Research Center Profile:
Capital Health
Cardiology/Vascular Diseases
Dental/Maxillofacial Surgery
Dermatology/Plastic Surgery
Endocrinology
Gastroenterology
Hematology
Immunology/Infectious Diseases
Musculoskeletal
Nephrology/Urology
Neurology
Obstetrics/Gynecology
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Otolaryngology
Pharmacology/Toxicology
Psychiatry/Psychology
Pulmonary/Respiratory Diseases
Rheumatology
Trauma/Emergency Medicine
Discovery and Innovation for Health
Capital Health is an academic health centre located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Capital Health provides research support services to over 280 experienced principal investigators/physicians and other health care professionals, including many nationally and internationally recognized experts in a wide range of fields. Capital Health is one of Canada’s leading teaching hospitals and has thriving partnerships with Dalhousie University, the IWK Health Centre (women’s and children’s health) and the Canadian National Research Council. In any given year, Capital Health has over 1300 research projects underway, including 400 clinical trials. There are approximately 390 new projects each year with approximately 280 dedicated research personnel, including over 150 experienced professional coordinators.
Capital Health has been involved in clinical research for 25+ years with recognized research leaders in Alzheimer disease, arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular disease, fabry disease, family medicine, imaging, infectious diseases, multiple sclerosis, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, pulmonary disease, rehabilitation medicine, renal disease, and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Clinical trial sponsors include: Novartis, Glaxo Smith Kline, Amgen, Biogen, Pfizer, Roche, St. Jude Medical, Smith and Nephew,Medtronic, Boeringher Ingleheim, Schering Plough.
Over the years, Capital Health research teams have conducted thousands of Phase II, III and IV clinical trials and is now conducting Phase I trials in partnership with the Sanofi Pasteur Vaccine Challenge Unit at the IWK Health Centre.
As a centre for research innovation, Capital Health champions advances in therapy, multi-disciplinary approaches to patient care, teaching and health research that takes place on the frontlines of patient care. The research community has many advantages, including:
- A research services centre providing:
- Contract/grant facilitation and support
- Comprehensive education for research personnel, Investigators and Research Ethics Board Members
- Dedicated research space
- Financial and human resource management for research projects
- Timely ethical review according to national and international guidelines and regulations
- Continuing quality review of research including an internal audit program
- Advanced technologies, including well-developed telemedicine networks, enable researchers to include patients in remote areas.
- Research partnerships with the IWK Health Centre, Dalhousie University Health Professions and Dentistry, the National Research Council and local business community promote innovation and shared facilities.
- Close affiliation with Dalhousie University Medical School, which ensures strong basic research support and maximum crossover from laboratory to clinical application
- The Sanofi Pasteur Vaccine Challenge Unit—a ten-bed inpatient unit with singe isolation rooms, located at the IWK Health Centre. This is the first of its kind in Canada and one of a very few such facilities worldwide.
- The Skills Centre for Health Sciences and first of its kind in Atlantic Canada, this 4,000-square-foot facility offers an impressive range of services, equipment, models and unique materials that health care professionals use to rehearse medical procedures.
- The Research Methods Unit—a core research facility designed to promote clinical and health research through the development of necessary and shared infrastructure, including data management facilities and methodological support in epidemiology, statistics, clinical trials, health economics, health services research, health technologies assessment, qualitative techniques and systematic reviews.
- The Medical Technology Development Initiative that works with researchers to guide them through the commercialization process from invention to market.
Anaesthesia
Dr John Clark
Area of expertise: Pain Management
Dr. Richard Hall
Area of expertise: Anaesthesia/Pharmacology
Dr. Mary Lynch
Area of expertise: Director, QEII Pain Management Unit
Biodiagnostics
Dr. Ryan D’Arcy
Area of expertise: brain imaging research
Cardiology
Chris Blanchard, Ph.D.
Area of expertise – Exercise Psychology
Dr. Jafna Cox
Area of expertise – Canada Health Outcomes
Dr. Richard Crowell
Area of expertise: Cardiology
Dr. Rob Green
Area of expertise: Anaesthesia/Cardiology
Dr. Greg Hirsch
Area of expertise – Cardiac Surgery
Dr. Jean-Francois Legare
Area of expertise – Cardiac Surgery
Dr. John Sapp
Area of expertise – Cardiac Electrophysiology
Family Medicine
Dr. Fred Burge
Area of expertise: Network of End-of-Life Studies
Dr. Stewart Cameron
Area of expertise: Family Medicine
Geriatrics
Dr. Kenneth Rockwood
Area of expertise: Geriatrics – Founder of Dementia Guide Inc.
