The research is focused on ameliorating cognitive decline in aging and in individuals diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). In the proposed research, we ask whether synaptic plasticity is modified by exercise in these groups and if these changes relate to improved cognition. We know that cognition improves with exercise, but if we discover that synaptic plasticity is indeed modified by exercise, this opens many possibilities for us to explore new approaches to change synaptic plasticity in these populations. We view this project as benefiting all aging individuals, with or without MCI, since we are working to improve cognition. Understanding the mechanisms will help design better therapeutic strategies for older adults.

This is a longitudinal study of the long-term health impact of cannabis smoking on the lungs. Participants will be followed over a period of 3 years, and impacts of cannabis smoking on the lungs will be measured with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using hyperpolarized xenon-129 gas, pulmonary function tests, exercise capacity, computed tomography images and questionnaires.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are among the most promising approaches to fighting cancer. However, a substantial percentage of patients experience off-target adverse effects in the form of mild to severe inflammation in different organs, commonly called immune-related adverse events (irAEs). irAEs can lead to treatment discontinuation, or can be life-threatening in extreme cases. The causes of irAEs are largely unknown and there are no reliable predictive biomarkers. The Montreal Immune-Related Adverse Events (MIRAE) study collects clinical information and biospecimens (blood, tissue, stool) from cancer patients treated with ICI to facilitate research on the identification of predictive biomarkers of irAEs, their causes, and the design of effective management strategies.

Hypoparathyroidism following thyroid surgery presents significant challenges, often leading to debilitating symptoms and reduced quality of life despite conventional treatment. Having now reported the first successful case of a deceased donor fresh tissue parathyroid allotransplant with immunosuppression in a transplant-naive recipient, the purpose of this study is to further assess the safety and efficacy of this procedure in patients with severe intractable post-surgical hypoparathyroidism.

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the implementation and effects of CQI cohorts on AA for PHC clinics. The main questions it aims to answer are to assess the effectiveness of CQI cohorts on AA outcomes.

A registry-based randomized phase II trial. A total of 46 patients with metastatic head and neck cancer on systemic therapy with oligoprogression to 1-5 extracranial lesions will be randomized using a 1:1 ratio to standard of care (begin next-line systemic therapy, best supportive care, continue current systemic line, based on treating physician decision) vs. receive stereotactic ablative radiotherapy to all oligoprogressive lesions while continuing their current systemic therapy.

Despite major technological advances in type 1 diabetes (artificial pancreas), the management of hypoglycemia remains a major challenge, especially during and after physical activity. The primary outcome is to determine the temporary blood glucose (BG) target to be set 60 minutes before aerobic exercise in people with type 1 diabetes (PWT1D) using do-it-yourself automated insulin delivery (DIY-AID) systems. Three glycemic thresholds to be applied 60 minutes before physical activity will be tested in 32 people on AID-DIY: 8.3 (current target for commercial AID systems), 8.8, and 9.3 mmol/L. Each participant will perform 3 sessions of moderate aerobic physical activity (ergocycle) at 60% of vo2peak with a different glycemic target each time (random order). Plasma glucose will be measured every 20 minutes before and during physical activity, and blood glucose measured by continuous glucose reading (DEXCOM) for 24 hours post-intervention. Once the best glycemic target is selected, participants could come to the research center for 1 or 2 more voluntary interventions to test the threshold during 1) fasting exercise and 2) late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.

Cystic fibrosis (CF)-related diabetes (CFRD) is the most important emerging complication after pulmonary complications. This specific form of diabetes is associated with an increased morbidity and mortality. CFRD prevalence at the age of 10 is 10% and reaches 40 to 50% in adulthood, while a similar percentage is afflicted with milder dysglycemia also called pre-diabetes abnormalities. In order to identify patients at risk and to implement early therapeutic measures, an annual CFRD screening test is recommended for CF patients after 10 years of age. The standard 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is the recommended screening test. However, this test is perceived by both patients and CF care teams as unpleasant while adding a significant burden and workload, resulting in screening rates lower than 50% in most centers. An ideal alternative test should be simpler, less invasive, more sensitive than an OGTT to establish risks for lung function and/or nutritional deterioration, and predict future CFRD risk. To date, compared to the OGTT, no alternative screening method has demonstrated its effectiveness. However, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is emerging as a possible alternative method. In patients living with CF, CGM is easy to use and can identify early dysglycemia, which in turn, can predict increased risk of accelerated decline of pulmonary function and/or weight, higher risk of pseudomonas colonization, and future risk of CFRD. However, these observations are based on studies of small sample size with very limited prospective data. Furthermore, many of the multiple CGM metrics that have been standardized are based on the risk of complications associated with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. Thus, there is a need for prospective studies to identify the CGM metrics and the cut-off level that is relevant as a predictor of clinical deterioration and/or CFRD risk in CF. The identification of such CF-specific criteria would provide important information to target at-risk patients.

Children infected with COVID-19 are mostly asymptomatic. There is a dearth of data on the epidemiology of COVID-19 in the pediatric population. This is a prospective observational clinical study of pediatric surgical patients. COVID-19 rapid antigen testing will be performed on pediatric patients.

This randomized controlled trial will investigate the hypothesis that since balance and executive functions (EFs) require a similar neural circuit and EFs are recruited when trying to maintain balance, that training balance might improve EFs as well as balance. There will be an active control condition (watching music videos) and a no-treatment condition. Children (18-12 years old) will be randomly assigned to one of these conditions for 12 weeks (36 per condition). The balance and music conditions will involve 15-min sessions 3x/week and a weekly check-in session with an investigator. Participants will be assessed pre-intervention, immediately post and 3-months post.