Facing COVID-19 head-on
HOW THE OTTAWA HOSPITAL IS CREATING A BETTER TOMORROW
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, experts at The Ottawa Hospital are gearing up to stop the spread of this infectious disease. From a crisis preparedness plan, to COVID-19 research already underway, The Ottawa Hospital has the knowledge and experience to tackle this pandemic head-on. Researchers are harnessing their unique expertise and exploring more than 50 COVID-19 research projects to help in the global fight against this virus.
All of the COVID-19 simulation drills and research projects being explored at The Ottawa Hospital will make use of shared research equipment, resources and facilities that have been developed over many years, thanks to generous support from donors through The Ottawa Hospital Foundation.
“Thanks to generous support from the community over the years, we’ve been able to develop unique research facilities and technologies that we are now rapidly applying to the fight against COVID-19,” said Dr. Duncan Stewart, Executive VP Research at The Ottawa Hospital. “Similarly, today’s community support for research means we will be ready for tomorrow’s health challenges, whatever they may be.”
WORKING TOWARD A VACCINE
Experts in making cancer-fighting viruses at The Ottawa Hospital are working hard to develop a possible vaccine against COVID-19, in partnership with scientists and clinicians in Canada and around the world. The vaccine would contain small parts of genetic material from the COVID-19 virus, embedded into a different virus that does not cause human disease. This replicating viral vaccine would also produce its own adjuvant — a substance that stimulates a stronger immune response, resulting in a more effective vaccine. Once a promising vaccine is created, the team will be able to make large quantities in The Ottawa Hospital’s Biotherapeutics Manufacturing Centre. This facility is the only hospital-based lab in Canada capable of producing virusbased vaccines and therapies for clinical trials.
LEARNING FROM COVID-19 PATIENTS AND TESTING THERAPIES
Researchers from around the world are sharing their experiences and findings and are working together to determine the best approach to treating patients with COVID-19.
To help with this global effort, infectious disease researchers at The Ottawa
Hospital and the University of Ottawa are working locally to create a registry of COVID-19 patients in the community. Under the leadership of Dr. Michaeline McGuinty and Dr. William Cameron, the researchers plan to look for patterns among cases and determine how well treatments are working. They will also use blood samples to study the virus and the body’s response to each treatment.
CALMING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM IN CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS
The immune system plays a crucial role in defending the body against COVID-19, but sometimes it can become overactivated, resulting in severe damage to the lungs, called Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). In COVID-19 patients, ARDS is the major cause of severe illness and death.
Previous studies have shown that mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) can dampen an overactive immune response and help patients with ARDS related to other kinds of infections.
Dr. Stewart is leading a team of researchers working to launch a clinical trial of MSC therapy for COVID-19 patients with ARDS. They will build on their extensive experience in manufacturing MSCs and leading the world’s first clinical trial of MSCs for septic shock. This project will work to find novel therapies to improve outcomes in COVID-19 patients.
PREPAREDNESS AND SIMULATION DRILLS
While researchers have been nimble in responding to COVID-19, clinical teams have planned for the possibility of a future pandemic long before this virus appeared. When it comes to preparing for the worst, The Ottawa Hospital is leading the way in developing strategies to effectively manage a crisis.
The intensive care units at both the General and Civic campuses, where the most ill COVID-19 patients will be treated, will triple their current size if necessary. If these become over-capacitated, the hospital plans to use other facilities to increase its ability to care for severely ill patients.
To prepare, the University of Ottawa Skills and Simulation Centre has run simulation drills and tests for staff.
The drills, which made use of a high-tech mannequin capable of sneezing, are designed to refine the safe treatment and transport of a severely ill patient experiencing respiratory failure.
Simulation drills are vital as they allow staff to expand their skills, make adjustments if necessary and ultimately provide better care to patients.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT ESSENTIAL
A strong hospital requires the support of its community and that couldn’t be more true than during these unprecedented times.
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The Ottawa Hospital is a leading academic health, research and learning hospital proudly affiliated with the University of Ottawa.
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THIS STORY WAS PROVIDED BY THE OTTAWA HOSPITAL FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES.