RI-MUHC ANNUAL REPORT 2024
YEAR IN REVIEW: SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES
A sampling of achievements in the past year by teams from the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC)
- WORLD-FIRST CLINICAL TRIAL TO HELP MILLIONS WITH PENICILLIN ALLERGIES
- SCREENING HIGH-RISK INDIVIDUALS FOR PANCREATIC CANCER
- HOW DOES THE BCG VACCINE AGAINST TB PROVIDE PROTECTION AGAINST LUNG VIRAL INFECTIONS?
- SEVERE MATERNAL COMPLICATIONS AT CHILDBIRTH: A RECURRING HAZARD?
- VIAGRA TO TREAT OXYGEN-DEPRIVED NEWBORNS
- UNDERSTANDING THE PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE TO DEHYDRATION AND SALT INTAKE
- DOES DAIRY PRODUCT CONSUMPTION INFLUENCE THE RISK OF DIABETES?
- NEW ADVANCES IN LUNG CANCER TREATMENT
- IF YOU NEED SOMETHING QUICKLY, YOU MAKE IT YOURSELF
- GENETIC CAUSES OF CEREBRAL PALSY UNCOVERED THROUGH WHOLE-GENOME SEQUENCING
WORLD-FIRST CLINICAL TRIAL TO HELP MILLIONS WITH PENICILLIN ALLERGIES
Dr. Ana-Maria Copaescu is first author of the PALACE study, an international research endeavour published in JAMA Internal Medicine. This clinical study paves the way for the adoption of a simple oral test called “direct oral penicillin challenge” as a safe and effective alternative to traditional skin testing, which is labour-intensive and not easily accessible to all, as well as being time-consuming and painful for patients. This breakthrough could make penicillin delabeling more universally available. Learn more
SCREENING HIGH-RISK INDIVIDUALS FOR PANCREATIC CANCER
An international collaboration of scientists and healthcare professionals is developing a promising surveillance program for pancreatic cancer to improve early detection of the disease, when the chance of cure is highest. Dr. George Zogopoulos is co-lead author of the interim study analysis published in Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Learn more
HOW DOES THE BCG VACCINE AGAINST TB PROVIDE PROTECTION AGAINST LUNG VIRAL INFECTIONS?
An RI-MUHC team led by Maziar Divangahi, PhD, revealed a new mechanism by which the 100-year-old BCG vaccine provides cross-protection against the influenza A virus. Published in the journal Nature Immunology, the study offers new insights into trained immunity, the ability of the innate immune system to form innate memory and provide long-lasting protection against infections. Learn more
SEVERE MATERNAL COMPLICATIONS AT CHILDBIRTH: A RECURRING HAZARD?
A study led by Dr. Natalie Dayan provides detailed data around recurrent complications collectively termed “severe maternal morbidity” in women in Quebec. Published in The American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, this study shows that women who experienced such complications during a first delivery are three times more likely to experience severe maternal morbidity during a second delivery than those who had no serious complications the first time. This knowledge will help counsel women about future pregnancy risks as well as help in planning and allocating resources. Learn more
VIAGRA TO TREAT OXYGEN-DEPRIVED NEWBORNS
Dr. Pia Wintermark conducted a Phase 1 clinical trial of sildenafil (also known as Viagra) to treat babies with neonatal encephalopathy, a condition caused by a lack of oxygen during pregnancy or at birth, at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. The results indicate that the use of sildenafil is feasible and safe in babies who have developed neurological sequelae despite therapeutic hypothermia, which is the only option currently used to prevent brain damage. The study also showed encouraging signs of efficacy, bringing much needed hope in that area. Learn more
UNDERSTANDING THE PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE TO DEHYDRATION AND SALT INTAKE
An RI-MUHC research team led by Charles Bourque, PhD, has uncovered the mechanism that leads to the release of the antidiuretic hormone vasopressin. This work adds to the understanding of fluid electrolyte balance and the causes of hypertension, particularly sodium-dependent hypertension. Learn more
DOES DAIRY PRODUCT CONSUMPTION INFLUENCE THE RISK OF DIABETES?
A clinical trial run by Sergio Burgos, PhD, and colleagues at the RI-MUHC seeks to learn more about the impact of dairy products on type 2 diabetes. “Our goal is to provide high quality information about the effect of dairy product consumption on insulin sensitivity in people with obesity and prediabetes,” says Prof. Burgos. Results from the study, called “Effect of Dairy Products on Insulin Resistance in Overweight and Obese Individuals With Prediabetes,” will help inform dietary guidance for healthy eating in Canada. Learn more
NEW ADVANCES IN LUNG CANCER TREATMENT
Results of an international clinical trial confirm the efficiency of an immunotherapy treatment for early stage non-small cell lung cancer, the most common form of lung cancer. Dr. Jonathan Spicer is lead author and lead surgeon of the study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine. A fruitful collaboration between the McGill University Health Centre, the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal and St. Mary’s Hospital Center supported the recruitment of subjects for this study and has helped to place Montreal among the major players in the world of randomized clinical trials in thoracic oncology. Learn more
IF YOU NEED SOMETHING QUICKLY, YOU MAKE IT YOURSELF
A study by RI-MUHC researchers found that synaptic connections in the brain can produce their own proteins in response to periods of high demand. Led by Per Jesper Sjöström, PhD, and published in the journal Neuron, the study clarified the mechanism by which neurons create and make use of the protein building blocks they need to communicate with one another in the brain. Learn more
GENETIC CAUSES OF CEREBRAL PALSY UNCOVERED THROUGH WHOLE-GENOME SEQUENCING
Novel research led by scientists at the RI-MUHC, the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital provides a more detailed look into the genetic causes of cerebral palsy (CP). Their findings, published in Nature Genetics, suggest the existence of many genetic variants contributing to CP, which may inform future diagnosis and treatment. Learn more
