Natural killer cells could be immunotherapy game changer
Scientists have known that key molecules on cancer cells suppress the immune T-cells and prevent them from attacking the cancer. Dr. Ardolino discovers other immune cells, called killer cells, that could offer more immunotherapy treatment options.
Category: World-Leading Research
Although the connection between the immune system and cancer has been recognized for over a century, understanding how the immune system works against cancer has been the biggest challenge for scientists like Dr. Michele Ardolino.
Initially, efforts were made to stimulate the immune system to make it attack the cancer. But the game changer was the discovery that there are key molecules, called immune checkpoints, on cancer cells that suppress the immune cells and prevent them from attacking the cancer. There are many types of immune cells. T-cells have been recognized as key immune cells and the ones that immunotherapy drugs have been designed to target.
Dr. Michele Ardolino’s discovery focused on ‘natural killer’ immune cells.
“What we didn’t know before is that some of these receptors are present in other immune cells,” said Dr. Michele Ardolino, scientist at The Ottawa Hospital and assistant professor at the University of Ottawa. “What we discovered is that these receptors are present on another type of immune cell called natural killer cells.”
He said that even though most of the immunotherapy drugs target the T-cells to make them work better, not all cancer tumours are responsive to T-cells.
“But,” said Dr. Ardolino, “These tumours might be very effectively killed by natural killer cells. So, if we know what kind of tumour the patient has, we can design therapies to elicit the most effective immune response. Which in some cases could be a T-cell response and in other cases could be a natural killer response.”
“We now have a better idea of how the immune system suppresses cancer. This means that we can now target the mechanism that suppresses the immune system in a more specific way.”
“This is cool for a number of reasons,” said Dr. Ardolino. “We now have a better idea of how the immune system suppresses cancer. This means that we can now target the mechanism that suppresses the immune system in a more specific way. And we can elicit a stronger natural killer cell response against cancer.”
It is becoming widely recognized that not only is cancer unique to each patient, but the immune system is also unique to each person. Researchers and clinicians are realizing the importance of tailoring the immunotherapy not only to each person’s cancer but to their own unique immune system. It is a complex problem to give a drug that would have maximum therapeutic effect with the least side effects, to be as targeted as possible.
Dr. Ardolino recently published a breakthrough discovery that has potential to make immunotherapy treatments to work for more people, and more types of cancers.
In October 2018, immunologists James Allison and Tasuku Honjo were awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for their discoveries of immune checkpoint inhibitors, considered a landmark in the fight against cancer.
The Ottawa Hospital is a leading academic health, research, and learning hospital proudly affiliated with the University of Ottawa.
Categories: Cancer, Cancer, Immunotherapy
A strange thing happened before John Chafe started working in Kenora in 1993. His eyes crossed. He didn’t know it at the time, but it was the first sign of a debilitating disease that would change the course of his life forever.
His family doctor told him he had the flu and prescribed antibiotics. But after a week, when his eyes remained crossed, he bought an eye patch and drove five hours from Thunder Bay to fill the temporary posting at a bank in Kenora. A week later, his eyes straightened and returned to normal. But then other symptoms started appearing, he was losing his balance and couldn’t walk in a straight line.
“I then started have difficulties walking straight. I completely failed a simple balance beam experiment at the Ontario Science Centre,” said John. “I mentioned these symptoms to a friend, who mentioned them to a friend, who fortunately happened to be Dr. Heather MacLean, a neurologist at The Ottawa Hospital.”
To Dr. MacLean, John’s symptoms sounded like multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system attacks its own central nervous system, brain, and spinal cord. John needed an MRI and spinal tap to properly diagnose his symptoms. The results were analyzed by Dr. Mark Freedman, Director, Multiple Sclerosis Research Unit, Neurology, who confirmed his diagnosis. John had an aggressive form of multiple sclerosis.
John Chafe skiing at Blackcomb just after diagnosis in 1994.
A different life after MS diagnosis
Incredibly interested in rock climbing and skiing, John didn’t give up his active lifestyle after his diagnosis, despite the fact that he was experiencing MS exacerbations – an attack that causes new MS symptoms, or worsens old symptoms – every eight months. He returned to Thunder Bay and opened a rock-climbing gym, thinking, “MS is not going to affect me.”
But it did. It completely sidetracked his life.
After suffering another MS exacerbation, John realized it was becoming more difficult for him to get out to see clients for financial planning sessions.
“I was stumbling along and thought, ‘How can I ask them to trust me with their money?’ My MS was getting worse and worse,” said John. “I needed a desk job, so I went into computer programming.”
