Return to flip book view
Message 1 Providence Research Monthly Newsletter May 2025
2 Dr. Darryl Knight, President, Providence Research May 29, 2025 Ah, the sights and sounds of spring. For me, that is a manicured fairway stretching out under a clear blue sky, inviting a perfect swing - only to be disappointed, like the person swinging the club. In this very busy time of year, when we are all running hard, I hope everyone nds that place of joy and relaxation. This last month, I’ve been busy being interviewed and creating a couple of videos for the Clinical Support and Research Centre (CSRC) and the new Clinical Trials Unit at Mount Saint Joseph Hospital. In both, we shine the light on our progress and initiatives that will impact our research for decades to come. We will keep you informed on the timing of the videos’ release, when they will be posted on our website. I’m hoping many of you were able to attend the town halls we hosted this week. We created a series of town halls to illuminate and inform our Providence Research centres of the specic designs and plans to support each centre’s functionality and specic research requirements. Our design model throughout the building is based on the neighbourhood concept that many of you have now heard about. It is our aim to forge collaborations and connections that build bridges and relationships beyond the silos we now work in. The Phase 1 Clinical Trials Unit at Mount Saint Joseph Hospital (MSJH CTU) is now nearing completion. An ocial opening with the Minister of Health, the Hon. Josie Osborne and the Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, the Hon. Diana Gibson, will take place in early summer. The Unit has been selected as an approved site for our rst industry-sponsored trial, and we anticipate enrolling the rst healthy volunteers by late June or July. We continue to make signicant progress on the SIF application to the Ministry of Industry (previously ISED). The due diligence was paused during the election and has now recommenced. We remain optimistic that we will reach a term sheet and ultimately a Contribution agreement in the next few months. Finally, we are putting the nal touches on the Annual Report on Research Metrics for Fiscal year 2024-25. The early assessment of the research activity was impressive, and testament to the drive and hard work of the Providence Research community. So, an early congratulations to you all! Until next month, the beat goes on, - Darryl
3 BC RESURECT Awards: BC RESURECT Postdoctoral Fellow Michael Asamoah-Boaheng was awarded the 2024 Killam Postdoctoral Fellow Research Prize in recognition of his outstanding research and scholarly contributions at UBC. BC RESURECT Co-Director, Dr. Jim Christenson, is set to receive the 2025 King Charles III Coronation Medal for community service. CanSave Strategic Symposium 2025 In 2020, with a UBC Grant for Catalyzing Research Clusters, BC RESURECT expanded its scope by creating Canadians Saving Arrest Victims Everywhere (CanSAVE), a platform that brings together established, multidisciplinary Canadian investigators to collectively advance research and implementation strategies across the resuscitation landscape. CanSAVE is grounded in research programs with the most signicant potential to increase SCA survival and improve the quality of life after cardiac arrest across three critically interconnected themes: Recognition, Response, and Recovery from SCA. On April 23 and 24, 2025, in Vancouver, BC RESURECT hosted its second highly successful, in-person CanSAVE research strategy and planning meeting. The symposium was a 50 person, invitation-only event with activities designed to help CanSAVE research leads debate and explore critical questions in their research programs and receive feedback and insights from key international and national experts, knowledge users, and relevant stakeholders. Participants included CanSAVE leads and membership teams
4 (BC, AB, and ON), community members with lived experiences of sudden cardiac arrest, national and international experts (US, Denmark, and the UK), decision-makers, and policymakers from BC Emergency Health Services, Heart & Stroke, technology design, innovation experts, and industry representatives from Zoll Medical and Stryker. Research News and Publications The FRONTIER Trial, published in The Lancet –Field Randomization of NA-1 Treatment in Early Responders –is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-dose study initiated prehospital in the ambulance to evaluate the eectiveness of nerinetide in slowing or halting the damaging eects of stroke. Nerinetide, a drug not yet approved for clinical