More than 150 local and international researchers gathered for PHRI’s “Building on Progress for the Future” scientific symposium to celebrate 25 years of research that has shaped healthcare guidelines and practices worldwide.
Over two days, the event featured discussions on a variety of topics including challenges in global health, the impact of climate change on health and cardiovascular disease, advances in managing acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation, health research priorities in low- and middle-income countries, understanding the pathology and treatment of uncommon conditions, and incorporation of digital health methods in prevention and treatment.
“PHRI tackles complex problems that span social, biological and genetic influences of diseases” said Salim Yusuf, PHRI Founding Executive Director and Senior Scientist.
Since its establishment in 1999, PHRI has grown from a small team to an organization bringing together more than 300 staff and nearly 60 researchers. With more than 60 ongoing studies, today PHRI’s research involves more than 1.33 million participants from 105 countries across six continents. PHRI has published more than 6000 papers, and its research findings have received 11 regulatory approvals.
“Together, we have made important discoveries that further our vision of improving health outcomes for people around the world and challenged conventional thinking in several areas. This has been possible through identifying and addressing the gaps in current knowledge and science or at times questioning established dogma” added Yusuf.
PHRI’s research areas expanded over the years to include a variety of fields including cardiovascular disease and diabetes, brain health, perioperative medicine and surgery, stroke, thrombosis, renal diseases, infectious diseases, population genetics, health systems. Thus, becoming a world leader in large clinical trials, population health studies and epidemiology.
“With this mindset and by creating an environment that encourages our researchers to collaborate across disciplines and take on major health challenges, we have influenced health guidelines and practice worldwide.”
Presenters highlighted landmark trials like PURE as well as recent research. Scientist Philip Joseph shared new insights into heart failure from the G-CHF study. Investigator Raed Joundi presented on the PROSPECT platform which aims to evaluate and improve cognitive and functional outcomes after stroke worldwide through integrating interventions and randomized controlled trials.
“As one of Canada’s research-intensive universities, we take immense pride in our research centers and institutes, and I must say that PHRI is truly the jewel in that crown,” said Jonathan Bramson, Vice Dean, Research for the Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University.
“I am delighted to celebrate the 25th anniversary of PHRI, a world leader in large clinical trials, population health studies, and epidemiology expertise” stated Paul O’Byrne, Dean and Vice-President, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University. “I look forward to what lies ahead for this globally renowned institute.”
On PHRI’s achievements, whose impact has gone far beyond Hamilton and Canada to the world, Tracey MacArthur, President and CEO, Hamilton Health Sciences, said, “PHRI has led significant advancements to improve care in heart disease, stroke, thrombosis, diabetes and surgery both in Canada and around the world. The commitment, imagination and outstanding contributions of everyone within this institute continually raise the bar and bring immense value to our health system.”
Collaborations advancing research, informing guidelines
“At PHRI, we take pride in our work, the diverse research areas we cover, and our committed people. Together, these have made Canada a place where knowledge is generated and where evidence-based care is implemented,” stated Hertzel Gerstein, PHRI Interim Executive Director and Senior Scientist.
Collaboration is key to PHRI’s success and lies at the heart of its work. The symposium featured some key collaborations that have contributed to advancing knowledge, informing guidelines and enhancing the research landscape in Canada.
PHRI Senior Scientist PJ Devereaux presented on the Accelerating Clinical Trials Consortium established in January 2023 with the aim of advancing clinical trial excellence both nationally and globally. Devereaux shared ACT’s achievements in overcoming challenges to conducting large clinical trials and the positive impact on the Canadian landscape. PHRI is proud to be an integral part of this consortium as the coordinating center and one of the clinical trial units.
Another collaboration highlighted at the event was the Clinical Research Laboratory and Biobank (CRLB) – Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory (GMEL), which now stores four million aliquots of blood and tissue from 85 countries. PHRI Senior Scientist and CRLB-GMEL Director Guillaume Paré shared the journey of genetic research at PHRI. The PURE Biomarker Program is one of the initiatives that used this data to molecularly characterize 12,000 PURE participants. The program aims to predict the risk of major diseases such as diabetes, heart failure, stroke, and cognitive decline, while also providing biological insights into these conditions.
It all starts with a vision, and ends with more questions!
PHRI Senior Scientist Guillaume Paré shared with the attendees the journey of #genetic research at #PHRI highlighting the #PURE Biomarker Program! #PHRI25 #healthresearch #researchexcellence #Cardiology #cvd pic.twitter.com/lJi0i4lJ0s— PHRI.ca Population Health Research Institute 🇨🇦 (@PHRIresearch) November 21, 2024
PHRI’s people: global with one mission
“It’s fantastic to be back at PHRI particularly for its 25th anniversary, it feels very special it feels like a reunion” said Clara Chow, PHRI Senior International Fellow.
A long-time collaborator with PHRI, Chow has worked on landmark trials PURE and VISION in among other studies. “PHRI is amazing in that it always thinks global and international, you’re not just thinking about affecting your community or patients, you’re thinking about affecting all the patients of cardiovascular disease in their very different environments around the world.”
Joining PHRI since its early days, PHRI Senior Scientist Jackie Bosch expressed “If you said to me back in 1993 when I had started with what wasn’t PHRI then, that we’d be sitting here celebrating 25 years of PHRI, it’s a phenomenal concept. Watching it grow from just a few offices and people into a group of people dedicated to research into the Population Health Research Institute has been amazing. It’s an opportunity unlike any other in Canada to truly traverse the globe in terms of what we do, and bring the globe here to Hamilton for the anniversary is extremely special.”
“We are going for at least 25 years more, and I can’t wait to see what happens. The exciting part is that we will still be doing it together. Together today, together in 25 years, and important questions answered.”
During the symposium, PHRI Senior Scientist Jeff Healey and John Eikelboom paid tribute to the late Senior Scientist Stuart Connolly, who we lost this past year. They shared insights and highlights from his work in stroke prevention that have saved countless lives.
Ever prescribe #DOAC in #AF? #Warfarin in valvular #AF? Amiodarone instead of #dronedarone in high risk AF?
Refer for #ICD post VT/VF?
Consider #LAAOS at CABG?#StuartConnolly changed care through his trials
He is missed
Slides: #JHealey & #JEikelboom @PHRIresearch symposium
1/ pic.twitter.com/dPcF6F90Bc— Harriette Van Spall, MD MPH (@hvanspall) November 22, 2024
At PHRI, we are grateful for the contributions of those who have been a special part of our journey. The legacy of the late Stuart Connolly, Heather Arthur, Yannick Le Manach, Bogani Mayosi, Klas Malmberg, Janice Pogue, Peter Sleight, and Khalid Yusoff will continue to inspire us in all that we do.
The event also celebrated 25 years of visionary leadership by Yusuf, who will continue at PHRI as Emeritus Executive Director. A gala dinner was held at the Art Gallery of Hamilton, where speeches were delivered by Gerstein, O’Byrne, and Senior Scientist Sonia Anand. To honor Yusuf, Bosch presented him with a painting of the Population Health Research Institute building.
Looking ahead
Reflecting on PHRI’s 25-year journey, Yusuf said, “We should be proud of what we have accomplished together over the past three decades, and I am optimistic that PHRI will preserve its culture, continue to tackle current and emerging health challenges and advance health globally.”
“We will continue to build on our achievements and discoveries that have shaped healthcare practices and guidelines” stated Gerstein. “Our focus remains on asking the right questions and generating knowledge that benefits people both in Canada and globally.”
The 25th anniversary scientific symposium was made possible with support from our sponsors NOVO Nordisk and Bayer.
