Can't see the full newsletter? Please accept images and add Lawson LEADS (lawsonresearch-sjhc.london.on.ca@shared1.ccsend.com) to your safe list. | | Celebrating 50 years of geriatric medicine | | |
This year, the Division of Geriatric Medicine at Western University and the highly specialized care programs at St. Joseph’s Parkwood Institute and London Health Sciences Centre proudly marks 50 years. From its beginnings as a small unit in 1975, London has become a national leader in geriatric care, research, education and innovation.
Research remains at the heart of the division’s mission, with clinician scientists and collaborators advancing knowledge in dementia, frailty, delirium, osteoporosis and cardiovascular health. The impact of London’s geriatric medicine teams is evident in award-winning programs and pioneering research groups such as the Cognitive Clinical Trials Group. Faculty members lead groundbreaking studies in falls, vascular cognitive impairment and health systems, ensuring their work shapes the future of care for older adults. Read and share the LinkedIn post to learn more about the accomplishments of geriatric medicine in care and research, leadership and legacy.
| | Lawson Association of Fellows and Students, "Leading the Future" event shines bright | | On April 10, the Brookside Banquet Centre in London buzzed with energy as the Lawson Association of Fellows and Students (LAFS) hosted its inspiring “Leading the Future” event. Bringing together trainees, research staff and faculty, this dynamic evening celebrated leadership, innovation and learning within the Lawson community. Highlights included a welcome from Lisa Porter, Vice President Research and Scientific Director at St. Joseph's Health Care London (St. Joseph's), a powerful keynote by Roy Butler, President and CEO of St. Joseph’s, and an engaging panel featuring trainees and faculty sharing insights on leadership and growth. The event sparked vibrant conversation on empowering the next generation of research leaders, while fostering meaningful connections during a cocktail reception. With outstanding attendance and enthusiastic feedback, “Leading the Future” set the stage for Lawson’s bright research tomorrow. Read about the dynamic group and the Leading the Future event on Lawson’s website. | | |
Jeremy Burton, PhD, is a research scientist at St. Joseph’s whose work explores one of the most intriguing frontiers in medicine: the human microbiome. But while he and his research team delve into the complex ecosystems within our bodies, Burton has another role at St. Joseph’s that brings healing to people in a very different way.
Enter Dudley, a nine-year-old rescue beagle with a gentle spirit and a tail that never stops wagging. Known to hospital staff as much for his soft ears as for his friendly demeanor, Dudley is a therapy dog (and a bit of a celebrity) who has been brightening hallways and hearts at St. Joseph’s since before the pandemic. On St. Joseph’s website, read about this endearing four-footed volunteer and the difference he is making for patients, residents and staff alike.
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The urgency, opportunity and optimism of aging in Canada
Canada is aging – and fast. By 2030, adults 65 and older will make up nearly a quarter of the population – a demographic shift that is reshaping health care. Few see this shift more clearly than Lawson scientist Dr. Sheri-Lynn Kane, Chair/Chief of the Division of Geriatric Medicine at Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry and Medical Director of the Regional Geriatric Program of Southwestern Ontario based at St. Joseph’s. A geriatrician, medical educator and advocate for older adults, Kane supports a more inclusive approach to healthy aging. As the division marks its 50th anniversary in 2025, she spoke about geriatric medicine in Canada – the challenges, the opportunities and why we all have a stake in rethinking how we age. Read the Schulich Medicine & Dentistry story to learn more.
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Lawson LEADS video series - NEW!
In the newest of our video series highlighting world-leading research at Lawson, watch how Lawson LEADS in understanding, preventing and solving complex chronic illness. Watch this video to learn more about global innovation leading to impact in arthritis, diabetes, gut health and more. And be sure to Share your colleagues’ successes on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.
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A new path to veteran healing from post-traumatic stress disorder*
The largest-ever review of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment in military veterans, led by the MacDonald-Franklin Operational Stress Injury Research Centre at St. Joseph’s Parkwood Institute, suggests a game-changing approach. Analyzing over 400 studies, researchers found that combining psychotherapy (talk therapy) with medication significantly improves treatment outcomes.
Jenny Liu, PhD, research lead and Dr. Don Richardson, Scientific Director, highlight how this approach better addresses the complex symptoms veterans face. With one in four veterans diagnosed with PTSD and many struggling to find effective treatment, this study could lead to updated clinical guidelines. The findings could transform PTSD care for veterans across Canada. Read the full story.
*An incorrect story and link appeared with this heading and image last month. Apologies to our researchers and readers for the error.