use, slows the process of neuronal cell death during ischemia caused by the stroke while denitive care is underway. Led by Dr. Christenson, the study was funded by Brain Canada and NoNO Inc. Exploratory analyses strongly suggest that neurologic function outcomes improved in patients with ischemic stroke, especially those who received reperfusion therapy through thrombolytics or endovascular thrombectomy. The trial also demonstrated the feasibility of paramedics delivering the drug during clinical care and its overall safety. An associated publication, in Lancet Neurology, was a meta-analysis combining two other clinical trials. This study extends the evidence for the eect of Nerinetide when administered within 3 hours of symptom onset. A further Phase 3 international pivotal trial is underway at the University of Calgary to extend the learnings from the FRONTIER, ESCAPE-NA1, and ESCAPE-NEXT trials, aiming to denitively prove the benet and, if proven, lead to approval for clinical use. CMAJ Publication - Optimizing the Placement of Naloxone Kits to Save the Most Lives BC RESURECT Co-directors Dr. Brian Grunau and Dr. Jim Christenson collaborated with University of Toronto researcher Timothy Chan on a modelling study, which showed that placing naloxone kits in transit stations could help ensure that these potentially life-saving tools are available where they are needed the most. BC RESURECT publications can be found here. BC RESURECT is a collaboration of clinicians, scientists, BC Emergency Health Services, BC Fire Department First Responders, and Health Authorities in BC focused on improving survival from sudden cardiac arrest through clinical trials, observational studies, surveillance, quality improvement initiatives, knowledge generation, and knowledge implementation.
5 Recent media appearances Angela Russolillo, director of mental health clinical research, recently co-authored an op-ed in the print edition of the Vancouver SunMore involuntary admissions wont x mental health crisispublished May 8. She was also quoted in a May 18 Globe and Mail article by Mike Hager and Kathryn Blaze Baum, B.C. does not know how many people are on extended leave from involuntary hospital staysShe was invited to appear on the Jill Bennett Show on May 20 to elaborate on those comments. Lived experience–led funding and priority-setting event On May 8, the Psychiatry Research Program held its inaugural funding and priority-setting event involving its recently formed Lived Experience Research Advisory Committee (LERAC). We invited researchers within PHCs Mental Health Program and Department of Psychiatry to apply for research funding and present their proposals to LERAC members, who evaluated the presentations and proposals using a rubric and will be involved in making the nal funding decisions. We received proposals from individual researchers or research teams on topics including late-life depression, trauma education and support, meal support during eating disorder treatment, and virtual care for perinatal depression and anxiety, among others. This unique event puts decision-making power in the hands of people with lived and living experience and reinforces our commitment to lived experience engagement. After the proposal presentations, the agenda shifted to an open discussion, where lived experience experts and mental health researchers could exchange ideas about research priorities and lived experience concerns in research activities. We hope to make this rich and fruitful gathering an annual event. The funding for the research and the LERACs activities is provided by a generous donor to St. Pauls Foundation. Research Education Series On Monday, June 16, noon–pm, Rachelle Pullmer will be presenting her work at the Spring 2025 webinar of the Psychiatry Research Programs quarterly Research Education Series. Dr. Pullmers talk, Beyond the scale: Challenging weight-centric healthcare and advancing inclusive research,will focus on initiatives within the Provincial Adult Tertiary Eating Disorders Program aimed at preventing weight-based harm in healthcare and integrating a weight-inclusive approach. She will discuss weight-centric versus weight-inclusive
6 frameworks in healthcare through the lens of empirical research and health outcomes, as well as research initiatives addressing weight bias in healthcare. Everyone is welcome to attend. Email Research Coordinator Iva Cheung at icheung3@providencehealth.bc.ca for more information or to request the Zoom link for the session. The quarterly Research Education Series is a self-approved group learning activity (Section 1) as dened by the Maintenance of Certication Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Enhancing resources for family members of adults with eating disorders Family members play a vital role in the recovery of individuals with eating disorders. While evidence-based guidelines exist for supporting youth, there is limited guidance for families of adult patients. The Provincial Adult Tertiary and Specialized Program for Eating Disorders (PATSED) is addressing this knowledge gap through three recent initiatives: 1. Publication on parents’ experiences supporting a loved one Dr. Josie Geller, and colleagues Avarna Fernandes, Dr. Sheila Marshall, and Dr. Suja Srikameswaran recently published an article in the Journal of Eating Disorders. This study demonstrated a shift in parentsapproach from having an aspiration to x the eating disorder to prioritizing an unrelenting connection with their loved one. This process involves developing key skills of (i) managing reactions and expectations, (ii) learning boundaries, and (iii) practicing validation. 2. New study on supporting loved ones PATSED is currently recruiting participants for a study focused on supporting family members, partners and friends of individuals with eating disorders. This project aims to understand factors that contribute to family memberswell-being and support style. Participants will complete a 15-20 min condential online questionnaire and receive a $10 gift card. Inclusion criteria are: • Aged 19+ • Have a loved one (child, partner or friend) currently receiving treatment for an eating disorder (Anorexia, Bulimia, or OSFED) • You can learn more about the study here. 3. Family Member Video Project The PATSED team is producing a new training video featuring family members who have supported a loved one through recovery. These videos will oer insights and practical guidance, and will be used for educational and teaching purposes for family members of PATSED patients and clinical sta in treatment centers across BC. PATSED team member awarded PHC Volunteer Resources Scholarship Raunik Sahota, a volunteer research assistant
7 with St. Pauls Hospitals PATSED program, has been awarded this years Providence Health Care Volunteer Resources Scholarship. Raunik is an advocate for people suering from eating disorders and is a valued member of the PATSED research team. See the full article here. LLDOPA study currently recruiting participants Nicholas Ainsworth is recruiting participants for the LLDOPA study, which seeks to understand whether L-DOPA, a medication commonly used to treat Parkinsons disease, could help with the movement and cognitive symptoms sometimes associated with depression in later life. This study will also examine how many participants can complete the 2-week L-DOPA challenge and what kinds of side eects they experience. Dr. Ainsworth seeks participants who meet these eligibility criteria: • Are age 60 years or older • Have symptoms of major depressive disorder • Can walk independently without a cane or walker • Live in the Lower Mainland Please share this opportunity widely! For more information, contact research coordinator Iva Cheung (icheung3@providencehealth.bc.ca). Care for CCD study currently recruiting participants Angela Russolillo is recruiting participants for the Care for CCD study to better understand how people with both a mental illness and a substance use disorder have experienced receiving health services. The study involves completing questionnaires and an initial interview (90 minutes) and follow-up interviews –minutes) every 6 months for 3 years. Dr. Russolillo and her team are seeking participants who meet these eligibility criteria: • Are age –years • Have both a mental illness and a substance use disorder • Were hospitalized within the past 6 months. Please circulate this opportunity! Contact the study team for more information.
8 Research Program PHC Department of Anesthesiology Research Group hosted the departmental Grand Rounds on May 21st, 2025. Speakers and topics included: Dr. Trina Montemurro, Physician Consultant Lead of the Quality Pillar Advisory Committee co-hosted the 5th annual Celebrating Quality Improvement show-case May 21, 2025. Dr. Janny Xue Chen Ke and Dr. Anton Chau published a systematic review in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology with a sample size of 246,521,464 patients! Neuroanaesthesia Symposium 2025 Excellence Through Synergy Dr. Alana Flexman also spoke at the Neuroanesthesia Symposium in Sabah, Malaysia, giving 2 talks: • Value-Based Care in Neuroanaesthesia Practice: The Time Has Come • Frailty and the Neurosurgical Patient: Where Do We Go from Here?