His treatments weren’t helping. He needed a miracle. So he moved to Ottawa to be close to The Ottawa Hospital where we could receive the very best treatment.
Leading-edge clinical trial in Ottawa
Dr. Harold Atkins and Dr. Mark Freedman conducted an innovative stem cell treatment for MS that has halted the disease in over 50 patients
One day, John heard Dr. Freedman on the radio talking about an innovative stem cell transplant study that he described as akin to pressing reboot on the immune system. Dr. Freedman was working with hematologist and scientist Dr. Harold Atkins, a professor of medicine at University of Ottawa, to see if a groundbreaking treatment would halt an aggressive form of MS.
When John met with Dr. Freedman, he told him he was interested in participating in this new study. Dr. Freedman agreed he might be a good candidate because he was young, generally healthy, and his symptoms were quickly getting worse.
“If you saw his trajectory, how fast he was becoming disabled going into the transplant. He should’ve been completely wheelchair bound, or worse, within two to three years,” said Dr Freedman.
John was willing to try an experimental treatment that had the potential to change that trajectory. “MS robbed me of my ability to climb, ski, and walk. I said, ‘I’m going to take a chance.’”
“John was very enthusiastic. That was a very important facet of his recovery,” said Dr. Freedman. “John has never been a quitter. He’s a stubborn guy. His goal was someday to end up on the ski hill again.”
Preparing for treatment
For almost a year, John underwent the exhaustive testing by Dr. Atkins and Marjorie Bowman, the bone marrow transplant nurse, to see if he was physically and mentally suitable for the clinical trial. They wanted to ensure he was prepared to go through the intensive trial treatment and accept the risks, which included death.
“This is fundamentally different than every other treatment,” said Dr. Atkins. “What we’re doing is getting rid of the old immune system and creating a new one that behaves more appropriately.”
“MS robbed me of my ability to climb, ski, and walk. I said ‘I’m going to take a chance.’”
— John Chafe
Replacing his immune system was a rigorous procedure. John would undergo intensive chemotherapy to help eliminate his immune system. In November 2001, he was given a dose of chemotherapy to stimulate and move his stem cells into his blood stream. These stem cells were then collected and cleansed of any traces of MS.
A month later, John was given huge doses of chemo in an attempt to destroy his immune system and started getting weaker and weaker. On December 13, 2001, after the chemo had wiped out his immune system, John had the cleansed stem cells re-infused by an intravenous drip.
“I didn’t feel better immediately,” said John, who was only the second patient in the world to undergo a stem-cell transplant of this kind for multiple sclerosis. “But I started getting stronger in the days following, so much so that Dr. Atkins released me on Christmas Eve.” He spent three months living with his parents while he recuperated. By spring, he was ready to move back into his own home again.
John Chafe rock climbing outside Thunder Bay in 1994 after his MS diagnosis.
Groundbreaking research in Ottawa
Dr. Freedman said that he and Dr. Atkins had anticipated that by rebooting MS patients’ immune systems, they fully expected the disease was going to restart.
“At that time, genetic researchers said, ‘If people are genetically prone to develop MS, there’s nothing you can do to stop it. They’re going to keep redeveloping MS,’” said Dr. Freedman. “If that was true, it would be a matter of time before people started having active disease again.”
Dr. Freedman explained that nobody knows what causes MS. He and Dr. Harold Atkins hoped that through the trial they could reboot a patient’s immune system and monitor it with all the latest immune system monitoring and imaging technology, and then watch as the disease restarted and discover the secret of what triggers MS. However, none of the 24 patients in the trial developed new symptoms of MS again.
“In that respect, the trial was a failure. It halted their disease and in some cases their disabilities went away too,” said Dr. Freedman. “We’ve followed these patients for 18 years, and nobody’s developed anything.”
“Those patients at the beginning, like John, are probably the bravest because there were more unknowns about the treatment,” said Dr. Atkins. “Each patient we’ve treated over the years has taught us something, but we learned more from the early patients at that time.”
A second chance at life
Prior to his stem cell transplant, John had a final exacerbation, which crippled him. After the transplant, his MS did not return. John remained healthy, but the damage caused by the disease wasn’t reversed and he still walks using a cane and walker.
“You almost wonder what would’ve happened to John if he’d had the transplant five years earlier,” said Dr. Freedman. “Today, when we see a patient that has the same profile as John’s, we offer them the stem cell treatment. We’re not waiting years. We’ve become more savvy, able to pick out individuals who warrant this aggressive approach.”
About 77,000 Canadians live with MS. However, only five percent of patients with MS warrant a stem cell transplant. They are generally young and have the most aggressive and debilitating forms of the disease.
After his transplant, nothing was going to hold John back. Three years later, he met Patricia, and they married in 2005. Five years later, his beautiful daughter Mary was born.
John Chafe with his daughter Mary and wife Patricia in 2013.
“I recall that as Mary started moving more, she motivated me to get more active again. She became my personal trainer,” said John. “I joined the Canadian Association of Disabled Skiing. I was terrible at first because I didn’t have the strength. But I’m stubborn and refused to give up, and today I can ski independently for hours – albeit with outriggers for balance.”
“I saw John a few years ago. The problem with this business is patients get better and so I don’t see them much afterwards,” said Dr. Atkins. “I do remember him showing me pictures of his young baby, and pictures of him on the ski slope. It is exciting to hear that people can have these treatments and go skiing again.”
John Chafe, Mary and Patricia skiing at Edelweiss in 2016.
“I’m not a bank president, but my life is better than incredible. I ski, I dance with my wife, and have an nine-year-old daughter. Because Dr. Freedman and Dr. Atkins were persistent about finding the answers to stop a disease like MS, they saved my life.”
— John Chafe
The following video focuses on Jennifer Molson who was also one of the early patients on the MS clinical trial, and includes interviews with Drs. Atkins and Freedman.
The Ottawa Hospital is a leading academic health, research, and learning hospital proudly affiliated with the University of Ottawa.
Categories: Clinical Trials
Imagine not being able to control a trembling in your hands and limbs, the inability to speak loudly, losing your sense of smell, dealing with unexplained pains. Unfortunately, these are just a few of the symptoms affecting Parkinson’s disease patients every day.
More than 100,000 Canadians live with Parkinson’s, including 8,000 here in Ottawa. Parkinson’s is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that primarily affects voluntary, controlled movement. The exact cause of the disease is unknown. Discovered almost 200 years ago, there is still no cure or proven treatment available to slow its relentless progression. People can develop Parkinson’s disease at any time in their life.
“Our society will be faced with many more patients with Parkinson’s over the decades to come. In many ways Parkinson’s is complicated and also complex. I strongly believe that although it’s complex and complicated, we can solve that riddle. We have the expertise in Canada to make a major contribution to a cure for this disease.”
– Dr. Michael Schlossmacher, Senior Scientist, The Ottawa Hospital Canada Research Chair in Parkinson Disease and Translational Neuroscience
Partners Investing in Parkinson Research (PIPR)
In 2009, a group of investment advisors from the Ottawa financial community formed Partners Investing in Parkinson Research (PIPR). The group set an original goal of raising $500,000 in support of research to better understand and diagnose Parkinson’s. Since then, PIPR has expanded to include many individuals and families affected by Parkinson’s who are committed to supporting research, and has raised over $1.7 million.
PIPR has provided important base funding to the scientists, allowing them to leverage further grants. The advancements have been impressive. PIPR has not only helped to fund research for the treatment and cure of Parkinson’s disease, it has galvanized the community to support the cause that previously received little attention. Above all, the PIPR team has given hope to those who live with this unremitting disease.
“Parkinson’s Disease had already been part of our lives for over 20 years, so how could we not get involved? Raising funds for research was the obvious action, but fundraising at first seemed daunting. We soon learned that our family, friends, neighbours, and colleagues all wanted to help – they just needed to be asked. But our group has become more than fundraising – we have become an extended family, supporting each other as we faced many of the same challenges dealing with this disease as well as sharing all of the same fears and hopes.”
– Bobbie Driscoll, PIPR co-founder
PIPR is always open to new members and encourages anyone interested to join!
Learn more about PIPR and hear about some of the exciting research advancements on Episode 34 of Pulse, featuring Dr. Julianna Tomlinson and Kim Teron.
Parkinson Research at The Ottawa Hospital
Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa came together in 2004 to form the Parkinson Research Consortium under the leadership of Dr. David Grimes and Dr. Michael Schlossmacher. The consortium brings together clinicians and scientists from various disciplines to improve our understanding of Parkinson’s disease, conduct novel and innovative research, and develop new treatment options, with the ultimate goal of developing a cure.
Developments in understanding how genes contribute to onset and progression of the disease.
Development of innovative therapeutic strategies including targeted gene therapy.
Development of an experimental spinal fluid test to improved diagnosis.
Discovery of a new genetic mutation that makes some people more susceptible to this disease.
Development of a new mouse model that mimics a familial form of early on-set Parkinson’s disease.
Publication of Canada’s first Parkinson’s care guidelines.