Dr. Chris MacNight
Area of expertise: Geratrics
Dr. Paige Moorhouse
Area of expertise: Geratrics/Gerontolgy
Hearing and Balance
Dr. Manohar Bance
Area of expertise: Otolaryngology – SENSE (Sensory Encoding and NeuroSensory Engineering)
Hematology
Dr. David Anderson
Area of expertise: Hematology/Vascular Diseases
Dr. K. Sue Robinson
Area of expertise: Hematology
Infectious Diseases
Dr. Kevin Forward
Area of expertise: Microbiology/Infectious Disease
Dr. Lynn Johnston
Area of expertise: Infectious Diseases
Dr. David Haase
Area of expertise: Infectious Diseases
Dr. Shelly McNeil
Area of expertise: Infectious Diseases/Vaccination
Dr. Walter Schlech
Area of expertise: Infectious Diseases
Neurology
Dr. Virender Bhan
Area of expertise: Neurology – MS
Dr. John Fisk
Area of expertise: Cognitive neuroscientist, director of Atlantic endMS Regional Research Training Centre
Dr. David Clarke
Area of expertise: Neurosurgery
Dr. Gail Eskes, Ph.D.
Area of Expertise: Neuropsychology
Dr. Ivar Mendez
Area of expertise: Neurology/Neurosurgery
Dr. R. Mark Sadler
Area of expertise: Neurology/Epilepsy
Dr. Donald Weaver
Area of expertise: computer-aided drug design
Nephrology
Dr. Michael West
Area of expertise: Fabry Disease
Multi-organ Transplant
Dr. Kevork M. Peltekian
Area of expertise: Hepatology, liver transplantation
Oncology
Dr. Bruce D.O. Colwell
Area of expertise: Medical Oncology
Dr. Mary L. Davis
Area of expertise: Medical Oncology
Dr. Michael Johnston
Area of expertise: Thoracic Surgery
Dr. Deborah McLeod
Area of expertise: Oncology – Psychosocial
Dr. Louise Parker
Area of expertise: Oncology – Atlantic PATH
Dr. Daniel Rayson
Area of expertise: Atlantic Clinical Cancer Research Unit
Ophthalmology
Dr. Paul Artes
Area of expertise: OphthalmologyOptometry
Dr. Balwantray Chauhan
Area of expertise: Ophthalmology
Orthopaedic Surgery
Dr. Michael Dunbar
Area of expertise: Orthopedic Surgery
Dr. Michael Gross
Area of expertise: Musculoskeletal
Dr. Ross Leighton
Area of expertise: Musculoskeletal Diseases
Dr. William Stanish
Area of expertise: Orthopedic Surgery
Pharmacology
Dr. Orlando Hung
Area of expertise: Pharmacology/Toxicology
Psychiatry
Dr. Martin Alda
Area of expertise: Psychiatry – bipolar disorder
Dr. Kim Good
Area of expertise: Neurosciences/Psychiatry
Ben Rusak, Ph.D.
Area of expertise: Psychology/Psychiatry
Pulmonary Diseases
Dr. Paul Hernandez
Area of expertise: Pulmonary Diseases
Dr. Graeme Rocker
Area of expertise: Pulmonary Disease/Intensive Care
Rehabilitative Medicine
Dr. Christine Short
Area of expertise: Rehabilitative Medicine
Dr. Lee Kirby
Area of expertise: Rehabilitative Medicine
Dr. Rob Brownstone
Area of expertise: Atlantic Mobility Action Project
Dr. Mary Lynch
Area of expertise: Director, QEII Pain Management Unit
Rheumatology
Dr. John G. Hanly
Area of expertise: Head, Division of Rheumatology -- systemic lupus erythematosus
Urology
Dr. David Bell
Area of expertise: Nephrology/Urology
Dr. Greg Bailly
Area of expertise: Urology
Dr. Jerzy Gajewski
Area of expertise: Urology
Dr. Richard Norman
Area of expertise: Urology, Transplantation
Since 1992, Capital Health has developed its research support mandate, promoting and encouraging research with an accountable, service-oriented administrative framework. Capital Health is committed to creating an environment where researchers in all health care disciplines can fulfill their potential while ensuring that research is conducted at Capital Health according to the highest standards. The Research Services team provides guidance and services for:
- Project administration, including contract/grant facilitation
- Research ethics review, including:
- a Research Ethics Board, comprised of 80 members, meets once a week.
- a five-member Ethics support team who liaise with researchers and guide them in preparation and submission of research proposals and ongoing ethical requirements for conducting research
- A quality management program to help ensure that research is conducted to meet regulatory requirements
- Human resources support
- Infrastructure support
- An extensive educational program with standardized training for new staff and professional development opportunities for more experienced staff
- A communication program offering a newsletter, annual report, an ongoing series of research area profiles and opportunities to raise the level of awareness about research with potential business partners, government representatives and the public
Nova Scotia has an exceptionally stable patient base with a traditional interest and willingness to participate in health-related studies, offering invaluable continuity, particularly for multi-year studies. Capital Health provides core health services to 395,000 residents, and tertiary and quaternary acute care services to the residents of Atlantic Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland)—a total population of two million.
If you are interested in contacting this center to discuss placing a clinical
trial there, please complete and send the e-mail form below. A representative from
the research center will then follow up with you.