9 Annual Scientic Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and Faculty of Pain Medicine in Cairns, Australia. Dr. Alana Flexman presented as an invited Keynote Speaker at the 2025 Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. She gave several talks throughout the conference, including: • Surgery at sunset: Optimising value for an aging surgical population • ERAS as a value-based care intervention • Perioperative stroke • Diversity, equity and inclusion Dr. Alana Flexman was a guest for an episode of TopMedTalk podcast about Unconscious bias, bullying, harassment, and discrimination. Listen to the episode here. See Dr. Flexman’s interview in Australia speaking about patient reported outcomes, frailty and delirium perioperatively. A randomized trial for the PRevention Of delirium afTer cardiac Surgery with LemborEXant: A Pilot Study An Investigator-Initiated, Industry sponsored study randomizing cardiac surgery patients to receive Lemborexant (DayVigo) or placebo daily for 1 week after surgery. The primary objectives of the trial are to assess feasibility. Secondarily, we are looking at delirium metrics and other health outcomes. Principal Investigator: Dr. Ron Ree Co-Investigators: Dr. Terri Sun, Dr. Alana Flexman and PharmD Erica Wang NEW STUDY Started! New QUALITY IMPROVEMENT Project Started! Carbon Pulse (PI: Dr. Raja Rajamohan, Lead Resident: Dr. Stephanie Alexis) Greenhouse gas emissions of TIVA vs. inhalational anesthesia during cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass This Quality Improvement Initiative has received funding from two sources. The investigators are hypothesize that The use of TIVA for cardiac surgery on CPB reduces GHG emissions compared to volatile. Research Assistant (Pieter Swart) is collecting, sorting and weighing disposables and waste produced from both types of anesthetic techniques in these open-heart surgeries. Coming Soon: Clinician Feedback and Evaluation of Mindful Garden Devices in Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit (CSICU) Dr. Alana Flexman will be conduct-ing a Quality Improvement Evaluation to gather feed-back from clinicians in the CSICU about their experi-ences using the Mindful Garden device. This novel de-vice was developed to provide nature-driven respon-sive imagery with an adaptive biofeedback platform that responds to the patient's physiological to distract, engage, and de-escalate behaviours that lead to ad-ministration of pharmacologic interventions to treat delirium.
10 • Chen BT, Song WHC, Chau A, MacDonell SY. The magnitude and impact of noise on patient care in a tertiary postanesthesia care unit: an observational study and survey of nursing perspectives. Can J Anaesth. 2025 May 20. Epub ahead of print. • Moores C, Maguire D, Fruci VP, Jen TTH. Regional anesthesia use as a bridge to the provision of medical assistance in dying. Can J Anaesth. 2025 May 2. doi: 10.1007/s12630-025-02956-w. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40314872. • Farmer, J.R., Sutherland, J.M., Field, T.S., Schwarz,S.K.W., Flexman, A.M.(April 09, 2025). Outcomes Following Perioperative Stroke in Cardiac Surgery Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia, In Press • Saulnier L, Chau A, Crowell P, Bright S, Massey S. Obstetric quality of recovery: A weak surrogate measure of psychological distress and psychological wellness for cesarean delivery parturients—A prospective observational study. Journal of Health Psychology. (2025); In Press • Chau, A., Tsen, L. C. (2025). Neuraxial initiation techniques for labor analgesia: Comparative insights on standard epidural, combined spinal-epidural and dural puncture epidural analgesia. Current Opinion in Anesthesiology 10.1097/ACO.0000000000001487, March 25, 2025. • Chau, A., Sharrock, A., Vidler, M., Barrera, J. (2005). Duration of urinary catheterization following cesarean deliveries under neuraxial anesthesia: a prospective cohort study. Protocol Publication. • Yen, P., Sun, T., Farmer, J., Besola, L., Cheung, A., Peng, D., Chiu, W., Bashir, J., Johnston, D., Field, T., & Flexman, A. (2025). Perioperative stroke following implantation of left ventricular assist device: A retrospective cohort study. Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia, 39(2), 470-478. Recent Publications Department members in bold font
11 NEW CLINICAL RESOURCES FROM BC CENTRE ON SUBSTANCE USE Benzodiazepines: Best Practices in Primary Care Bulletin The BCCSU has published Benzodiazepines: Best Practices in Primary Care Bulletin. This clinical resource provides best practices for benzodiazepine prescribing in primary care, including indications for prescribing, when to oer and optimize non-pharmacologic rst-line treatments, potential risks associated with long-term prescribing, and when de-prescribing may be appropriate. The supplementary and summary materials are intended to support the use of this bulletin by oering concise, practical summaries and tools for use at point-of-care. View the resources here. New: Interim Clinical Resource Transition to Witnessed Dosing for Prescribed Alternatives On February 19, 2025, the Province of BC announced changes to the prescribed alternatives policy, which now requires all prescribed alternatives to be witnessed by health professionals. This requirement went into eect immediately for all new clients only. To support the safe transitions of existing clients from non-witnessed to witnessed doses, the BC Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU) has developed an Interim Clinical Resource Transition to Witnessed Dosing for Prescribed Alternatives. This resource was approved by the Ministry of Health for implementation into clinical practice on April 29, 2025. All clinical resources related to prescribed alternatives can be found here.
