Our clinical research program includes research in thoracic oncology, pulmonary hypertension, benign lung and esophageal diseases and lung transplantation. Our research studies include in-house programs in lung cancer, malignant pleural mesothelioma, esophageal cancer, sarcoma and recurrent breast cancer. These include prospective clinical trials, retrospective studies and translational projects. The lung transplantation program includes in- house, industry-funded, and NIH funded multi-centre trials.
Our investigators and their areas of interest include:
Dr. Tom Waddell:
- Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for early stage nonsmall cell lung cancer.
- Bone marrow derived lung stem cells
- Lung Regeneration
- Lung cancer rapid access and management
Dr. Shaf Keshavjee:
- Thymoma
- Chest Wall Resection for Breast cancer
- Ex-vivo lung perfusion for assessment of donor lung for transplantation
Dr. Marc De Perrot :
- Primary pulmonary hypertension
- Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
- Vertebrectomy for T4 non-small cell lung cancer
Dr. Kazu Yasufuku:
- Endobronchial ultrasound transbronchial needle aspirate of mediastinal lymph nodes for staging of nonsmall cell lung cancer
- Minimally invasive / robotic surgery
- EBUS-TBNA for assessment of mediastinal abnormalities
Dr. Gail Darling:
- Esophageal cancer
- Micro RNA in esophageal cancer
- Regionalization of thoracic surgery
- Quality of life in esophageal cancer
- Symptoms and quality of life in GERD
Our research group is composed of the following:
Jennifer Lister (Clinical Research Manager, Oncology)
Frances Allison
Judy McConnell
Alexandria Grindlay
Alexandra Salvarrey
Kimberley Hudson
Sassan Azad (Clinical Research Manager, Lung Transplant)
Sharaniyaa Balachandran
Karen Roman
Studies we currently have open (please contact Jennifer Lister at 416-340-4857 or Jennifer.Lister@uhn.ca if you have any questions):
Lung Cancer
- Phase II study of single agent pre-operative metformin in patients with clinical stage I – IIIA NSCLC proceeding to surgical resection (Lung Metcore Study)
- Robotic Lobectomy or Thoracoscopic Lobectomy for Early Stage Lung Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial (VATS vs RATS)
- A Randomized Phase III Study of Sublobar Resection (SR) versus Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SAbR) in High Risk Patients with Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) (THE STABLE-MATES TRIAL)
- Extended Low-Molecular Weight Heparin VTE Prophylaxis in the Thoracic Surgical population, a randomized controlled pilot study (VTE-PRO)
- ANET Electrosurgery Applicator Pilot Evaluation Study
- A Multicenter, Prospective, Open Label, Single-Arm Clinical Study of the Safety and Feasibility of Using Navigational Bronchoscopy to Perform Photodynamic Therapy using PHOTOFRIN® as Treatment in Subjects with Unresectable Stage IA Peripheral Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
- Feasibility of Evaluating Gene Alteration Analysis Using Samples Obtained by EBUS-TBNA in patients with Lung Cancer (EBUS-GENE Study)
- Pilot Study using Combined 4-D EM Tip-Tracked Devices and Endobronchial Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Peripheral Pulmonary Nodules (Veran)
- Endobronchial Ultrasound –Guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration for Lymph Node Staging in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Pursuing Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (EBUS-SBRT)
- Feasibility of a novel minimally invasive technique for localization of pulmonary nodules using the spy thoracoscope system
- Cone-Beam CT Guided Microcoil Localization of Pulmonary Nodules during VATS
- Post Thoracotomy Pain Syndrome: A Randomized, Double Blind, Study Comparing Closure Techniques
- Air travel after thoracic surgery
Sarcoma (lung metastases)
- InVivo Lung Perfusion (IVLP) as an Adjuvant Treatment for Patients Undergoing Surgical Resection of Pulmonary Metastases of Bone and Soft Tissues Sarcomas
Esophageal Cancer
- A randomised phase II/III trial of preoperative chemoradiotherapy versus preoperative chemotherapy for resectable gastric cancer TOPGEAR: Trial of preoperative therapy for gastric and espophogastric junction adenocarcinoma
- The Utility of Circulating Tumour Cells and Plasma microRNA Detection to Predict the Response to Treatment in Patients with Esophageal Adenocarcinoma
- Tissue Collection for Gastro-esophageal Cancer Primary Cell Line Establishment
Recurrent Breast Cancer
- Improving Quality of Life for Patients with Breast Cancer Invading the Chest Wall: A Prospective Trial of Full Thickness Chest Wall Resection
Screening / Early Detection
- Early Diagnosis of Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer in Prior Asbestos Workers using Low Dose Computed Tomography