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As of April 2025, Lawson Research Institute had 828 active clinical research studies, demonstrating its commitment to medical innovation and patient-centered care.
Clinical trials at Lawson advance patient care by testing new treatments and therapies that impact health outcomes for patients and the broader community. Through rigorous studies on treatments, devices and care strategies, Lawson researchers provide patients with access to the latest medical advances and evidence-based therapies. Clinical trials are essential for determining the safety and effectiveness of new interventions, often leading to improved standards of care and offering hope for those facing complex health challenges. Lawson’s connection to hospital care ensures research addresses real patient needs, making findings highly relevant to clinical practice.
Visit Lawson’s Webpage to discover more about our clinical trials and how to get involved.
| | Proudly supporting CanReview, Canada's single research ethics review system | | |
At Lawson, we are focused on bringing more clinical trial opportunities to our patients by removing institutional, industry and administrative incumbrances, thereby speeding up the time to start trials. Example initiatives include; reviewing Lawson’s institutional approval process, working with our peer organizations and industry partners to develop standardized resources and tools, such as templated/standardized contracts, consent forms, budget template/rate card and start-up documents.
Lawson is proud to support CanReview, a Canada-wide single research ethics review system that will enable all research sites participating in a multi-site clinical trial to undergo one ethics review while ensuring the highest ethical standards.
Collaborating with Research Ethics Boards, research teams, Indigenous community members, institutions and sponsors, patients and family partners and many others, CanReview aims to enhance clinical trials efficiencies, increase Canada’s competitiveness, expand clinical trials to underserved, rural and remote locations and promote equitable access to trial participation.
Learn more about CanReview.
| | Lawson Operations Managers | | Meet our new Lawson Operations Managers who are geographically positioned to support human relations (including trainees and onboarding new scientists), facilities, knowledge translation and clinical research/new project development. | | |
Sarah Best, B.Sc., MHM, CCRP, is a Manager of Research Operations for Lawson Research Institute. With a Master of Health Management from McMaster, a Bachelor’s (Hon.) Health Sciences from the University of Waterloo and a certification as a Clinical Research Professional (CCRP), she has been part of the St. Joseph’s family in various roles since 2006. Best has worked on industry-sponsored and grant-funded projects at provincial, national and international levels. Her research interests encompass both the implementation and operationalization of research. Best supports research at Parkwood Institute Main Building and within St. Joseph’s Mental Health Care Program at Parkwood Institute and Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health. She also supports clinical trials research at Lawson. When not working, Best and her husband can be found at a hockey arena, a baseball diamond or the beach with their son and daughter.
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Steven Back, P.Eng., MBA, PMP, Manager Research Operations, joined St. Joseph's in 2024 after spending more than a decade at SNOLAB, Canada's deep underground research laboratory. At SNOLAB, Back regularly travelled the two kilometres underground to the world's deepest, cleanest lab. This is where he managed teams of tradespeople and operators to work alongside researchers to create and maintain the infrastructure needed for world-leading research. Research is a team sport and Back strives to create the ecosystem that fosters collaboration, curiosity and innovation. At Lawson, he supports research taking place at St. Joseph Hospital and Mount Hope Centre for Long Term Care. He is also responsible for supporting core facilities and new infrastructure projects. Outside of work, Back is a father of three and, alongside his wife, spends much time navigating between sporting events while enjoying country living.
| | LAWSON ASSOCIATION OF FELLOWS AND STUDENTS | | IMPROVING RESEARCH DATA MANAGEMENT EVENTS | | Calling all research faculty, staff and trainees: Help us tailor future research data management (RDM) events to your needs. Please complete our short, anonymous RDM Interest Survey to share your requirements, questions and preferred interests. Your feedback will directly influence the focus of upcoming RDMCoP events. Take the survey today and help us better understand our research community’s needs. | | 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:
David Allison, PhD, was awarded $198,582.72 USD over two years for the study entitled "Intermittent fasting as an anti-inflammatory strategy for the treatment of Depression in Spinal Cord injury,” through the Psychosocial Research competition of the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation.
The research aims to find out if intermittent fasting with behavioural support can safely reduce depression and inflammation in people with spinal cord injury, offering a simple, cost-free treatment strategy. Funding for this study will be used to support study personnel, supplies and data analysis.
Dalton Wolfe, PhD, was awarded $42,142 from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) under the Planning and Dissemination funding competition for the study "Developing Sustainable Implementation Strategies to Mitigate Health Inequities for Persons with Spinal Cord Injury: A Summit for the Spinal Cord Injury Implementation and Evaluation Quality Care Consortium."
