Page 15 - SREMI 2020 Annual Report

blinded, randomized controlled trial to determine if pre- exposure prophylaxis reduces COVID-19 among health care workers in the emergency department. We are working with Ontario scientists on a longitudinal study that will link serological, genomic and patient characteristics to provide a comprehensive understanding of factors that contribute to variability in symptoms and outcomes among COVID-19 patients. We also partnered with experts in arti cial intelligence to develop a model to predict future oxygen requirement in COVID-19 patients based on chest X-ray ndings and data available at the time of ED presentation or admission to hospital.
Additionally, NYGH is collecting data for the Canadian COVID-19 Emergency Department Registry Network, and Dr. Rohit Mohindra is working with SREMI af liated scholar Dr. Katie Dainty on a qualitative project to explore patients’ perspective on high risk COVID-19 follow-up clinics. Dr. Jacques Lee has proposed a randomized trial that would use specially trained, older, hospital volunteers to provide peer support to combat isolation and loneliness in isolated older people. Finally, in collaboration with the World Health Organization and The British Medical Journal, I am working with a group of international methodologists and clinicians to conduct a living network meta-analysis for the management of COVID-19 that informs international clinical practice guidelines. The international attention this work has garnered is astonishing, as evidenced by the altmetric from our rst publication (https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m2980) which is currently 3105.
The success of this past year is a direct re ection of the hard work, perseverance, and resiliency of our SREMI team. I would like to thank our Director, Dr. Borgundvaag for his leadership through these extraordinary times, the SREMI research faculty, and our research coordinator Cameron Thompson for his incredible efforts. I would also like to thank our generous benefactors, Gerald Schwartz and Heather Reisman, for their ongoing patronage and support.
Respectfully submitted,
Shelley McLeod, PhD, MSc, MSc, BSc (hons) Research Director, SREMI
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