Using innovative approaches to stimulate research into critical care
Intensive care patients who suffer from a wide range of illnesses receive treatments to support their vital functions, which are administered to everyone in a blanket way. Even though these treatments require significant resources and are associated with major health risks, little to no research has gone into them. Recent research advances have led to better studies that could very soon help doctors personalize this type of care and better adapt it to the needs of each patient so that it is more effective.
To achieve this goal, a clinical trial platform to continuously evaluate supportive modalities in critical care is about to be launched by Dr. François Lamontagne, Chair in Patient-Centred Research and Acute Care, thanks to a generous $1-million contribution from the Hewitt Foundation.
“The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Université de Sherbrooke strives to play a central role in deploying rigorous research methodologies that redefine care, and the support of our philanthropic partners lets us scale up our action to fulfill this mission.”
– Dr. Dominique Dorion, Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
Starting point: Vasopressors
The newly created Critical Care Comparative Effectiveness Platform will eventually lead to multiple treatments that will be continuously studied at the same time. First, Dr. François Lamontagne’s team will focus on the impacts of vasopressors.
A number of pathologies have the effect of lowering blood pressure. Patients with this condition will receive vasopressors, which are drugs that raise blood pressure by increasing heart rate and contraction and constricting the blood vessels. However, these treatments also come with risks. The goal of the platform is to give doctors a better understanding of the effects of these medications so that they can personalize their administration.
An essential partnership that promises effective results
Hewitt Foundation’s contribution marks the launch of this new project, which is a collaboration between the team of the Chair in Patient-Centred Research and Acute Care and a number of international research partners, notably in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
“Vasopressors have been used in medicine for almost a century. Although this therapy is a core tool in the critical care toolbox, their overall effect is not always certain. A health system must constantly improve the relevance and usefulness of the care it delivers. The commitment of partners plays a major role in developing and deploying these avenues of research. I am very grateful to the Hewitt Foundation for supporting our project from the very start, and I thank them deeply for this contribution!”
– Dr. François Lamontagne, Chair in Patient-Centred Research and Acute Care.
“The Hewitt Foundation wants to significantly improve the lives of Canadians and increase its impact by supporting innovation. In line with this mission, we are proud to contribute to Dr. François Lamontagne’s innovative critical care research project, whose ultimate goal is to save lives.”
– Kim Anderson, Chief Executive Officer, Hewitt Foundation
Advances thanks to the Chair in Patient-Centred Research and Acute Care
Since 2015, the Chair in Patient-Centred Research and Acute Care has stood out on the international stage thanks to its major research, and Dr. François Lamontagne’s new project will build on these advances.
About the Hewitt Foundation
The Hewitt Foundation is a private Canadian foundation established in 2017 at the time of the sale of Hewitt Equipment Limited and Atlantic Tractors & Equipment. Hewitt Equipment was founded in 1952 by the late Robert Hewitt. Jim Hewitt, and the Hewitt family, had a desire to continue their legacy of giving back to the communities around them. This led them to establish one of Canada’s largest private charitable foundations. The Foundation’s focus is on Eastern Canada, the former companies’ area of operations – Québec and the Maritimes – with an objective of supporting those communities which contributed to Hewitt Equipment’s success for over 65 years.
The Hewitt Foundation’s purpose is to help bring about meaningful and sustainable social, economic and cultural change by granting, investing and collaborating with other organizations and partners and with the public.
About the Université de Sherbrooke Major Campaign
Since its founding, the Université de Sherbrooke has always innovated, pushed boundaries and practices, and made forward-looking decisions. These orientations have forged its identity and are a source of pride for the university’s entire community. While drawing from this history, the institution is embarking on the next chapter of its development with its Major Fundraising Campaign, Choosing to Change the Future. The most ambitious in UdeS history, this $250-million campaign will support over 150 inspiring projects that provide concrete solutions to today’s and tomorrow’s challenges.