WDMH Leads Clinical Trials to Support Better Care

Provided by the WDMH Foundation
WDMH Leads Clinical Trials to Support Better Care
Pfizer is sponsoring the Winchester District Memorial Hospitals new three-year clinical trials looking at heart disease. (Photo : Stock photo.)

Winchester District Memorial Hospital’s (WDMH) research program has reached a new milestone – launching its first clinical trial to benefit patients.

“This is a major advancement in our research program,” explains Dr. Mohamed Gazarin, Chief Research Officer. “Clinical trials are a key research tool for advancing medical knowledge and patient care. The knowledge gained will support the treatment we will provide in the years to come.”

Clinical trails can provide positive impacts for many patients in the future, offering benefits such as new treatments or better drug options. Through rigorous testing, evidence-based trials ensure the solutions are safe and effective before they are used in clinical practice.

The first study, sponsored by Pfizer, is a three-year clinical trial looking at heart disease. Heart disease is currently the second leading cause of death within Canada, with an estimated 750,000 Canadians living with heart failure. In rural areas specifically, patients with heart failure may have a harder time accessing necessary medical services.

WDMH is part of an international study to look at the prevalence of Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM), which is a stiffening and thickening of the heart muscle. ATTR-CM leads to heart muscle dysfunction, cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, and death. It is believed that ATTR-CM is significantly underdiagnosed.

The primary purpose of this study is to assess how common ATTR-CM is among patients with heart failure, to estimate the global prevalence of ATTR-CM. “Knowing how prevalent the disease is will allow for further investigation into early diagnosis and treatment,” says Dr. Gazarin. “We are very proud of our commitment to this type of important research, especially for rural communities.”

To learn more about WDMH’s clinical trials, visit www.wdmh.on.ca/clinicaltrials or email research@wdmh.on.ca.

If you would like to provide comments or suggestions about WDMH, please contact Cholly Boland, President and CEO, at 613-774-1049 or cboland@wdmh.on.ca.

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