtel has a strong background in regulatory compliance, ethics, privacy and risk mitigation strategy. Starting her career at Victoria Hospital in 1991, she has worked in both academic and industry-sponsored research and has been instrumental in the development and growth of the Quality Assurance Education program. She is a Registered Quality Assurance Professional (RQAP) specializing in GCP and has maintained her certification as a Clinical Research Professional (CCRC) for more than 20 years. Knechtel is passionate about sharing her expertise with the research community to support research quality and excellence across the organization. 

Kamary Coriolano, PhD, is a Research Quality Assurance and Education Advisor in the Office of Research Services. With more than 20 years of clinical research experience, Coriolano has a strong background in regulatory compliance, ethics submissions, protocol design and Good Clinical Practice (ICH-GCP). His research career began in Brazil, where he co-developed a research program for children with asthma. After moving to Canada, he earned multiple degrees and certifications, leading to a role as a Senior Clinical Research Coordinator III. Coriolano is dedicated to improving patient care through research and strengthening research quality and integrity across the institution to support better outcomes for patients and the advancement of science. 

Ifeoluwa Aderanti, BPharm, is a Research Quality Assurance and Education Advisor in the Office of Research Services. She holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy from Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria, a Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Research, Pharmacovigilance and Regulatory Affairs and is a Certified Clinical Research Professional. She has experience as a research coordinator, Clinical Trial Associate and research pharmacist. Her expertise includes oncology research, investigational product management and clinical operations. Aderanti brings her skills in risk-based monitoring and quality management systems to enhance research quality and integrity across the institution. 

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We encourage researchers to submit grants, publications and awards for us to showcase. Please provide a one- to two-sentence plain-language description along with the submission.

We recognize and congratulate some of the recent external funding awarded to our researchers: 

Monali Malvankar, PhD, and Dr. Cindy Hutnik, were awarded a renewal for “Impact of breathing exercises followed by meditation on improving quality of life in glaucoma patients: An electronic feasibility study” from the Glaucoma Research Society of Canada, $12,000 over 2 years. 

The research project focuses on evaluating whether breathing exercises followed by meditation can improve the quality of life in glaucoma patients. The awarded funds will be used to support an electronic feasibility study to assess if these mindfulness-based interventions will enhance overall well-being for individuals living with glaucoma. 

Monali Malvankar, PhD, and Dr. Cindy Hutnik, were awarded a renewal for “Health education vs mediation in irreversible age-related vision loss patients and their caregivers: A feasibility randomized controlled trial” from the Glaucoma Researcher Society of Canada, $20,000 over 2 years. 

Researchers are exploring whether two approaches - health education or meditation techniques - help people with permanent age-related vision loss and their caregivers in their daily lives. The renewal funds will be used over two years to evaluate which approach better supports this population.  

Jenny Liu, PhD, was awarded funding from the Joint Federal Research Funding for Military Personnel and Veterans, Veterans Affairs Canada, for the study entitled "Needs Assessment to Identify Priority Health Research Areas for Women and Diverse Members in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF)", $199,377, 1 year  

This research focuses on identifying and prioritizing the unique health research needs of women and other diverse members within the CAF. The funding will be used to conduct a needs assessment to spotlight priority health research areas for this population. 

Mulugeta Chala, PhD, was awarded funding from the International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR) through the Population health, Clinical Practice program for the study entitled "Mapping a care pathway for rheumatic and musculoskeletal disorders (RMDs) in Ethiopia: A contextual inquiry through stakeholder engagement”, $20,000, 1 year 

RMDs are common in Ethiopia, contributing to pain, disability and increased health-care demands. This project will map the care pathway for people with RMDs by involving stakeholders to understand their experiences within the healthcare system and identify factors that facilitate or hinder effective care. 

Internal Research Funding:

The Internal Research Fund is an internal funding competition administered by the Office of Research Services for early-stage, innovative exploratory research projects supported by the clinical departments at St. Joseph’s and LHSC, the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics at Western University and the two hospital foundations – St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation and London Health Sciences Foundation. Congratulations to our Spring 2025 Internal Research Fund researchers at Lawson:

Fleet, Jamie - Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, SJHC; “Exploring Fractures and Fracture Treatment in Adults with Cerebral Palsy”; $19,746

McIntyre, Amanda - Department of Nursing, SJHC; “From Overlooked to Understood: Investigating Spasticity Prevalence and Management in Long Term Care”; $20,000

Milej, Daniel - Department of Lawson Imaging program, SJHC; “A novel optical technology for monitoring deep brain regions at risk of injury in preterm infants”; $20,000

Sharon, Tal - Department of Ophthalmology, SJHC; “Effects of Gonioscopy-Assisted Transluminal Trabeculotomy (GATT) on Diurnal Intraocular Pressure Curve Measured Using iCare Home Tonometer”; $19,990

Check out a few examples of the research published in May and June: 

Fitzgibbon-Collins LK, Borrie M, Peters S, Shoemaker JK, Bhangu J. (2025). Dynamic cerebral autoregulation in people with mild cognitive impairment. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism. 

