Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

This phase 4 trial tests whether the sedative dexmedetomidine can prevent long-term thinking and memory problems after heart surgery. Researchers will give the drug to 2400 adults aged 60 and older during and after their operation, then track their brain function for a year. If s…

Radiation for head and neck cancer can sometimes cause a painful condition where the jaw bone dies (osteoradionecrosis). This pilot study tests whether adding a special drug cocktail (mPENTOCLO) to standard hyperbaric oxygen therapy works better than oxygen alone. The study will …

This study tests a new way to give radiation for large brain tumors. Instead of using one machine for all treatments, patients first get 4 daily treatments with a linear accelerator, then a 1-2 week break, and finally one precise treatment with a Gamma Knife. The goal is to bette…

This study tests a different way of giving the chemotherapy drug temozolomide to elderly patients (65+) with a tough-to-treat type of brain cancer called glioblastoma. The tumor has a marker (unmethylated MGMT) that usually makes standard chemo less effective. Researchers hope th…

This study is for people with glioblastoma, a fast-growing brain cancer. It tests a new way to give radiation therapy that adapts to changes in the tumor and uses smaller treatment areas. The goal is to see if this approach can better control the cancer and improve survival compa…

This study is for people with kidney cancer who cannot undergo surgery due to medical reasons. It uses a highly targeted form of radiation called stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) to treat the tumor. Researchers will track how well the treatment controls the cancer and how it…

This study tracks 240 adults with essential tremor that doesn't improve with medication. They will receive a non-invasive procedure called MR-guided focused ultrasound, which uses sound waves to target the brain area causing tremors. Researchers will check if tremor control lasts…

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 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 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 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 is looking at whether a brain MRI can spot cancer that has spread to the brain in people with certain types of breast cancer (triple negative or HER2-positive, stage IIb or III) who have no symptoms. About 100 participants will get a contrast-enhanced brain MRI, give a…

This pilot study tests a new way to give radiation for prostate cancer that uses MRI to guide the beam and lower the dose to healthy tissue. Twenty men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer will receive five targeted radiation sessions. The goal is to see if this approach can re…

This study tests whether the antidepressant duloxetine can help reduce opioid painkiller use after knee replacement surgery. About 150 adults with knee osteoarthritis will receive either duloxetine or a placebo before and after surgery. The goal is to see if duloxetine lowers opi…

This small pilot study tests whether freezing the nerves around broken ribs can reduce pain. Participants will receive either the freezing procedure or a sham treatment, along with standard pain care. The goal is to see if a larger trial is possible and to measure pain levels and…

This study looks at whether watching a virtual reality (VR) video can lower anxiety in people about to undergo a brain procedure (MRgFUS) for severe hand tremors. About 60 adults will be randomly assigned to watch one of two VR videos before their treatment. Researchers will meas…

This study is testing whether CBD capsules can safely reduce agitation in people with Alzheimer's disease. About 40 participants aged 55 and older will receive either CBD or a placebo, then switch treatments to compare effects. The goal is to find a better way to manage difficult…

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. Researchers will monitor for side effects in 5 participants. This is an early-stage safety study, not a test of wheth…

This pilot study tests whether using inhaled sedatives (like isoflurane gas) instead of standard IV sedatives can reduce delirium—extreme confusion—in children who need a breathing machine. The study will enroll 60 children aged 1 month to 18 years in intensive care. The main goa…

This pilot study will test whether cannabis oil can safely help people with restless legs syndrome (RLS). Thirty adults with moderate-to-severe RLS will receive either cannabis oil or a placebo for 8 weeks. Researchers will track side effects, how many people finish the study, an…

This study tests whether exercising before a mild brain stimulation session can improve memory in people with mild cognitive impairment linked to heart or blood vessel problems. 64 adults aged 50 and older will be randomly assigned to receive either real or sham brain stimulation…

This study compares two different radiation schedules for men with low- or favorable-risk prostate cancer: the standard five treatments versus a shorter course of just two treatments. The goal is to see if the shorter course can maintain cancer control while better preserving sex…

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 loss of interest and motivation, is common in these conditions. The trial involves …

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

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 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 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 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 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 early-phase study tests a new MRI method that uses a special injection called hyperpolarized pyruvate to see how the heart uses energy. Researchers will scan the hearts of up to 112 people with high blood pressure, heart thickening, or heart failure. The goal is to see if th…

This study uses brain scans to see if psilocybin changes activity in mood-related brain networks in people with depression. Fifty adults will receive either psilocybin or a placebo pill, along with supportive therapy, and undergo MRI scans. The goal is to understand how psilocybi…

This study looks at whether a spinal fluid sample can find cancer cells or DNA from tumors that have spread to the brain or spinal cord. About 60 people with solid tumors will be grouped by whether they have brain metastases, spinal lining involvement, or no brain spread. The goa…

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

This study follows 100 adults who had a chest tube placed after breaking their ribs. The goal is to learn how many develop long-term nerve pain (intercostal neuralgia) and how it affects their quality of life. Researchers will track pain levels and daily function over time to bet…

This study tests whether watching a 360-degree virtual reality video through a headset helps medical students navigate a hospital route better than watching a standard 2D video on a computer. Forty-four medical students will be randomly assigned to one of the two methods, then ti…

This study tests a program to reduce postoperative delirium (sudden confusion) in older surgical patients. Researchers will screen 260 adults aged 60+ for memory problems before surgery, then provide their care team and family with simple prevention tips like better sleep and hyd…

This study aims to create a hands-on training program to teach operating room teams—surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses—how to work more comfortably and avoid injuries. Poor ergonomics causes pain in over half of OR staff, leading to burnout and early retirement. The project …

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…