Support Parkinson Research
Support ongoing research efforts by making a donation, or by calling 613-761-4295. For more information about the research or how to join the team, contact Graham Thompson, Manager, Philanthropy, at 613-798-5555, ext. 19818, or grthompson@toh.ca.
Published: February 2019 For an update on Stefany’s story, click here to see what Stefany is doing now.
A game-changing cancer treatment
Stefany Dupont’s leukemia symptoms have disappeared. Her cancer was put into complete remission by a revolutionary new treatment called CAR T-cell therapy. This emerging form of immunotherapy has the potential to transform how cancer patients are treated in Canada and around the world.
Daunting odds
Stefany was first diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) when she was just 13 years old. Children with leukemia are given a strict chemotherapy protocol that effectively cures more than 90 percent of patients. Unfortunately, this was not the case with Stefany.
She was in remission for five years but, in 2010, her leukemia came back. By then she was 18, an adult, and began receiving treatment at The Ottawa Hospital. In 2015, she received chemotherapy followed by a hematopoietic bone marrow stem cell transplant. She was on the mend until a year and a half later when she had another relapse. Adults with leukemia who relapse after a transplant have less than a 10 percent chance of survival.
“Stefany was unlucky enough to relapse within two years of her transplant,” said Dr. Jill Fulcher, Stefany’s doctor, who specializes in malignant hematology and is a clinician-investigator at The Ottawa Hospital. “But her leukemia came back with a blast and she was very sick. Palliative management was all we had to offer patients with ALL who relapsed so soon post-transplant.”
Hematologist Dr. Jill Fulcher confirms that Stefany Dupont is in remission over one year after her CAR T-cell therapy. Previously, Stefany was given a 10 to 20 percent chance of survival, pre-CAR T-cell treatment.
New hope
Dr. Fulcher and her colleague Dr. Natasha Kekre, a hematologist and associate scientist at The Ottawa Hospital, knew that clinical trials in the United States, using CAR T-cell immunotherapy, showed promising results in children and adolescents with leukemia and blood cancers, putting many into long-lasting remission.
For patients like Stefany who are extremely sick and out of options, CAR T-cell therapy offers new hope. That’s why Dr. Kekre is leading the charge to bring CAR T-cell immunotherapy to The Ottawa Hospital.
Giving Canadians access to leading-edge treatments
As one of Canada’s leading research and treatment centres, equipped with world-leading expertise, The Ottawa Hospital is ideally positioned to help bring this innovative treatment to Canada, and to Canadian patients. The Ottawa Hospital is one of the first hospitals in Canada to participate in internationally-led CAR-T trials, and the Hospital is now playing a lead role in a made-in-Canada CAR-T research program.
“Our goal is to build Canadian expertise and capacity for innovation in the promising CAR-T field through both laboratory research and clinical trials,” said Dr. Kekre, who is working with a team across the country. “This could lead to better CAR-T therapies that work for more kinds of cancer, as well as innovative approaches for providing CAR-T therapy in the Canadian system.”
From translational research to trial design to manufacturing, The Ottawa Hospital, alongside BC Cancer, is ideally positioned to shepherd this complex trial of an experimental therapy to our patients.
“It’s well recognized that Ottawa is a world leader in clinical trials and innovative trial designs,” said Dr. Manoj Lalu, associate scientist and anesthesiologist at The Ottawa Hospital who is part of the CAR-T team. “Many of the guidelines produced internationally around trial design and reporting originate from The Ottawa Hospital.”
Dr. Natasha Kekre is working with other hospitals across Canada to develop a “made-in-Canada” approach for CAR-T cancer therapy.
About CAR-T Therapy
CAR T-cell therapy harnesses the power of a patient’s own immune cells, known as T-cells, to treat their cancer. T-cells play a critical role in the immune system by killing abnormal cells, such as cells infected by germs or cancer cells. In some cancers, like acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), cancerous cells become invisible to the T-cells that are meant to kill them. In CAR-T therapy the T-cells are collected and reprogrammed in the lab to recognize and destroy the cancerous cells.
“This type of immunotherapy research is groundbreaking,” said Dr. Kekre, “but it is important to remember that CAR-T therapy is still very new and there can be serious side effects. We need more research to learn about this therapy and make it work for even more people.”
A well-deserved reprieve
CAR-T treatment was not yet available in Canada when Stefany needed it. So, her only option at the time was to try to join a CAR-T clinical trial at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Since the hospital’s clinical trial was still accepting patients with ALL up to 25 years of age, Stefany was eligible to participate.
