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Nova Scotia Health Authority

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HALIFAX, Nova Scotia B3H 1V7
Conducts research for Depression
Conducts research for Prostate Cancer
Conducts research for Crohn's Disease
Conducts research for Obesity
Conducts research for Ulcerative Colitis
71 reported clinical trials
9 medical researchers
Photo of Nova Scotia Health Authority in HALIFAXPhoto of Nova Scotia Health Authority in HALIFAXPhoto of Nova Scotia Health Authority in HALIFAX

Summary

Nova Scotia Health Authority is a medical facility located in HALIFAX, Nova Scotia. This center is recognized for care of Depression, Prostate Cancer, Crohn's Disease, Obesity, Ulcerative Colitis and other specialties. Nova Scotia Health Authority is involved with conducting 71 clinical trials across 108 conditions. There are 9 research doctors associated with this hospital, such as Ivan Wong, MD, Kerrie Schoffer, MD, Rudolf Uher, MD, and Lisa Barrett, MD.

Top PIs

Clinical Trials running at Nova Scotia Health Authority

Depression
Bladder Cancer
Crohn's Disease
Multiple Myeloma
Prostate Cancer
Bipolar Disorder
Ulcerative Colitis
Major Depressive Disorder
Rotator Cuff Injury
Psychosis
Image of trial facility.

CBT + Antidepressants

for Depression

Depression currently affects close to 2 million Canadians and is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Pharmacological treatments (antidepressant medication) and psychological treatments such as cognitive-behavioural therapy are available for depression, but the majority of those who receive treatment have an unsatisfactory response. On average, the combination of pharmacological and psychological treatment achieves better results than either treatment alone. However, the apparently superior results of combination treatment may be due to the fact that different individuals preferentially respond to pharmacological or psychological treatment. The invesitagtors have discovered several clinical factors and biomarkers that predict poor response to commonly used antidepressant medication: history of childhood maltreatment, loss of interest and reduced activity, a biomarker of systemic inflammation, and a genetic marker of sensitivity to environment. Indirect evidence suggests that the same factors may indicate the need for psychological treatment, but their usefulness as differential predictors of psychological and pharmacological treatment outcomes remains to be established. The investigators will test the hypothesis that a pre-determined set of clinical variables (history of childhood maltreatment, loss of interest and reduced activity) and biomarkers (serum C-reactive protein, a marker of systemic inflammation, and short alleles of the serotonin transporter gene promoter polymorphism) differentially predicts response to antidepressants and to cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy with clinically significant accuracy. If this hypothesis is supported, the resulting predictor will allow personalized selection of treatment for depression, leading to improved outcomes and healthcare efficiency. Additional objectives include replication of additional predictors and integrative analyses aimed at refining the treatment choice algorithms.
Recruiting3 awards Phase 4
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Escitalopram + Brexpiprazole

for Depression

This is a study that will test a predictive biomarker algorithm based on results from a previous study. The goal of this study is to integrate clinical, imaging, EEG, and molecular data across 8 sites to predict treatment outcome for patients experiencing a major depressive episode (MDE).
Recruiting3 awards Phase 48 criteria
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Genetic Counseling

for Mental Health Risks Associated with Cannabis Use

Severe mental illness (SMI) refers to the most burdensome psychiatric conditions. The need to pre-empt the onset of SMI is pressing because once SMI develops, quality of life is poor and available treatments have limited efficacy. Most risk factors for SMI are either unchangeable (e.g., genetics) or difficult to alter (e.g., low socio-economic status). In contrast, cannabis use is one specific risk factor that could be avoided. Certain individuals are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of cannabis. Genetic factors can help us identify these high-risk individuals. One in three individuals are carriers of a higher-risk genetic variant, and cannabis users with this genotype are at up to 7-fold increased risk of developing schizophrenia. In our study, genetic counselling will be provided to participants by a board-certified genetic counsellor. During the genetic counselling session, participants will have the option to receive their genotype. Participants will be counselled regarding their individualized risk of developing and of not developing SMI based on family history, whether or not they choose to use cannabis, and genotype (if the participants accept the genetic test results). The investigators hypothesize that this intervention will reduce exposure to cannabis compared to the youth who are not offered the intervention.
Recruiting1 award N/A5 criteria

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Frequently asked questions

What kind of research happens at Nova Scotia Health Authority?
Nova Scotia Health Authority is a medical facility located in HALIFAX, Nova Scotia. This center is recognized for care of Depression, Prostate Cancer, Crohn's Disease, Obesity, Ulcerative Colitis and other specialties. Nova Scotia Health Authority is involved with conducting 71 clinical trials across 108 conditions. There are 9 research doctors associated with this hospital, such as Ivan Wong, MD, Kerrie Schoffer, MD, Rudolf Uher, MD, and Lisa Barrett, MD.