Research at the Lady Davis Institute

As the proportion of seniors in our population steadily rises, so will the need for geriatric psychiatry, says Dr. Soham Rej, a CIUSSS psychiatrist. He believes digital technology can help cope with the growing demand, but only if the human element remains intact.

Several types of fatal pediatric brain tumours originate during early brain development, Dr. Claudia Kleinman, of the Lady Davis Institute, and her collaborators have discovered. The genetic event that triggers the disease probably occurs in prenatal cellular development.

Dr. David Langleben, a researcher and JGH cardiologist, has determined that only a portion of available capillary capacity is used during normal physical activity, with a reserve function recruited as needed. This resolves an old question about blood flow during exercise.

Dr. Gerald Batist, Director of the Segal Cancer Centre and Deputy Director of the Lady Davis Institute at the JGH, has received the 2019 Award for Exceptional Leadership in Cancer Research from the Canadian Cancer Research Alliance.

Dr. Michael Pollak, Director of the Stroll Cancer Prevention Centre at the JGH, has been chosen to serve as one of two leaders of a new Canada-wide team, aimed at translating fundamental research about breast cancer into effective treatment options for patients.

A ground-breaking new study has succeeded in compiling an “atlas” of genetic factors that are associated with estimated bone mineral density, one of the most clinically relevant factors in diagnosing osteoporosis.

An underdeveloped area in the brains of people with schizophrenia is the first clear anatomical signature for the disease, says a study by Dr. Hyman Schipper, a researcher at the Lady Davis Institute. This might lead to diagnosis of schizophrenia with an MRI scanner.

Coming in 2019: an online program for JGH patients with scleroderma, a rare autoimmune disease characterized by hardening of connective tissues. Included are instructional videos and advice on developing a personalized exercise routine and setting realistic goals.

Nervous about possible risks during overnight surgery? Don’t be. A study conducted at the JGH concluded that patients who undergo emergency surgery during overnight hours are at no greater risk of mortality than those who are operated upon during the day.

Dental research is playing an increasingly significant role in the Lady Davis Institute, especially in an exploration of pain in and around the joint on either side of the jaw bone—second only to back disorders as a source of chronic pain.