This one-year study aims to develop sustainable strategies to reduce health inequities for people with spinal cord injury (SCI). The project will fund a summit to bring together experts and stakeholders, fostering collaboration and planning to improve care quality. The initiative seeks to create lasting solutions that benefit the SCI community by addressing gaps in health services and outcomes.
Dr. Elizabeth Osuch and Jeremy Burton, PhD, (co-applicants) have been awarded $110,000 from AMOSO 2024-25 Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC) Alternate Funding Plan (AFP) Clinical Innovation Fund Award for a one-year study entitled "Fecal microbiome transplant (FMT) to normalize gut microbiota, metabolomics, immunology, cognitive and affective processing in patients suffering from anorexia nervosa."
This research will test whether FMT can restore healthy gut bacteria and improve metabolism, immune function and mental processing in people with anorexia nervosa. This funding award will support innovative research that could lead to new treatments for a challenging disorder. Drs. Michael Silverman, Seema Parvathy, Lisa Cameron, Colleen O’Connor, David Walton and Kait Al will collaborate on the research.
Jeremy Burton, PhD, Ben Willing (University of Alberta), Raylene Reimer (University of Calgary) are leading a $326,000, one-year study, “Fermentation Foods for Canada: A roadmap to understanding their status, development, scientific validation, and translation (PHASE II),” funded by the Weston Family Foundation.
The project aims to develop a guidance report and scientifically validate the health benefits of fermented foods for Canadians. Funding for this project will support the research and translation of findings, promising improved public health and food innovation nationwide.
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Check out a few examples of the research published in March and April:
Hill DJ, Hardy DB, Sobravia L, Desoye G. (2025). Editorial: Pre-natal and post-natal environmental impacts on metabolic control. Frontier in Endocrinology.
This editorial in a special issue in the journal describes how multiple environmental factors during pregnancy, including maternal nutrition and lifestyle choices, can alter the development of the fetus and the future health of the child. It highlights the placenta’s role and the need for more research. Health care professionals, researchers, policymakers and expectant parents will find it valuable for understanding early influences on lifelong metabolic health.
van Spanning SH, Verweij LPE, Hendrickx LAM, Allaart LJH, Athwal GS, Lafosse T, Lafosse L, Doornberg JN, Oosterhoff JHF, van den Bekerom MPJ, Buijze GA; Machine Learning Consortium. (2025). Methodology and development of a machine learning probability calculator: Data heterogeneity limits ability to predict recurrence after arthroscopic bankart repair. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy.
Can computers help doctors predict if a patient’s shoulder problem would come back after a common surgery called arthroscopic Bankart repair? To find out, researchers combined data from several studies and used computer programs to look for patterns. The results showed that the computer predictions were not very accurate because of the data from different studies was not consistent. This research is important for doctors and anyone interested in how technology can help improve surgery results.
Mehta S, Barua U, Nugent M, Hansen M, Sondi C, Upper W, Wolfe D, Loh E, Sequeira K, Teasell R, Hadjistavropoulos H. Stakeholder perspectives on implementation of internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy in physical medicine rehabilitation setting using the consolidated framework for implementation research. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine.
This study found that online mental health programs for people in physical rehabilitation show promise, but their adoption in clinical settings faces challenges such as limited leadership support and resource constraints, despite benefits such as evidence-based effectiveness and user-friendly design. Health-care leaders, clinicians and policymakers interested in implementing internet-delivered mental health solutions in rehabilitation settings will find this research a valuable source of evidence.
Forchuk CA, Kocha I, Granek JA, Dempster KS, Younger WA, Gargala D, Plouffe RA, Bailey S, Guest K, Richardson JD, Nazarov A. (2025). Optimizing military mental health and stress resilience training through the lens of trainee preferences: A conjoint analysis approach. Military Psychology.
What features of mental health and stress resilience (MHSR) training do military personnel value most? Using a survey of 567 Canadian Armed Forces members, this research examined preferences for different training attributes. The researchers found that instructor expertise, leadership support, practical skill practice and relevant content were most important. These insights can help design more effective and engaging MHSR programs. The findings are relevant to military leaders, trainers and policymakers seeking to optimize training impact.
Ellis EE, Quereshi H, Dover DC, Lindsay MP, Virani S, Ducharme A, Hawkins NM, McKelvie R, Kaul P. (2024). Economic burden of heart failure hospitalizations in Canada: A population-based study. Canadian Journal of Cardiology Open.