Does brain flow regulation differ in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI)? Researchers measured how well blood vessels in the brain adjust to blood pressure changes in 30 people with MCI. They found unexpected differences in regulation between groups, suggesting the brain may be trying to adapt. Understanding these changes is important for clinicians and researchers studying dementia risk and brain health in aging adults. 

Clemens KK, Son S, Zhu Y, Kanagalingam T, Thain J, D'Angelo S, Drosdowech D, Khan T. (2025). Prescribing outcomes following discharge from an osteoporosis specialist-led, post-fracture clinic: A prospective cohort study in Ontario, Canada. Archives of Osteoporosis. 

Does a specialist-led clinic improve osteoporosis medication use after a fracture? Researchers tracked 201 older adults in Ontario after being released from a post-fracture clinic. They found that 90% of older adults filled their osteoporosis prescriptions and 89% stayed on treatment. The results showed that specialist-led, post-fracture clinics help patients stick to vital bone-strengthening medication. Clinicians, policy-makers and patients at risk for fractures should read this article. 

Bassi C, Nam D, Sabri E, Drosdowech D, Pollock JW, Rouleau D, Hodgdon T, McIlquham K, Doyon J, Lapner P. (2025). Accuracy of clinical symptoms and nuclear imaging in the diagnosis of infection in revision shoulder arthroplasty. JSES International. 

Is it possible to accurately diagnose infection after shoulder replacement surgery using symptoms and nuclear imaging? Researchers reviewed patients needing revision shoulder surgery and compared clinical symptoms and nuclear scans to actual infection diagnoses. They found both methods often missed infections. Improving diagnosis is critical to better treatment. Surgeons, radiologists and patients facing shoulder revision surgery may find this article valuable to read. 

Cook A, Hunt R, Silcox J, Canas E, MacDougall AG. (2025). Defining youth-centred practice in mental health care. BMC Psychiatry. 

What does youth-centred practice mean in mental health care? Researchers interviewed professionals and youth to define effective, collaborative approaches that empower young people in treatment. They found that youth-centred care means respecting lived experiences, building genuine relationships and supporting youth agency. Clinicians, policymakers and anyone interested in improving youth mental health services will find this paper and its findings of significant value to their work. 

Flores-Sandoval C, MacKenzie HM, Bateman EA, Sequeira K, Bayley M, Teasell R. (2025). Sex differences in moderate to severe traumatic brain injury randomized controlled trials. Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences.  

Do men and women experience different outcomes in moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) trials? To find out, researchers reviewed TBI studies and found that sex differences are often overlooked. They highlight the need for more balanced research to improve care for everyone. Clinicians, researchers and policymakers should read this article to ensure TBI treatments work well for all patients. 

Herspiegel WJ, Moeinkhah M, Vinokurtseva A, Trope G, Hutnik CML. (2025). Impact of 11 years of glaucoma research funding: Glaucoma Research Society of Canada (2010-2020). Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology. 

How much impact does glaucoma research funding have? Researchers reviewed 11 years of grants from the Glaucoma Research Society of Canada and found that more than 60 per cent led to published studies or conference presentations. These findings show that research funding drives new discoveries. Patients, donors, funding agencies, policymakers and researchers should read this article to see how funding supports progress in glaucoma care. 

FAREWELL

Farewell and thank you to Julie Walsh in her role as Research and Innovation Facilitator for Mental Health

Heart & Stroke Foundation has opened its 2026/2027 research competitions.

If you plan to apply, email the Grants Development team at grantsubmission@sjhc.london.on.ca.

Grants-In-Aid::

• Funds heart disease & stroke research, up to $400,000 over four years.
• Internal deadline: Aug 21, 2025; Foundation: Aug 28, 2025 (registration closes at 12 pm)

New Investigator Award:

• Salary support for early-career researchers, up to $240,000 over three years.
• Internal deadline: Aug 27, 2025; Foundation: Sept 4, 2025 (registration closes at 1 pm)

See the Heart and Stroke Foundation website for full details.

