Clinical trials

The goal of this pilot clinical trial is to learn if a faster brain stimulation schedule is practical, safe, tolerable, and acceptable. This study looks at accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation, or accelerated iTBS. This is a non-invasive type of magnetic brain stimulation. This study is for adults with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). The main questions this study aims to answer are: 1. Can participants complete six short brain stimulation sessions per day for five days? 2. Is this treatment schedule safe and tolerable for participants? 3. What changes occur in depression symptoms, PTSD symptoms, anxiety, quality of life, and brain activity over time? Participants will: 1. Complete health screening and baseline assessments. 2. Receive six short sessions of magnetic brain stimulation per day for five days. 3. Have their brain activity measured using an EEG recording. 4. Return for a post-treatment assessment at Week 2 and follow-up visits at Week 5 and Week 12.

Brief Summary The goal of this pilot study is to evaluate the feasibility and safety of conducting a randomized comparison of two standard-of-care knee radiofrequency ablation (RFA) techniques in adults with chronic knee pain related to knee osteoarthritis. Participants who are already scheduled to receive knee RFA as part of their standard clinical care will be randomized to receive either a standard 3-target (standard) RFA protocol or a 6-target (novel) RFA protocol. The main purpose of this pilot study is to determine whether a future larger randomized trial comparing these two RFA approaches is feasible and safe to conduct. Participants will complete questionnaires about pain, knee function, and stiffness at baseline and at follow-up timepoints for up to 12 months after the RFA procedure. Preliminary pain relief outcomes will also be explored to help inform the design of a future definitive trial. Participants already scheduled for a knee RFA procedure as part of their standard of care for pain related to knee osteoarthritis will answer online survey questions about their pain for up to 12 months.

Chronic pain affects over 60% of individuals living with spinal cord injuries (SCI), significantly impairing their daily lives and overall well-being. Traditional treatments like medications often provide limited relief and come with unwanted side effects. Recognizing this gap, the EmpowerSpine program was co-developed as an innovative, online, multidisciplinary pain management solution tailored for individuals with SCI. EmpowerSpine equips participants with evidence-based tools, including education about pain biology, behavioural strategies to manage daily activities, and techniques to improve self-monitoring and resilience. Delivered through an accessible digital platform, the program is designed to overcome barriers such as limited mobility, high costs, and geographic constraints. In initial trials, EmpowerSpine demonstrated high levels of satisfaction and adherence among participants, with improvements in pain intensity, mental health, and quality of life. The proposed research seeks to refine EmpowerSpine using the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST), a pragmatic research framework, to identify which components of the program (i.e. clinician guidance, peer support groups, follow-up booster sessions) yield the best outcomes. A randomized controlled trial involving 100 participants will evaluate the program's impact on self-efficacy, pain levels, and overall quality of life. This work aims to optimize EmpowerSpine for scalability, making it a sustainable and effective resource for individuals with SCI across Canada. By leveraging partnerships with patient organizations and healthcare providers, the research will ensure the program addresses real-world needs and is positioned for widespread implementation. EmpowerSpine has the potential to revolutionize how chronic pain is managed in the SCI community, offering a scalable model of care that combines technology, evidence-based practices, and patient-centered approaches to improve lives.

Long COVID is a complex condition that affects approximately 1.4 million Canadians following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Fatigue is the most common symptom of Long COVID. This feasibility trial will evaluate a new rehabilitation program called COVIDEx for treating fatigue after COVID-19, and compare its effectiveness to the standard treatment currently used. The experimental treatment group will receive an 8-week multi-modal rehabilitation program with two 50-minute sessions per week. 60 participants will be recruited, randomly assigned to the COVIDEx program or standard of care (SoC) and followed for 24 weeks.