Match Alert

Clinical Research Brings Hope

Bring hope to patients with no other options. Support groundbreaking clinical research at OTMH. Donate by June 30, 2025 and your gift will be matched.

Every day, patients in our community face illnesses with no existing treatments, a reality that leaves families feeling powerless. At OTMH, groundbreaking clinical research is changing that. By offering access to innovative therapies not yet available to the public, we are bringing new hope to patients who need it most.

With your support, we can accelerate life-changing trials for breast cancer, heart disease, dialysis, and critical care. Right now, your gift will go twice as far. Donate by June 30, 2025, and it will be matched dollar for dollar up to $60,000.

Help us shape the future of care and bring hope to even more patients today.

Meet Dr. Heffernan

With community support, Halton Healthcare’s Clinical Research Program has made significant strides in patient care and medical science. Our work spans cardiology, infectious disease, nephrology, and oncology, including groundbreaking breast cancer trials as part of the Canadian Cancer Clinical Trials Network.

To sustain this momentum, we aim to establish a dedicated Chair for Medical Research—strengthening collaborations and driving innovation. Together, we can transform healthcare and improve lives.

Dr. Michael Heffernan,

Physician Program Director – Clinical Research at Halton Healthcare

Pillars of Research & Innovation

Expanding Our Reach in Intensive Care
- Participating in a Canada-wide ICU consortium led by the University Health Network.
- Collaboration with leading centres to advance ICU care through research.
- Significant costs are borne by our institution, emphasizing the need for continued funding.
Triumphs in Oncology
- Oncology clinical trials now available to our patients at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital.
- Conducted a groundbreaking study on metastatic breast cancer treatment.
- Initiated a joint Oncology-Cardiology study to address chemotherapy-induced heart function issues.
- Partnering with the Canadian Cancer Clinical Trials Network to expand research over the next five years.
- Overcoming challenges in staffing and operations to ensure compliance with Health Canada standards.
New Horizons in Mental Health
- Launched our first Mental Health study this past year, marking a new milestone.
- Exploring collaborations with Allied Health and Mental Health teams to enhance internal processes.
- Focused on improving hospital practices and quality of patient care.
Firsts in the Field
- COVID-19 Study: First and only Canadian site for the DARE-19 trial.
- Heart Failure Study: First Canadian site in the global DAPA-ACT study.
- ICU Study: First Canadian site in the LOVIT study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
Physician-Driven Research
- Cultivating a culture of in-house research to enhance patient care in the Halton region.
- Highlights include studies on dialysis, orthopedic surgery, radiology, and heart failure.
Collaborating with Academic Research
- Partnering with institutions like St. Michael’s Hospital and McMaster University.
- Research spans areas such as oncology, vascular surgery, pharmacy, and exercise in cancer patients.
- Formalizing a research collaboration agreement with McMaster University.
Empowering the Next Generation
- Engaging college and university students as research volunteers for the first time.
- Providing hands-on experience while enhancing our research capabilities.
Strengthening Our Research Team
- Addressing staffing challenges to expand and sustain our research efforts.
- Priorities include:
  - Hiring clinical staff for ethics board and research logistics.
  - Adding a third research coordinator to support growing study demands.
- Investing in staff will enhance recruitment and study execution.

May 13

Shaping the Future of Clinical Research

Join us for an exclusive webinar showcasing the innovative work of Halton Healthcare’s Clinical Research Program and how it’s making...

View Event

Get in Touch

Suzanne Hallsworth
Chief Development Officer
Oakville Hospital Foundation
905-338-4642

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