MY PAIN BLOG

Toronto Poly Clinic - Research

Our centre is actively involved in pain research.

Toronto Poly Clinic (TPC) is a multi-disciplinary pain management centre specialized in multimodality clinical procedures for pain management. Along with the clinical practice, TPC is actively involved in pain science and education, physician training, and research and development in novel methodologies in pain treatment and control. Currently, the TPC’s research department is active in the following areas:

  • FDA and Health Canada Clinical Trials

TPC’s research department has extensive experience with the United States’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Health Canada procedures for human clinical trials on new pain medications and medical devices. Since establishment in year 2002, TPC has successfully conducted a number of human clinical trials on various medications and medical devices. All clinical trials are being conducted based on the GCP/ICH guidelines and all TPC’s participating research staff are GCP certified. Moreover, TPC has provided training rotations to medical students and specialty residents in pain management as well as principles of medical research.

  • Research and Development in Novel Technologies

TPC is actively pursuing several R&D programs toward developing novel safe and effective technologies in the area of pain management. One of these programs is centered on a novel technology which is called HIFU (high intensity Focused Ultrasound). HIFU is an energy-based modality in which intensive ultrasound is focused in tissue to give rise to therapeutic effects to treat various diseases and conditions. The treatment is usually performed under appropriate imaging for treatment monitoring and control. HIFU is well-known for a number of encouraging attributes including: non-invasiveness, high treatment precision, low mortality and morbidity, short hospitalization time and low cost. One of the novel applications of HIFU that is directly related to pain management and control is in precise non-invasive treatment of neural tissue. HIFU has the capability to induce irreversible as well as reversible changes in neural tissue. Among others, this could potentially open up new beneficial treatments and procedures in pain management and control, and anaesthesia. TPC's interest in HIFU research and development is focused on finding new HIFU applications for neuro-modulation by permanently or temporarily changing the sensory nerve conductions to eliminate and/or reduce pain. It is anticipated that novel non-invasive applications of HIFU in treatment of pain can bring a revolution to this field through helping millions of chronic pain patients around the world. TPC in collaboration with distinguished researchers and established academic and industrial research centers in the field is actively pursuing an advanced research and development program in novel applications of HIFU in pain management, anaesthesia, and neurosurgery. In January 2008, the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation approved an Ontario Research Fund– Research Excellence (ORF-RE) multi-institution research and development grant with over $25 million in total funding in the area of HIFU technology development and commercialization (for more information see http://www.mri.gov.on.ca/english/news/Orf020708_sunnybrook_bd2.asp). This is a strong evidence of the Ontario government’s strategic planning to further support the province’s leading position in this cutting-edge area of science and technology. Four major research institutions (Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Ryerson University, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, and University Health Network) along with a number of distinguished researchers in the field and established industrial partners are involved in this advanced R&D initiative. TPC is one of the private parties directly involved in this grant. Under the ORF-RE grant, TPC has a research agreement with the Ryerson University and is currently collaborating with researchers in the field toward achieving the above R&D objectives.

For more information about TPC’s research activities, contact Dr. Kevin ROD at: 416 250 7171 info@tpclinic.com


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