Three months following Stefany’s CAR T-cell infusion in Philadelphia, she had a bone marrow biopsy that showed she was in remission — her treatment was working.
Three months after that, Stefany went on a well-deserved trip.
“After the sixth month waiting time, I went to Australia,” said Stefany. She visited Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, went scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef, and hang-gliding over the shores of Byron Bay. It was a wonderful break after the intensive treatment.
“It is a really good sign that Stefany has remained in remission for over 2 years after having CAR T-cell therapy,” said Dr. Fulcher. “Without this therapy, she definitely would not be with us today.”
Unique biotherapeutics facility
CAR-T therapy needs to be individually manufactured for each patient, using a patient’s own cells combined with large amounts of highly pure virus to deliver the CAR gene. The Ottawa Hospital’s Biotherapeutics Manufacturing Centre is ideally positioned to manufacture this kind of therapy because it has the most advanced system to make the clinical grade virus needed to create CAR T-cells for clinical trials. This is the only facility in Canada that has produced this kind of virus for clinical trials.
“With our unique manufacturing facility, our expertise in clinical trials and our world-class cancer and hematology programs, The Ottawa Hospital is ideally positioned to lead the way in developing the next generation of CAR-T therapy,” said Dr. Rebecca Auer, Director of Cancer Research at The Ottawa Hospital.
“The Ottawa Hospital is ideally positioned to lead the way in developing the next generation of CAR-T therapy.” – Dr. Rebecca Auer
“Patients with ALL, lymphoma, and other blood cancers could benefit from this experimental treatment,” said Dr. Kekre. The hope is that one day CAR T-cell therapy may also be a treatment for a variety of cancers, such as breast and colorectal cancer. It is through clinical trials conducted at The Ottawa Hospital that innovative cancer treatments will be discovered and will continue to offer hope to patients like Stephany.
Organizations such as BioCanRx, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, and the Government of Ontario have supported The Ottawa Hospital’s CAR-T research and the Biotherapeutics Manufacturing Centre, but additional funding is essential to make this program a reality.
January 2023 update:
It’s been a rollercoaster of a ride for Stefany in the last year. Since December 2021, she’s struggled with lung infections, which she developed as a result of being immunocompromised and because, since 2017, she has important scarring on her lung. Such scars are the result of what happened to her while she was on a months-long waiting list to get to the CAR-T program in Philadelphia. “My [leukemic] condition got worse, I contracted pneumonia with no functional immune system, and despite overcoming it, I was left with considerable scarring on my lung, putting it at risk for various infections.”
It’s for this reason, Stefany is grateful to hear patients in a Canadian-first clinical trial at our hospital are getting access to CAR T-cell therapy right here in Ottawa. “Thankfully, the participants don’t have to go through what I’ve gone through with pneumonia and the waiting,” says Stefany.
She is slowly improving and is hoping to become a schoolteacher in the future. Stefany’s currently tutoring students and has given presentations on social justice topics to secondary school students. She’s also been enjoying some travel recently, including a nature expedition that supports youth affected by cancer and is looking forward to trips to Mexico and Costa Rica in 2023.
The Ottawa Hospital is a leading academic health, research, and learning hospital proudly affiliated with the University of Ottawa.
Categories: Biotherapeutics, Immunotherapy
The recruitment of a star researcher in regenerative medicine is helping to blaze a trail to effectively halting the degenerative process, to help make injuries heal quicker and more reliably.
“Ottawa is the place to be for stem cell research,” said Dr. Daniel Coutu. He should know. He’s a bone stem cell expert recruited from Switzerland.
Stem/progenitor cells (green) need blood vessels (red) to produce mineralized bone tissue (white and blue)
Dr. Coutu is the inaugural holder of the Research Chair in Regenerative Orthopaedic Surgery. It wasn’t hard to persuade him to accept the position. He was already keenly aware of the internationally recognized stem cell research being done at The Ottawa Hospital. His recruitment was in conjunction with the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, where Dr. Coutu will be teaching in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine.
“With the growing number of baby boomers and athletes suffering with aches and pains in their joints, regenerative surgery is the way of the future to offer them a return to normal activity and quality of life to help them stay active,” said Dr. Paul E. Beaulé, Head, Orthopaedic Surgery at The Ottawa Hospital.
The new orthopaedic research chair will focus on the fundamental biology of bone stem cells. Bone plays a key role in the health of tissues (such as muscle, tendons, and cartilage) that are connected to it. Dr. Coutu will lead research to help understand how bone regenerates, repairs, and heals. He’ll also investigate the impact trauma, aging, and chronic degeneration has on bones.