What is the economic burden of heart failure hospitalizations in Canada? To answer this, researchers analyzed national data and found that between 2019 and 2040, heart-failure hospital stays are expected to reach 1.69 million episodes, costing the health care system $19.5 billion. These findings highlight the urgent need for better outpatient care and prevention strategies. This study is essential reading for health care policymakers, hospital administrators and clinicians focused on reducing health care costs and improving patient outcomes.
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A most distinguished professor
Congratulations to Dr. Emil Schemitsch, Chair/Chief of the Department of Surgery at Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, who has been awarded the highest honour Western faculty can receive – the title of Distinguished University Professor. Schemitsch is an orthopaedic surgeon and head of surgery at St. Joseph’s and London Health Sciences Centre. He is globally renowned for his work on fracture repair and musculoskeletal injuries. His research has had a significant effect on mitigating the global burden of musculoskeletal conditions, which are leading causes of disability and long-term workplace absences. Read more about Schemitsch and the impact of his work in Western News.
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Advancing the practice of hand therapy
In March, the team of Louis Ferreira, PhD, was nominated for the Award for Innovation in Hand Therapy at the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy Congress in Washington, DC. This prestigious international award honours individuals who have demonstrated exceptional creativity, ingenuity and impact in advancing the practice of hand therapy.
Ferreira and his team are acclaimed for developing 3D printer technology – among the most advanced in the world – to create hand splints. Their virtual method of scanning, adjusting and 3D-printing custom hand splints is a first in Canada. Read more on St. Joseph’s website.
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A leader in trauma-informed care and women's empowerment in medicine
Congratulations to Dr. Susan McNair, a YMCA Women of Excellence honouree in the Health, Science & Technology category. A devoted family physician, Lawson scientist and Medical Director of St. Joseph’s Regional Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Treatment Program, McNair is well recognized for transforming trauma-informed care for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. Her leadership in this field has shaped provincial protocols and her work as a mentor and associate professor at Western University is creating the next generation of health care providers skilled in trauma-informed care. Read about Dr. McNair’s outstanding work on the YMCA Women of Excellence Honorees webpage and on St. Joseph’s website.
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Erin Collins wins CPCoE fellowship to advance research on chronic pain and transition needs of Canadian veterans
Erin Collins, a post‑doctoral fellow at Lawson’s MacDonald Franklin Operational Stress Injury Research Centre, has been awarded the Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans (CPCoE) Postdoctoral Fellow Award – valued at CAD $70,000 for one year. Her winning project, The Intersection of Chronic Pain and Transition Experiences in Shaping Veterans’ Post‑Service Needs: A Mixed‑Methods Study, will advance our understanding of chronic pain among Canadian veterans and inform better support during their transition to civilian life.
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Young scientist Rebecca Sullivan receives Alavi-Manell award
Rebecca Sullivan, who obtained her PhD with Savita Dhanvantari, PhD, in 2021, was awarded the Alavi-Mandell Award by the Journal of Nuclear Medicine for her paper titled “Design, Synthesis, and Preclinical Evaluation of a High-Affinity 18F-Labeled Radioligand for Myocardial Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor Before and After Myocardial Infarction.” This award was established to recognize young scientists and encourage them to pursue a career in nuclear medicine research. It comes with a $150 USD award.
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Best poster award goes to groundbreaking research linking antibiotics to kidney stone formation using fruit fly model
Congratulations to Master of Science Candidate (MSc) Riley C. Fidler, Jennifer Bjazevic, Kait Al and Jeremy Burton for receiving the American Urological Association Best Poster in Session (AUA25, Las Vegas, April 2025) award. Fidler presented the team’s research titled “MP21-19 Quantifying the kidney stone-inducing effects of several antibiotic classes using a Drosophila melanogaster model.” View this award-winning research on the American Urological Association’s website or read more here The Buzz Around Kidney Stone Research | St. Joseph's Health Care London.
| | UPCOMING GRANT COMPETITIONS | | |
The 2025 Exploration Competition of the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) has launched.
If you are considering applying to this competition, please email us at grantsubmission@sjhc.london.on.ca.
The objective is to support high-risk, high-reward and interdisciplinary research. Projects may range in value and duration, up to $250,000 for two years ($200,000 direct research costs + $50,000 indirect costs; maximum $125,000/year total). Individuals can participate in only one Exploration stream application or grant at one time as either a Nominated Principal Investigator (NPI), co-Principal Investigator (co-PI), or co-applicant.