Apply via CIRCUlink (select Lawson Research Institute if at St. Joseph’s). Include the Institutional Approval Form and send all materials/questions to grantsubmission@sjhc.london.on.ca.

For detailed reviews, submit proposals at least two weeks before the agency deadline. 

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Project Grant Fall 2025 Competition is now open.

If you plan to apply, please email grantsubmission@sjhc.london.on.ca. Competition details are available on ResearchNet.

CIHR Deadlines:

1. Registration: August 13, 2025, 8 p.m.
2. Application: September 10, 2025, 10 a.m.

Internal Deadlines:

1. For optional review, submit your proposal by August 25, 2025, 8 a.m.
2. For mandatory admin review, submit via ResearchNet by September 2, 2025, 8 a.m. The ORS will return your application for further edits before the deadline.

Select Lawson Research Institute as your institution on ResearchNet if you are at St. Joseph’s.

Complete the Request for Institutional Approval Form with your submission and send all materials/inquiries to grantsubmission@sjhc.london.on.ca. ORS will review and submit your application electronically to CIHR.

CIHR will hold webinars about this competition—details and registration can be found on their Webinars page. Western Research (tentatively July 14) and Schulich (panel on July 29) will also host sessions.

CIHR is launching the 2025-26 Partnering for Impact – Catalyst Grant. This initiative aims to foster partnerships between researchers, communities, and knowledge holders to advance health research and knowledge mobilization. The grant supports co-production activities, emphasizing equity, diversity, and inclusion. Up to $125,000 per grant is available, with additional funds for projects involving underserved communities. The total funding pool is $4.75 million, supporting approximately 31-38 grants. Key partners include Canada’s Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR), the Centre for Research on Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies, the Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (IHSPR), the Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA), the Institute of Population and Public Health (IPPH) and Employment and Scoial Development Canada (ESDC). The application deadline is Fall 2025, with funding starting in Spring 2026. The official CIHR funding opportunity will be posted on ResearchNet in the coming weeks.

CIHR is launching the Team Grants: Health Effects of Ultra-Processed Foods. This initiative aims to fund interdisciplinary research on the health impacts of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), including their biological mechanisms and structural determinants. The total funding pool is $7.56 million, supporting approximately 16 development grants and 7 team grants. The maximum grant amount is $250,000 per year for up to 4 years. The application process begins in Fall 2025, with funding starting in Spring 2026 for development grants and Late Spring 2027 for team grants. This research will inform policies to improve health equity and the health of Canadians across the lifespan.

We are pleased to announce the launch of the new tri-agency Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral program (CGRS D) and the Canada Postdoctoral Research Award Program (CPRA) competitions. These are part of the new harmonized Canada Research Training Awards Suite (CRTAS). The annual value for these awards is $40,000 at the doctoral level and $70,000 at the postdoctoral level.

For details including eligibility criteria, application deadlines and instructions refer to the CGRS D and CPRA web pages. We invite you to follow the agencies on social media for the latest updates, amplify our posts and share this news within your institutions. 

AHSC AFP Innovation Fund call for proposals Fall 2025

Closing date: October 31, 2025

The AMOSO Innovation Fund Fall 2025 Call for Proposals is now open. Submit your proposals by October 31, 2025, 11:59 PM to amoso@lhsc.on.ca.

The Innovation Fund is intended to support the development of new and innovative practices in health care delivery (both quality initiatives and research projects), and to support leadership and the dissemination of knowledge across the healthcare system.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

The Provincial Proposal Forms and Guidelines for the 2025-26 funding competition have changed. Please refer to the AMOSO website for application forms, instructions/guidelines and information on the adjudication process.

Ensure approval from the Financial Management Committee (FMC) for the Lead Project Sponsor’s AFP Practice Plan before submission. All required documents must be completed and submitted in Microsoft Word format.

To access the AMOSO website use the following generic log-in information.

Username: amoso     Password: afpfunding

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS – EXCELLENCE – INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

Fondation ARC, one of France’s leading cancer charities, has launched the 54th edition of the Fondation ARC Léopold Griffuel Awards. Recognized among the most prestigious distinctions in oncology in Europe, these Awards honor scientific excellence and groundbreaking innovations.

Two outstanding researchers will be recognized with €200,000 for their major contributions to cancerology in the following categories:

• Basic research
• Translational and clinical research

If you are conducting innovative cancerology research or know a researcher whose work deserves this international recognition, we encourage you to apply or share this announcement within your network and the scientific community at your organization.

