Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

This study is for people with kidney cancer who cannot have surgery or choose not to. It uses a high-dose, precise radiation treatment called SBRT to control the tumor. Researchers will track how well the treatment works over two years and how it affects patients' quality of life…

This study tests whether adding a medication cocktail called PENTOCLO to hyperbaric oxygen therapy works better than hyperbaric oxygen alone for treating a serious side effect of head and neck cancer radiation: dead bone in the jaw. About 24 adults with this condition will be ran…

This study tests whether giving an extra 'boost' of radiation to spinal tumors that have spread from other cancers can improve long-term control and reduce pain. About 108 adults with solid tumors and spine metastases will receive high-precision radiation (SBRT) with or without t…

This early-stage trial tests whether a special helmet using focused ultrasound can safely open the blood-brain barrier in 10 adults with glioblastoma. The goal is to let standard chemotherapy reach the tumor more effectively. Participants will receive the ultrasound treatment alo…

This study follows 240 adults with essential tremor that doesn't improve with medication. They will receive a treatment called MR-guided focused ultrasound, which uses sound waves to target a small area in the brain. Researchers will check if the tremor stays reduced for at least…

This study is for people with HER2+ breast cancer that has spread to the lining of the brain and spinal cord (leptomeningeal disease). It combines targeted drugs (tucatinib, trastuzumab, capecitabine) with radiation to the brain or spine. The goal is to see if this approach helps…

This study is for people with glioblastoma, a fast-growing brain tumor. It tests a new type of radiation therapy that adapts to changes in the tumor during treatment, using smaller target areas. The goal is to see if this approach controls the tumor better than standard radiation…

This study compares different antibiotic strategies for people hospitalized with Gram-negative bloodstream infections. The goal is to find which approach leads to better outcomes, like survival and fewer complications, while also reducing the risk of antibiotic resistance. About …

This study looks at whether a genetic test can help doctors pick the right blood thinner for people who have had a stroke due to narrowed arteries in the brain. Some people's genes make the common drug clopidogrel less effective, so another drug, ticagrelor, may work better. The …

This study is for people aged 65 and older with a type of brain cancer called glioblastoma that has a specific marker (unmethylated MGMT) making standard treatment less effective. Researchers are testing a different way of giving the chemotherapy drug temozolomide—daily instead o…

This study tests whether a sedative called dexmedetomidine can prevent long-term memory and thinking problems that often occur after heart surgery. About 2,400 adults aged 60 and older having bypass or valve surgery will receive either dexmedetomidine or a placebo during their op…

This study compares two common heart procedures—bypass surgery (CABG) and stenting (PCI)—in 754 people with severe coronary artery disease and a weak heart pump. The goal is to see which approach better prevents death, stroke, heart attacks, or repeat procedures over 5 years. Par…

This study tests a new way to give radiation for large brain tumors or surgical cavities. Patients first get 4 daily treatments with one machine, then a break, and finally one treatment with a different machine. The goal is to improve tumor control and lower the risk of side effe…

This study is testing whether MRI scans can detect brain metastases that cause no symptoms in people with aggressive breast cancer types (triple negative or HER2+ at stage IIb or III). About 100 participants will get a brain MRI, give a blood sample, and answer a questionnaire. T…

This study tests a new approach to radiation therapy for men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer. Using MRI guidance, doctors will adjust the radiation dose to each tumor, aiming to reduce side effects while still controlling the cancer. The trial will enroll 20 men and follow…

This study compares two different schedules of precise radiation therapy for men with low- or favorable-risk prostate cancer. The standard approach uses five treatments, while the experimental approach uses just two. The goal is to see if the shorter course can maintain cancer co…

This study tests whether a very low dose of levetiracetam, a drug used for epilepsy, can reduce abnormal overactivity in a key memory area of the brain. It includes 40 people who have a parent or sibling with Alzheimer's and have memory concerns but still score normally on thinki…

This study compares two common steroid treatments for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) flares: pills taken for a few weeks versus a single injection. Researchers want to see which option provides better symptom relief, improves daily function, and is preferred by patients. The trial wil…

This study is testing whether hyperbaric oxygen therapy (breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber) can improve symptoms like fatigue and brain fog in people with post-COVID syndrome. About 40 adults with long COVID will receive the treatment. The main goal is to see if a la…

This small study tests whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called rTMS can reduce apathy—a common lack of interest and motivation—in people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment. Ten participants will receive rTMS, some also taking a medication called methylph…

This study tests whether giving duloxetine, an antidepressant that also relieves pain, before and after knee replacement surgery can lower the need for opioid painkillers. About 150 adults with knee osteoarthritis will take duloxetine or a placebo around the time of their surgery…

