Research Summary

The research activities of the members of the Henderson Research Centre are focused on clinically relevant problems of vascular disease; including heart attacks, stroke and other cardiovascular disorders, and thrombosis of limb vessels.

The research covers the entire life cycle, ranging from abnormal blood clotting in pregnancy and in the fetus, through disorders of infancy and children, to those of adult and geriatric populations. In addition, problems unique to specific ethnic groups who are particularly prone to vascular disease and thrombosis are also investigated. The research is laboratory-, clinical- and population-based since we believe that the bench-to-bedside approach is critical to the development of new knowledge and its efficient transfer to patient care and prevention. Our research is driven by clinically relevant problems which, if solved, have the potential to improve patient care or the health of populations. Cost-effectiveness is an important component of our work which aims to simplify diagnosis and treatment. The composition of our membership reflects our research mission. In addition to basic scientists, there are practising physicians and surgeons, nursing faculty, pediatricians, laboratory physicians, statisticians, trial methodologists and epidemiologists. Major strengths exist in the basic aspects of abnormal blood clotting and in the disciplines of clinical epidemiology and clinical trials research.

Our research is closely integrated with the activities of the Hamilton Regional Cancer Centre at the Henderson General Division, with the Cardiovascular Medicine and Cardiovascular Surgery Programmes at the Hamilton General Division and with research activities at McMaster University. The Clinical Thromboembolism Programme extends into all of the hospitals in Hamilton. All three programmes have established large national and international networks to perform their clinical trials in heart disease, stroke, venous thromboembolism and thrombosis in adults.