“Bones can regenerate by themselves. If you have a fracture and set it, the bone will heal without a scar,” said Dr. Coutu. “But tendons scar and an injury to tendon tissue tends to lose its regenerative property with scarring. I want to see how we can reverse the regeneration properties after injury, so the patient will not scar. I also want to investigate what happens to bone stem cells over time and with age.”
He said surgeons can successfully reattach a ligament to the bone. However, the success rate of this decreases with the age of patients and repetitive injury.
Over 125,000 microscopic images were stitched/assembled to recreate a mouse femur in multicolor and 3D.
Regenerative Orthopaedic Surgery Chair Update 2018
“Because of these techniques, we are just starting to understand the fundamental biology of bone stem cells,” he said.
“We are delighted to have Daniel Coutu join our team. His expertise in bone stem cells coupled with his cutting edge image analysis techniques make him an outstanding fit for our Regenerative Medicine Program,” said Dr. Michael Rudnicki, Senior Scientist and Director, Regenerative Medicine Program, The Ottawa Hospital, Professor, University of Ottawa, and CEO and Scientific Director, Stem Cell Network.
Although Dr. Coutu will primarily be conducting research in the lab, he will be working with clinicians to develop new therapies to treat patients. To better understand clinicians’ and patients’ needs, he will attend rounds with surgeons in the hospital, as well as attend clinical conferences. He said the visibility conferences provide and the clinical knowledge he’ll gain will position The Ottawa Hospital as a leader in regenerative orthopaedic surgery.
“Collaboration between basic scientists and clinicians is the best recipe for impactful orthopaedic research. We, in the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, are extremely excited to support the recruitment of this scientist whose research will lead to discoveries that will translate into effective treatment of orthopaedic-related injuries and trauma,” said Dr. Beaulé.
The Ottawa Hospital is a leading academic health, research, and learning hospital proudly affiliated with the University of Ottawa.
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Every day people come to The Ottawa Hospital searching for answers; and every day, our innovative research brings hope to patients and their families. Every life changed, and every life saved through compassionate care and groundbreaking work at our hospital is made possible because of you.
We want you to be at our side; to help us push new discoveries and treatments forward, equip our team with the latest technology and equipment and ensure that our patients receive the very best care.
Faced with the return of his lymphoma for the third time in ten years, Owen Snider was running out of options. But there was new hope when he was accepted into a made-in-Canada CAR-T therapy clinical trial.
Karen Toop was hit by a snowplow while crossing the street in January 2012. She was critically injured when she arrived at our Trauma Centre. A multi-disciplinary team was ready to care for the injuries that some only see once in their career.
With vision in her left eye deteriorating quickly, Michele Juma travelled from her home in Sault Ste. Marie to The Ottawa Hospital where she received specialized care after learning she had a meningioma tumour – and time was not on her side to save her vision.
Ten years ago, The Ottawa Hospital saved Kimberly Mountain’s life after the discovery of cancerous brain tumour. Today, she’s confident if the cancer comes back, The Ottawa Hospital will be ready to save her again.
Diagnosed with a stage 4 melanoma at the age of 62, Dan Collins feared for his life when he learned about the aggressive form of cancer. However, immunotherapy treatment gave him a reason to hold out hope.
OCTOBER 27, 2018, OTTAWA, ON – The city’s most prestigious event of the year paid tribute to innovative research at The Ottawa Hospital in front of a sold-out crowd at the Westin Ottawa. A who’s who of Ottawa filled the elegant ballroom. The evening kicked off with an incredible dance routine by Dr. Carole Dennie, a participant of the 2018 Dancing with the Docs fundraiser in support of the Ottawa Hospital. More than 700 guests enjoyed a delicious four course meal which included grilled “Blue Dot” PEI beef tenderloin, king oyster mushroom fricassee and roasted garlic “3 hour” polenta as the main dish. The evening continued into the wee hours as the crowd filled the dance floor thanks to the live band, 1945, back once again by popular demand.
The Ottawa Hospital Gala, presented by First Avenue Investment Counsel, was ultimately about honouring three innovative researchers and their accomplishments in their fields. Congratulations to:
Dr. Kristin Danko, recipient, Worton Researcher in Training Award. Recognized for her outstanding work on methods for systematic review and meta-analysis of complex health interventions, including novel mathematical modelling. Dr. William Stanford, recipient, Chrétien Researcher of the Year Award. Recognized for his groundbreaking research on stem cells and leukemia, including an upcoming paper with major clinical implications. Dr. Fraser Scott, recipient, Grimes Research Career Achievement Award. Recognized for pioneering research linking the onset of type I diabetes with diet-induced changes in gut immunity and regeneration of insulin-producing cells.