This study tests whether cannabidiol (CBD) capsules can safely reduce agitation in people with Alzheimer's disease. About 40 participants will receive both CBD and a placebo at different times to compare effects. The goal is to find a new way to manage difficult behaviors and ide…

This study tests whether nabilone, a synthetic cannabinoid, can safely reduce agitation in people with Alzheimer's disease. Agitation is common and distressing, with few good treatment options. About 112 participants will receive either nabilone or a placebo for 8 weeks, and rese…

This study tests if watching a virtual reality (VR) video can lower anxiety in people about to undergo a brain procedure for essential tremor. About 60 adults will watch one of two VR videos before their treatment, and their anxiety levels will be measured using questionnaires. T…

This study tests if hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can reduce pain in women with endometriosis. HBOT involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber, which may lower inflammation. The trial will enroll 64 women with long-lasting pelvic pain who are waiting for surgery. …

This study tests whether combining a medication (methylphenidate) with a non-invasive brain stimulation technique can reduce apathy in people with Alzheimer's disease or mixed dementia. Apathy, or lack of motivation, is a common and distressing symptom. The trial will enroll 12 p…

This study tests whether cannabis is safe and practical for treating restless legs syndrome (RLS), a condition causing uncomfortable leg sensations and poor sleep. Thirty adults with moderate-to-severe RLS will receive either cannabis or a placebo for 8 weeks. Researchers will mo…

This early-stage study tests whether a special helmet that uses sound waves can safely open a temporary window in the brain's protective barrier. This would allow an anti-inflammatory medicine (IVIg) to reach the motor cortex in people with ALS. Only 6 adults with ALS will take p…

This study tests whether doing simple mouth and throat exercises can help people with obstructive sleep apnea who cannot use a CPAP machine. 45 participants will be randomly assigned to supervised, unsupervised, or fake exercises for 10 weeks. The goal is to see if this approach …

This study tests a new way to manage pain from broken ribs by freezing the nerves that cause the pain. The treatment, called cryoneurolysis, uses a small tool to cool the nerves and block pain signals. The study will include 24 adults with broken ribs to see if this method is pra…

This small pilot study is testing whether a natural supplement called fisetin is safe for older adults with mild Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment. The study involves 5 participants and focuses on tracking any side effects. Fisetin is found in fruits like strawberr…

This study compares two types of antiseptic skin cleaners (chlorhexidine-alcohol vs. povidone-iodine) used before repeat hip or knee replacement surgery. The goal is to see which cleaner better prevents infections or wound problems that might need another surgery within a year. A…

This study tests whether immersive 360-degree virtual reality videos help medical students navigate hospital buildings better than standard 2D videos. About 44 medical students will be timed and tracked as they find a new location after watching either a VR or regular video. The …

This study uses brain scans to see how psilocybin (a psychedelic drug) changes brain activity in people with depression. Fifty adults with major depression will receive either psilocybin or a placebo during two treatment sessions, with MRI scans taken right after. The goal is to …

This pilot study aims to see if inhaled sedatives (calming gas) can lower the risk of delirium (severe confusion) in children who need a breathing machine, compared to standard IV sedatives. About 60 children aged 1 month to 18 years will take part, and researchers will track how…

This study is testing a new type of MRI scan that can show how brain tumors use energy. The goal is to see if this scan can help doctors predict which tumors will respond to radiation therapy. About 276 adults with brain metastases will be scanned before and after treatment to se…

This study looks at whether a simple spinal tap can find cancer DNA in the fluid around the brain and spine. Researchers will test 60 adults with solid tumors that have spread to the brain or spinal lining, as well as those without brain spread. The goal is to see if this liquid …

This study aims to create a training program to teach operating room staff—surgeons, nurses, and anesthesiologists—how to work more comfortably and avoid injuries. Poor posture and stressful movements cause pain in over half of OR workers, leading to burnout and early retirement.…

This study follows 100 adults who had a chest tube placed after breaking their ribs. Researchers want to learn how many develop long-term nerve pain (intercostal neuralgia) and how it affects their quality of life. The goal is to better understand this complication and improve fu…

This study looks at whether exercising before a gentle brain stimulation technique (tDCS) can improve memory in older adults with mild cognitive problems due to vascular conditions. About 64 people who have completed cardiac rehab will take part. The goal is to see if priming the…

This study is testing a program to reduce postoperative delirium (sudden confusion) in older adults having major surgery. Researchers will screen patients aged 60 and older for memory problems before surgery, then provide their care team and family with simple prevention tips lik…

This study is testing a new MRI technique that uses a special contrast agent (hyperpolarized pyruvate) to create images of the heart's energy use. Researchers want to see if this method can help doctors better understand and manage heart failure. About 112 adults with high blood …