Clinical research
In clinical research, individuals volunteer to participate in studies that aim to uncover better ways to treat, prevent, diagnose and understand human disease. Our clinical research includes clinical trials, where a new treatment or intervention is tested; patient registries, which collect information about disease epidemiology and specific features; and natural history studies, which monitor patients in detail to discover more about how diseases progress. Trials are conducted at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and The Ottawa Hospital for the following neuromuscular diseases: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Charcot-Marie-Tooth, Congenital Myasthenic Syndromes, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Myotonic Dystrophy, Facio-Scapulo-Humeral Muscular Dystrophy, Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy, Oculo-Pharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy, Myasthenia Gravis and Spinal Muscular Atrophy.
Dr Hanns Lochmüller is a highly experienced investigator who has led multiple academic and commercially sponsored clinical research studies in Europe and Canada and is now Principal Investigator for multiple adult and pediatric trials in Ottawa.
Pediatric Trials at CHEO
Dr Lochmüller and pediatric neurologist and neuromuscular specialist Dr Hugh McMillan work closely together on pediatric neuromuscular research at CHEO, further supported by pediatric neurologist Dr Amanda Yaworski. This collaborative approach allows the research coordinators to work as a joint team helping to run clinical studies for both doctors and provides further opportunities for pediatric neuromuscular patients to participate in clinical trials.
Adult Trials at The Ottawa Hospital
Dr Lochmüller sees adult neuromuscular patients in clinic at The Ottawa Hospital (TOH), working closely with Dr Ari Breiner and the team at the Ottawa Neuromuscular Centre to conduct neuromuscular research, further supported by neurologist Dr Alberto Aleman.
A list of currently active and past trials is provided below.
Contact Information
If you are affected by one of the neuromuscular diseases listed below and would be interested in participating in an Ottawa-based clinical trial, please contact coordinator Emilie Hill-Smith for children and Jessica MacGregor for adults.
If you are a pharmaceutical company interested in Ottawa as a participating centre for your study, please contact Dr Lochmüller directly.
For general inquiries about the Canadian neuromuscular clinical trial landscape from a patient perspective and advice about what it means to participate in clinical research, please contact Muscular Dystrophy Canada.
Investigators, pharmaceutical company representatives and other stakeholders interested in clinical trials in Canada are also encouraged to visit the Neuromuscular Disease Network for Canada website to see how they can support you.