The closing date for application is September 22, 2025, at 12 pm (GMT+1)

To consult the rules, contact us and apply, please visit our dedicated website:

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Join us for an engaging session as part of the Gray Centre for Mobility and Activity’s Coffee Lunch series, held at Parkwood’s Main Auditorium on Friday, July 25. This free event is open to hospital and research scientists, staff, and trainees, providing a fantastic opportunity to connect and learn over coffee, tea and light snacks.

The featured speaker, Phivos Phylactou, PhD will share his research that shows how pupil size can be used as a novel, objective measure of brain’s response to a stimulation technique called TMS. A description of the presentation is below. The presentation will begin at 12:15pm in Parkwood’s main auditorium and as always, coffee, tea and light snacks will be provided. 

This will be our last Coffee Talk until the Fall, so we hope to see you there!

Please contact Jeff Weiler if you have questions about the Gray Center for Mobility and Activity Coffee Lunches or this event.

Join us for our July Workshop on Queries and Data Management for Multi-Centre Trials.

On July 28 from 12pm to 1pm, Janel Dhooma will talk about “Data Queries and Data Management for Multi-Centre Trials: a Case Study”. Join us by completing the Registration Form.

Safeguarding science: Essential knowledge to protect Canadian research

The threat of misuse of dual-use research, technology, and materials is real and imminent. Please join Jennifer Weese, our regional advisor at the Public Safety Canada’s Research Security Centre, on August 19 at 1PM – 2PM for a Safeguarding Science Module that will expose research security-related issues and equip you with essential tools to protect our research assets.

This event is in person and will not be recorded. Any recording or use of artificial intelligence applications for notetaking is strictly prohibited. The event is open to everyone but of particular interest to researchers, research staff and trainees. Registration may be limited by room size and capacity.

Attendees will be able to receive a certificate of attendance and may earn up to 1.0 continuing education units for SoCRA and/or ACRP. To register please follow this link. Location TBD. For more information on the event, please visit Grants Development SharePoint or reach out to grantsubmission@lhsc.on.ca or grantsubmission@sjhc.london.on.ca with any questions.   

The Research Data Management Community of Practice (RDMCop) invites you to join us on Monday, September 22nd from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM for the Research Data Management (RDM) Forum 2025. This event will take place in person at Sumner Auditorium, Victoria Hospital and is open to all research staff across both hospitals and affiliated research institutes.

Please pre-register here: RDM Forum 2025RDM Forum 2025.

We will offer breakfast and a coffee break and feature engaging talks from guest speakers (to be announced). The forum will focus on research data management practices and related topics. 

Participants will receive a Certificate of Attendance and may earn up to 3.0 Continuing Education Units for SOCRA and the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ARCP). 

Please register to save the date and stay tuned for more details!  

For questions about this event or RDM, please contact the RDMCop Council by email rdm@lawsonresearch.com 

St. Joseph’s Tribute Dinner will be held on October 9 between 6:00-10:00 p.m. at RBC Place London. Featured guest will be Canadian Tim Caulfield, PhD. Dubbed the nemesis of pseudoscience by the Globe and Mail, Caulfield is an unrivalled communicator and research champion. Tribute 2025 will also honour Bill and Ann Fleming, for their contributions over the past four decades. and celebrate Lawson, where researchers revolutionize health care through discoveries that transform lives. All funds raised will support the Spirit of St. Joseph’s Fund supporting highest priority care, education and research needs across St. Joseph’s Health Care London.

Purchase your tickets online today: Tribute Dinner | St. Joseph's Health Care London

The 2025 AGE-WELL 10th Annual Conference will be held on October 22 - 23, 2025 in Montréal, Québec.

This October, AGE-WELL marks ten years in AgeTech leadership. The conference brings together researchers, trainees, industry professionals, policymakers, older adults, caregivers and partners to highlight advancements shaping the future of aging and technology. Visit the AGE-WELL conference website to learn more and register.

Share your news with us!

We want to hear about your latest projects, grants, publications, awards and events!

Send news to lawsonresearch@sjhc.london.on.ca

Lawson Research Institute, the health innovation arm of St. Joseph's Health Care London, is committed to making discoveries that improve lives. Every day, Lawson scientists work to translate their ideas into innovations that improve patient care. Lawson LEADS health research. Find us online at LawsonResearch.ca and on social media @stjosephslondon

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