Our research partners, scientists and clinicians are working closely together to discover new technologies, medications, surgical techniques and healthcare processes. These innovations provide us with the tools and resources to increase our level of excellence in healthcare. Here are some of the innovation projects we are involved with.

Brain Imaging

The National Research Council’s Institute for Bio-diagnostics (Atlantic) is leading the way to next-generation brain imaging. Led by Dr. Ryan D’Arcy, researchers at Capital Health and the IWK are pioneering new ways to capture dynamic images of the brain at work. Some of our brightest minds are working on virtual simulators to allow surgeons to practice sensitive operations before the real surgery and scanning devices to provide high-resolution images of individual neurons in the eye. We are also working with the NRC to develop new techniques for mapping the functional areas of the brain, diagnosing brain disorders, and testing experimental treatments.

Drug Development

This past year Dr. Don Weaver, a Capital Health neurologist and a chemist and several colleagues launched Treventis Corporation to develop and commercialize an entirely new treatment for Alzheimer disease. While available therapies slow down Alzheimer’s progression at best, the Treventis scientists are shooting for compounds that will actually improve patients’ cognitive function. Using computers, Dr. Weaver and his team are able to design and rapidly test millions of compounds against 3-D models of the Alzheimer receptors in ‘virtual experiments.

Clinical Trials

Heart attacks leave lasting scars. In some patients, these scars disrupt the flow of electricity through the heart in a dangerous arrhythmia known as ventricular tachycardia (VT). VANISH is a clinical trial out of Capital Health comparing the effectiveness of a procedure known as catheter ablation to more-intensive-than-usual drug therapy. The five-hour procedure involves inserting tiny wires into the heart via blood vessels in the leg and sending enough energy through the wires to cauterize short circuits in the heart’s electrical system. Ablation is an invasive procedure carrying some serious risks. However, the best drugs for regulating heart rhythm don’t always work and at the high doses often needed may damage the lungs, liver, skin and thyroid.

Cancer Research

Currently, overall cure rates for lung cancer are less than 15 per cent, because the disease is so rarely detected in the early stages. If picked up early, lung cancer is curable 80 to 90 per cent of the time. Dr. Michael Johnston, a Capital Health thoracic surgeon, is heading the Nova Scotia arm of a cross-Canada study for earlier lung cancer detection. Participants are screened and then rechecked regularly for at least two years if anything suspicious is found. So far, the investigators have found and removed early-stage cancers in 50 people and are conducting further investigations on many more with suspected tumours.

Tissue Engineering

Dr. Bill Stanish, an orthopedic surgeon at Capital Health is the principal investigator for an international study on regenerating cartilage using a treatment derived from shellfish. The treatment uses chitin, the substance that gives structure to the shells of crustaceans like lobster and shrimp. A surgeon drills tiny holes in the bone and put a gel made from a mixture of the patients blood and powdered chitin with an eyedropper. The implications could be far reaching. If patients with early-stage knee osteoarthritis are able to receive the treatment, it could keep them pain free and mobile much longer and perhaps even prevent joint replacement surgery altogether.

Rehabilitation

Clinical neuropsychologist Dr. Gail Eskes and others are exploring a new form of rehabilitation for stroke victims. Using customized computer games as a form of intensive, targeted ‘brain training,’ Dr. Eskes is helping people regain their ability to pay attention after a stroke. The exercises do not directly improve all cognitive abilities, however they can make a marked difference in paying attention which is the first step in retaining information, a pivotal skill in many other tasks of daily living. The system can also be customized to each individual’s unique cognitive needs to help them regain much of their personal freedom.

End of Life Research

In the next few decades, Canada’s baby-boomers will be senior citizens needing more advanced healthcare. Couple that with the increasing numbers of terminally ill of younger people, whose obesity, inactivity and smoking-related illnesses will require end-of-life care and you have a healthcare system which threatens to collapse under the strain. Dr. Grace Johnston and co-principal investigator Dr. Fred Burge have created the Network for End-of-Life Studies (NELS) to address some of these important issues involving end-of-life care. The NELS is conducting studies to examine administrative data to monitor end-of-life care in the province along with issues including how medications should best be used at end-of-life. The goal is to ensure that the knowledge and systems are in place to allow people to die with as much dignity, and as little pain and distress, as possible.

COPD Outreach

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease generally follows a long trajectory of slowly increasing suffering and disability. People with COPD often end up housebound and unable to access primary care as they cope with ongoing exhaustion, shortness of breath, and recurrent chest infections that typically land them in the emergency room. Respirologist Dr. Graeme Rocker and his research team are currently working on constructing new ways of caring for patients suffering from (COPD) through a program called INSPIRED (Implementing a Novel and Supportive outreach Program of Individualized care for patients and families living with Respiratory Disease). The program helps patients and family members recognize the early signs and symptoms of an impending exacerbation and develop a plan so they know exactly who to call and what to do when their warning signs appear. Through COPD-outreach programs like INSPIRED, other jurisdictions in Canada have reduced COPD related hospital admissions and lengths of stay by 40 to 55 per cent. The savings add up quickly, to the tune of $2 million.

For more information check out our Discovery and Innovation Annual Report