12 BCCSU RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT Check on the latest proles of research at BCCSU made possible by partnerships with Health Research BC: New hope for people with stimulant use disorder Nearly 80% of overdose deaths in BC involve stimulants. Thats why BCCSU co-medical director Dr. Paxton Bach is leading research to explore new treatments for people living with methamphetamine use disorder. Read more about his research here. Science over stigma: ARYS drives change for youth battling substance use The At-Risk Youth Study began in 2005 to evaluate existing programs and services for street-involved youth who use unregulated drugs. For over nearly two decades, the study has enrolled more than 1,000 young participants with lived experience and connected with them on an ongoing basis through study interviews. Read more about ARYS here.
13 BC-CfE researchers present at CAHR 2025 Earlier this month, hundreds of HIV researchers and community members gathered in Halifax for the 34th Canadian Conference on HIV/AIDS Research (CAHR 2025), Canadas foremost conference on HIV/AIDS. The BC-CfE was well-represented with over two dozen researchers attending the conference, delivering 28 presentations spread out over four days. With a mix of early-stage and mid-career researchers from the BC-CfE, CAHR 2025 provided an opportunity not only to present their work on a wide range of topics including HIV, hepatitis, substance use, and bacterial STIs, but to attend New Investigator workshops and build relationships with research & community members from across Canada. As the HIV epidemic varies widely from province to province, CAHR provides invaluable context into the situation outside BC, strengthening each researchers knowledge base and in turn their work going forward. For those who followed along on social media, our team shared a small insight into the high impact work presented through oral and poster presentations, you can check out the daily recaps on our LinkedIn or Instagram pages. Our researchers returned from the conference inspired and ready to put what they learned into action, as they continue to pursue research excellence in HIV and the syndemic conditions that impact those living with HIV. Missed any of the 2024/2025 BC-CfE Learning Series? Catch previous lectures online.
14 With last months Optimizing Preventive Care: A Checklist for Aging Well with HIVthe 2024/2025 BC-CfE Learning Series ocially concludes for the summer (though, there is still time to register for Junes BC-CfE Update). With a wide range of topics covered in the last season, this summer break is a great opportunity to visit our recordings page to check out any videos you may have missed or topics pertinent to your work. Visit https://bccfe.ca/videos/ to check out the full catalog of videos from this past season and beyond! The Learning Series will return in the Fall with a new slate of speakers and topics. If you werent able to attend last seasons series or provided feedback, you can always subscribe to the emails at https://bccfe.ca/subscribe or send suggestions to education@bccfe.ca. Five Things to Know About...Doxycycline PEP to prevent bSTIs This months issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) (Volume 197,Issue 19) featured advice from the BC-CfE on the emerging use of doxycycline postexposure for the prevention of bacterials STIs (bSTIs). In the Practice section, Drs. Junine Toy, Peter Phillips, Julio Montaner, & Victor Leung shared Five Things to Know Aboutdoxycycline postexposure prophylaxis to prevent bSTIs. In November 2023, the BC-CfE supported by the BC Government, launched a DoxyPEP program that would make the preventative medicine available at no-cost to eligible people within the PrEP and Drug Treatment Programs to prevent bSTIs. To learn more about this program and eligibility visit https://bccfe.ca/doxycycline-for-bacterial-sexually-transmitted-infection-b-sti-prevention/.