The competition has two mandatory stages - Notice of Intent (NOI) and full Application
| | | Notice of Intent (NOI)
Not adjudicated
Webinar: May 22, 2025, at 1 pm | Internal deadline: Aug. 12, 2025
- Submit your NOI to our Research Office using the Convergence Portal by 10 am
NFRF deadline: Aug. 19, 2025
- Submit your NOI to our Research Office using the Convergence Portal by 10 am
| | Application
Invitation to submit is NOT required
Webinar: Sept. 9, 2025, at 1 pm | Lawson internal deadline: Oct. 14, 2025
- Submit your NOI to our Research Office using the Convergence Portal by 10 am
NFRF deadline: Oct. 21, 2025
- Submit your Application to our Research Office using the Convergence Portal by 10 am
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We are excited to announce that the 2025 End Diabetes Awards are now open for application submission. Diabetes Canada is currently accepting applications for funding to support research projects that enhance our understanding of diabetes and its prevention, treatment, management, and cure. Details of the funding opportunity are below. We kindly ask if you can share this funding opportunity within your researcher networks as appropriate.
The objectives of the End Diabetes Awards are:
- To support researchers in the discovery of the biomedical, clinical, health services, and/or population health factors that lead to the onset and progression of all types of diabetes and related complications.
- To develop solutions aimed at the prevention, management and finding a cure(s) for diabetes and its complications.
- To address challenges in diabetes health services, and design and implement solutions that improve healthcare delivery, health policies and access to care for all communities and populations affected by diabetes.
Applicants can request up to $150,000 per year for 3 years for a total of $450,000 per grant. Diabetes Canada aims to award $6 million through the 2025 End Diabetes Awards.
Full details including application instructions, eligibility criteria, policies, and timelines can be found on the Diabetes Canada Funding Opportunities website and in the 2025 End Diabetes Awards Guide.
Applications can be completed online through ProposalCentral. All applications are due by July 11, 2025, 8:00pm EDT.
We thank you for sharing this funding opportunity within your networks and for sharing our vision of a world free of the effects of diabetes!
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The Health Data Research Network Canada (HDRN Canada) Pragmatic Trials Training Program offers weekly open-access learning modules covering various aspects of pragmatic clinical trials. In recent weeks, the program has featured modules on statistical analysis plans, data and safety monitoring and patient-reported outcomes in pragmatic trials.
Additionally, Dr. Deborah M. Siegal provided an overview of the STRATUS randomized clinical trial, titled “Intravenous tenecteplase compared with alteplase for acute ischaemic stroke in Canada (AcT): A pragmatic, multicentre, open-label, registry-linked, randomised, controlled, non-inferiority trial.”
Check pragmatictrialstraining.ca for more.
| | Don't miss out on RDM Community of Practice Workshop: "RDM in CIHR Grant Applications". | | |
Registration is open for the workshop "RDM CIHR Grant Applications" led by Grant Officer Matthew Maksoud on May 22, 2025, from 12 to 1 pm. Register here.
Participants will be guided through the ethical considerations research teams should consider when writing data management plans (DMPs), as well as Tri-Council expectations for this document and the best tools and resources to develop DMPs for CIHR applications.
If you have questions but cannot attend, please reach out by emailing rdm@sjhc.london.on.ca More information about RDMCoP Events can be found here.
| | On June 24, join the Southwestern Ontario Chapter of the Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL) at Best Western Plus Stoneridge Inn and Conference Centre in London for an evening spotlighting health care innovation. Top local innovators will deliver fast-paced Pecha Kucha presentations showcasing transformative health care ideas. An expert panel of health care CEOs will provide feedback, followed by networking, buffet dinner and a $2,500 audience-voted prize awarded to the best innovations organization. This event includes poster sessions and Annual General Meeting. To find out more about this event and competition, visit the CCHL Innovation, Scale and Spread A Healthcare Innovation Evening Event webpage. | | The Research and Innovation Office invites you to join the Imaginarium Series presentation “Mystical Experiences in Virtual Reality” presented by Dr. Paul Frewen on June 26, 2025, from 12 to 1. The presentation will take place at the Finch Family Mental Health Care Building Auditorium (F2-235) in person or via Microsoft Teams for those unable to attend. Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to Nicole.north@sjhc.london.on.ca by June 18, 2025 and indicate whether you will be joining in person or via Microsoft Teams to ensure the correct number of lunches are ordered. If you have any dietary restrictions, please indicate in the RSVP email. | | | 268 Grosvenor Street | London, ON N6A 4V2 CA | | Lawson Research Institute, the health innovation arm of St. Joseph's Health Care London, is committed to making discoveries that improves 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 | | Did someone forward this email to you? You can subscribe here to get Lawson LEADS newsletter delivered directly to your inbox. Missed a previous newsletter? Visit the Lawson News and Events page. | | | | |