The Ottawa Hospital’s Tender Loving Research campaign has raised $43 million with just $7 million remaining to reach the fundraising goal of $50 million.
It’s our community’s commitment to research, which is making The Ottawa Hospital a global leader in health care advances. Tim Kluke, President and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, acknowledged that support from both individuals and businesses play a key role in the success of our researchers. “We could not be visionary without the unwavering corporate support in our community and we could not transform health care without the generosity of business leaders. This leadership is shaping health care in Ottawa for generations to come.”
“We could not be visionary without the unwavering corporate support in our community and we could not transform health care without the generosity of business leaders. This leadership is shaping health care in Ottawa for generations to come.”
Tim Kluke, President and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation
The Ottawa Hospital Foundation was thrilled to welcome First Avenue Investment Counsel as the title sponsor this year. “First Avenue Investment Counsel is proud to be the title sponsor for The Ottawa Hospital Gala.” Kash Pashootan, CEO and Chief Investment Officer at First Avenue Investment Counsel added, “Affluent families have trusted us with their assets to invest today in order to grow for the future. This partnership is no different. We are proud of the innovative research The Ottawa Hospital conducts and its leadership role in creating a better future in health care for all of us and especially future generations. Let’s all help create an even better tomorrow for our community.”
The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals, with more than 1,200 beds, approximately 12,000 staff members and an annual budget of about $1.3 billion.
Our focus on learning and research helps us develop new and innovative ways to treat patients and improve care. As a multi-campus hospital affiliated with the University of Ottawa, we deliver specialized care to the Eastern Ontario region, but our techniques and research discoveries are adopted around the world. We engage the community at all levels to support our vision for better patient care.
From the compassion of our people to the relentless pursuit of new discoveries, The Ottawa Hospital never stops seeking solutions to the most complex health-care challenges. For more information about The Ottawa Hospital, visit ohfoundation.ca.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2018, OTTAWA, ON – Pedal power took over the nation’s capital on Sunday, as hundreds of cyclists came together to support leading edge research at The Ottawa Hospital. 700 inspired cyclists helped to raise over $1.1 million at the ninth edition of THE RIDE.
Notably joining THE RIDE this year and the Deloitte team was cycling Olympian Curt Harnett. The three-time Olympic medalist added to the level of excitement on Sunday. But it was the cause that fueled the cyclists. Fundraising through THE RIDE will provide vital money to researchers at The Ottawa Hospital who are investigating every major disease and helping to re-shape health care not only in our community but around the globe.
Tim Kluke, President and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, says it’s that motivation to advance research, which makes THE RIDE such an incredible community success. “Teams coming together make up a major part of this event, both community and corporate teams. This year, one of our newest teams was the Cancer Crusaders. This team was made up of those from our community wanting to be a part of something big to help find a cure for cancer at The Ottawa Hospital. It was a great example of what THE RIDE is all about.”
Mattamy Homes division president Kevin O’Shea was thrilled with the energy at this year’s event. “Our Mattamy Homes team loves this phenomenal cycling experience. THE RIDE is a great mix for our employees to promote healthy living through cycling, to give back to the most important health care hub in our region and to have a tremendous time with friends and neighbours.”
“Our Mattamy Homes team loves this phenomenal cycling experience.” Kevin O’Shea, Mattamy Homes division president
For longtime RIDE participant, Marcel Néron, this was an emotional day for him and his team #youarenotalone. He was riding for the first time without his son, Alex, who passed away from colon cancer in January. “I was determined to keep doing this for people who are going through the same thing as Alex did. People need hope and what better way to give them hope then to raise money for research.”
Months of training and cycling came together as riders participated in a 50 kilometre closed road loop along the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway and another group of riders powered through a 117 kilometre adventure through Kanata North, Carp and Dunrobin. All participants came together at Tunney’s Pasture for THE RIDE celebration barbecue. It was at that time, Virtual Ride participants were recognized for their efforts in fundraising as well.
The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals, with more than 1,200 beds, approximately 12,000 staff members and an annual budget of about $1.2 billion.
Our focus on learning and research helps us develop new and innovative ways to treat patients and improve care. As a multi-campus hospital affiliated with the University of Ottawa, we deliver specialized care to the Eastern Ontario region, but our techniques and research discoveries are adopted around the world. We engage the community at all levels to support our vision for better patient care.