15 Celebrating Mentorship and Research Excellence: Dr. Tillie Hackett Wins Killam Teaching Prize Congratulations to Dr. Tillie Hackett, lung health researcher and UBC Faculty of Medicine Professor, on receiving a 2025 Killam Teaching Prize. The award recognizes her ongoing dedication to inclusive teaching, mentorship, and research leadership at HLI and elsewhere at UBC. Each year, the Killam Teaching Prize honours faculty who go above and beyond to support students and foster learning. Nominated by peers, students, and alumni, Dr. Hacketts recognition reects the deep impact she has had on the HLI community and beyond. Read more about Dr. Hacketts mentorship approach here. Science, Sushi, and Stories: HLI Alumni Night 2025 On May 1, HLI welcomed back ve former trainees for Alumni Night 2025: an evening of stories, mentorship, and connections. Hosted by the Trainee Association at HLI (TAHLI) and its Mentorship Committee, the event was attended by 36 participants who listened and asked questions to the panel of alumni. Panelists Drs. Tillie Hackett, Dorota Stefanowicz, Kauna Usman, Kang Dong, and Joshua Dubland shared honest reections about their careers in academia, industry, and research. From detours in career paths to dening moments, the night oered meaningful insights into the many ways a career in science can unfold. Catch the highlights here. Inspiring Future Scientists: HLI’s First High School Science Week of 2025 From April 28 to May 2, HLI hosted its rst High School Student Science Week (HSSW) of the year. Grade 11 and 12 students from across the Lower Mainland visited our labs to explore, hands-on, techniques in molecular biology, histology, and biobanking. Students had the unique opportunity to examine preserved heart and lung tissues at the Bruce McManus Cardiovascular Biobank and James Hogg Lung Biobank. They also learned how to use microtomes and prepare paran-embedded tissue samples for microscopic examination. Since 1977, HLI has oered learning experiences that connect youth with real-world research, sparking curiosity and building mentorship across generations. Read our story here.
16 BC-CfE study shows growing gap in life expectancy between men and women with HIV While life expectancy for all people living with HIV in B.C. has increased substantially since 1996, a study from the BC-CfE has found that this increase is notably smaller for women than men. Read more. KidneyLink from Can-SOLVE oers opportunity to connect with patients Looking to reach diverse and engaged patient partners for your kidney research? Post your study on KidneyLink.ca —a national platform that makes patient engagement easy, meaningful, and impactful. Submit your study today. Join the CSRC Project Team at the Interior Design & Virtual Reality Open House Step inside the future Clinical Support and Research Centre (CSRC) through an immersive 360° virtual reality walkthrough and a sneak peek at proposed interior design concepts! Date: Tuesday, June 17 Time: 9:00 AM –PM (45-minute timeslots) Location: Comox Oce This is your chance to explore the evolving design of our future research spaces, and get your questions answered by members of the Project Team. Spots are limited to keep sessions interactive, so be sure to RSVP early. Click here to book your timeslot Not sure where the Comox oce is? A map will be attached to your calendar invite once you book. Interested in learning more about the CSRC? View the recording of the CSRC Project Updates & Gap Planning Town Hall here.
That’s all for now. Thank you for reading, we will see you next month. A place where patient-centered research is driven by social justice, and redenes better health and care globally. Learn more at providenceresearch.ca We acknowledge with gratitude that we live and work on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Website: https://www.providenceresearch.ca/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/providence-research Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/providence_research/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/prole/providenceresearch.bsky.social Mailing Address: Providence Research 10th Floor, 1190 Hornby Street, This ipbook was made using Simplebooklet, a Canadian company based in Vancouver, BC.