A routine ‘CAT’ scan helped save Philip Turk’s life.
Through the generosity of our donors, researchers and clinicians at Toronto General and Toronto Western Hospitals are reaching new milestones, not thought possible a year ago.
Below highlights just some of the advances and discoveries made at the hospitals over the past year. These achievements are the result of a shared commitment. Because of donor support, our healthcare teams are better able to deliver more timely treatments, earlier diagnoses, expert surgeries, and improved outcomes for families.
Donor commitment is ensuring that future generations will no longer suffer the consequences of today’s diseases. On behalf of all those who are dedicated to finding the answers, and those who will one day benefit, we thank you most sincerely.
Peter Munk Cardiac Program – Leading the way in use of medical technology
Donor support enabled the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre at Toronto General Hospital to acquire the Toshiba Aquilion One scanner. One of five in use worldwide – and the only one in Canada – the Aquilion One represents the latest advancement in computed tomography, or CT. Computed tomography provides images of anatomical structures at different depths within the body. It produces cross sectional images – slices – that are reassembled to create three-dimensional pictures of internal organs.
Over the years, the CT scanner has developed from a four to a 64-slice machine. The Aquilion One is a generation beyond – a 320-slice scanner that provides the highest image quality possible. This minimally invasive technique provides a fast and efficient way to detect heart disease in its earliest stages and help those at risk of heart attack and stroke.
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Transplantation – Benefits of a living donor transplant
The Multi Organ Transplant Program at Toronto General Hospital is a world leader in performing liver transplants derived from living donors, and a recent study, supported by our donors, has confirmed its benefits and effectiveness. Recipients can now avoid the long organ donation waiting list by opting for a partial liver transplant from a compatible living donor. The partial liver remaining in the donor’s body will grow back to full size, as will the portion transplanted into the recipient’s body.
Researchers have also found that patients who undertook this treatment had a higher post transplantation survival rate and a better outcome than those patients who waited for a liver from a deceased donor. The results from this study provide greater treatment options and hope for patients who need a liver transplant.
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Musculoskeletal Health & Arthritis – Operating Room No. 9: Providing the best in surgical tools and technology
A total of $500,000 was raised to transform an operation room devoted specifically to joint replacement at Toronto Western Hospital. Dr. Nizar Mahomed, Director of the Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis Program, explains: “The technology enables more accurate alignment and positioning, improving the longevity of the replacement joint.” In addition, Dr. Mahomed anticipates that innovations in surgical techniques and instruments will reduce incision sizes. “Eventually these advances will help patients get back to their feet more quickly and have shorter lengths of stay in hospital,” says Dr. Mahomed.
The renovations will also accommodate enhanced computer technology to allow surgeons to share their latest techniques with their colleagues around the world as well as to train the next generation of orthopedic surgeons.
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Krembil Neuroscience Program – Scientists uncover technique to improve memory function
Basic and clinical research is a vital component of advancing care in the 21st century. Pioneered at Toronto Western Hospital, Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is one of the revolutionary treatments made possible by donor support. DBS involves the implantation of electrodes into a targeted area of the brain and has been used to treat depression, Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders.
In the course of treating obesity by stimulating the brain’s appetite suppressing sites, researchers chanced on an exciting new discovery related to memory. Deep Brain stimulation triggered a déjà vu sensation in the patient who recalled events from 30 years earlier. By increasing intensity, the patient’s memory became more vivid and detailed. According
to the team leader, Dr. Andres Lozano, “these findings demonstrate that it’s possible to access and influence memory circuits and to improve their function. This may lead to development of new treatments for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory problems.”
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Donald K. Johnson Eye Centre – New ways to treat patients with eye diseases
Superior surgical techniques and state-of-the-art equipment funded by many generous donors are enabling the recovery of eyesight for an unprecedented number of patients. One of these innovations developed by surgeons at Toronto Western Hospital is the illuminated “chandelier”. Inserted into the eye, the chandelier illuminates the inside of the eye, vastly improving the surgical condition and patient outcomes.
In another example, Dr. Martin Steinbach and his clinical research team are helping Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) patients to regain eyesight by training another, undamaged part of their eye. People with AMD often lose the ability to read. By using a specialized piece of equipment, doctors can identify which part of the patients’ healthy retina has the greatest ability to discern detail. After seven one-hour sessions, AMD patients can be coached to perceive fine details again.
Innovations such as these have set a standard of excellence and allowed for the restoration of eyesight once thought irreparable.
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Diabetes – A link between chronic overeating and diabetes
A breakthrough study conducted by Dr. Tony Lam concluded that chronic overeating may shut down a natural brain function required to prevent common diabetic and cardiovascular diseases.
As lead author of the study published in the prestigious Nature Medicine Journal, Dr. Lam details how chronic overeating may overwhelm the normal neural pathway that helps regulate the amount of fats flowing into the bloodstream from the liver. As small arteries become clogged, they create the circulatory problems common in type 2 diabetes and linked to overeating, obesity, and limb amputations. Dr. Lam’s study also discusses methods that can be used to prevent the hardening of arteries that lead to circulation problems common to diabetics. This study is an important step in finding suitable treatments and donors have played an integral role in making this possible.
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McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine – Unlocking the potential of stem cells
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, University Health Network (UHN) is among the leaders of the global regenerative medicine research boom. In recent years, Dr. Terrence Yau, a renowned cardiac surgeon at UHN, has been leading a team of researchers who are treating heart disease using cell-based gene therapy. Early results have suggested that this technique improves cardiac function and helps restore muscle following a heart attack, reducing the risk or severity of heart failure. In fact, cell transplantation as a treatment option for heart attack and heart failure has entered clinical trials in heart centres around the world.
Other revolutionary studies underway include understanding dermal stem cells’ potential to regenerate or replace damaged skin; activating neural stem cells to help restore nerve function after stroke; and evaluating the capacity of retinal stem cells to treat blindness.
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McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health – Link discovered between immune system and severe malaria affecting 515 million people each year
Researchers from Toronto General Research Institute and the McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health have used sophisticated cell imaging and computer technology to identify the genes responsible for the brain’s response to the severe forms of malaria that cause fatal complications in the brain.
Led by Drs. Kevin Kain and Conrad Liles, the research team found that certain genes cause the body’s immune system to adversely respond to cerebral malaria, leading to cell death and tissue injury. This research will help the team identify drug formulations to change the body’s immune response and improve outcomes for patients suffering from severe malaria around the world.
The McLaughlin-Rotman Centre focuses on global infectious disease threats responsible for the greatest burden of illness and death worldwide. They account for the most profound disparities in health between the advanced and developing countries and can profoundly impact both regional and global economies. Our donors recognize the importance of investing in this program and together, we are truly making a global impact.
» go back | more about the McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health