From the compassion of our people to the relentless pursuit of new discoveries, The Ottawa Hospital never stops seeking solutions to the most complex health-care challenges. For more information about The Ottawa Hospital, visit ohfoundation.ca.
MAY 26 2018, OTTAWA, ON – As runners crossed over the finish line this weekend, hundreds did so knowing they were having an extra impact. Not only were many attempting a personal best, but also they had pledged their support of The Ottawa Hospital, through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge. This year, the annual fundraiser at Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend, surpassed a total of $11 million, raised over the past 22 years.
This year alone, 438 fundraisers registered to Run for a Reason raising $310,000. Funds raised through The Ottawa Hospital’s Run for a Reason support world-class patient care, the purchase of new state-of-the-art equipment, and support innovative research.
Tim Kluke, President and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, says this is an inspirational way to give back and improve health care in our community. “Each person who registered to Run for a Reason this year, has their personal story. They take that story and use it as their motivation to help support our community’s most important health care centre by ensuring our doctors, researchers, and nurses have the tools they need to treat the most complex cases in eastern Ontario.”
Run for a Reason had 19 teams register to fundraise this year, including Team PIPR. This year marked the 10th anniversary of PIPR – Partners Investing in Parkinson’s research. More than 100,000 Canadians live with Parkinson’s, including 8,000 here in Ottawa. Parkinson’s is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that primarily affects voluntary, controlled movement. In ten years, Team PIPR has raised $1.2 million for leading edge Parkinson Research at The Ottawa Hospital.
Roberta Driscoll has been with the team since the beginning. “My husband has Parkinson’s and I see how the progression of this disease is altering his quality of life. Since we created PIPR ten years ago, we’ve seen advancements in research at The Ottawa Hospital. PIPR has not only helped fund research for the treatment and to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease, but it has also galvanized the community to support a cause that previously received little attention. Our team has given hope to those living with Parkinson’s, like my husband.”
“Our team has given hope to those living with Parkinson’s, like my husband.” Roberta Driscoll
The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals, with more than 1,100 beds, approximately 12,000 staff members and an annual budget of about $1.2 billion.
Our focus on learning and research helps us develop new and innovative ways to treat patients and improve care. As a multi-campus hospital affiliated with the University of Ottawa, we deliver specialized care to the Eastern Ontario region, but our techniques and research discoveries are adopted around the world. We engage the community at all levels to support our vision for better patient care.
From the compassion of our people to the relentless pursuit of new discoveries, The Ottawa Hospital never stops seeking solutions to the most complex health-care challenges. For more information about The Ottawa Hospital, visit ohfoundation.ca.
April 7, 2018, OTTAWA, ON – Nearly 800 guests and a panel of three judges were entertained by eight ballroom dances Saturday night with doctors participating from The Ottawa Hospital. The judges carefully reviewed each competitor and then combined those scores with votes, which were given for fundraising efforts. When the final votes came in, Dr. Ralf Buhrmann was crowned the winner.
More than $433,000 was raised to support patient care and research at The Ottawa Hospital. Tim Kluke, President of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, said this fundraiser is one of the most entertaining fundraisers he has experienced. “When you see these doctors take the stage and the excitement in the crowd from their colleagues from The Ottawa Hospital, as well as patients, it’s really incredible. And the funds raised are supporting areas of The Ottawa Hospital which mean the most to our dancing docs from cancer care to cancer research, as well as research in gay men’s health.”
“When you see these doctors take the stage and the excitement in the crowd it’s really incredible.” Tim Kluke, President and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation.
It was a dazzling night on the dance floor for eight doctors from The Ottawa Hospital. The fourth annual Dancing With The Docs fundraiser, which took place at the Hilton Lac Leamy, displayed the newly honed ballroom dance skills of these physicians.
With professional dance partners, from Arthur Murray Dance studio, these eight physicians took to the dance floor; all in an effort to win the prized Medicine Ball trophy.
The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals, with more than 1,100 beds, approximately 12,000 staff members and an annual budget of about $1.2 billion.
Our focus on learning and research helps us develop new and innovative ways to treat patients and improve care. As a multi-campus hospital affiliated with the University of Ottawa, we deliver specialized care to the Eastern Ontario region, but our techniques and research discoveries are adopted around the world. We engage the community at all levels to support our vision for better patient care.
From the compassion of our people to the relentless pursuit of new discoveries, The Ottawa Hospital never stops seeking solutions to the most complex health-care challenges. For more information about The Ottawa Hospital, visit ohfoundation.ca.
Government of Canada announces intention to amend the Income Tax Act to extend the deadline for 2024 charitable donations. Learn more here.
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