Awarded in 2025: CQI Research Fund 2024 Competition
Five projects totaling $444,662 were awarded funding in the 2024 edition of the Rossy Cancer Network's CQI Research Fund competition.
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Colorectal Cancer Screening
Remote Delivery and Diagnostic Use of Colon Capsule Endoscopy Using Tele-GI Technology for CRC Screening in Patients at Increased Risk in Quebec: a feasibility study
Access to timely and accurate diagnostic care for bowel cancer remains a significant challenge given an overburdened health system and difficulties people have accessing or completing a colonoscopy, especially those living far from major healthcare centers. Colonoscopy is invasive and requires significant effort and resources, while stool-based tests lack specificity. This project explores the use of capsule endoscopy—a small, swallowable camera that captures images of the bowel—to increase access to bowel diagnostics. By using telehealth technology, patients can complete this procedure in their homes or local community centers. This study will test if it’s possible to use telehealth to allow remote delivery and use of colon capsule endoscopy, assessing diagnostic quality and patient satisfaction. The results will lay the foundation for expanding this innovative approach across Quebec and Canada, ensuring more people can access diagnostic and preventative care.
Dr. Corey Miller (JGH) will lead a team including Dr. Alan Barkun (MUHC) as co-investigator and Mr. Barry D. Stein (President Colorectal Cancer Canada) and Dr. Hagen Wenzek (CEO GI Digital) as collaborators.
Financial Burden of Oncology Treatment
Mapping financial toxicity across the first year of oncologic treatment of adults with non-metastatic breast, colorectal, and lung cancer (the FIONA Study) – a pilot prospective cohort study
The Canadian Cancer Society has recently reported that, in 2024, Canadians paid CAD $3.7 billion in out-of-pocket costs for their cancer care. The impact of this financial burden on patients' quality of life, treatment compliance, and even survival – called financial toxicity – is still unclear in Canada. Our study will determine the feasibility of a multi-center database focused on evaluating cancer-related financial toxicity in breast, colorectal, and lung cancer patients. These are the three most common cancers in Canada. The primary objectives of the study are to assess the response rate and the ability of participants to adhere to data collection protocols. The secondary objectives of the FIONA study focus on clinical outcomes. These include examining how common financial toxicity is in patients with early-stage breast, colorectal and lung cancers and how it changes as patients progress through their treatment. The study's expected results aim to shed light on the impact of cancer care on the financial wellbeing of patients in Canada's universal healthcare system.
Dr. Ipshita Prakash (JGH) will lead a team including Dr. Lawrence Lee (MUHC) and Dr. Mathieu Rousseau (MUHC/JGH) as co-investigators and Dr. Sarkis Meterissian (MUHC), Ms. Erika Martinez (JGH), Ms. Brandy Vanderbyl (JGH), Ms. Joni Mestel (JGH) and Dr. Talia Malagon (51³Ô¹ÏÍø) as collaborators.
Using AI to Promote Shared Decision Making
AI information agent to empower patients and promote shared decision making in patients with lung cancer: a multi-method pilot study
Cancer patients often struggle with understanding their diagnosis, treatment options, and prognosis, leading to significant psychological distress and potentially compromised decision-making. Our pilot study introduces ALeC (AI for Lung Cancer), an innovative and visually engaging AI-powered information agent designed to address these critical information gaps. By leveraging advanced Large Language Models, ALeC provides tailored and evidence-based information using empathic, clear language. This study will use surveys and interviews with 40 lung cancer patients or caregivers to evaluate the AI agent's performance across three key dimensions: acceptability, information accuracy, and potential impact on shared decision making. Participants will interact directly with ALeC on one occasion. We will assess whether the AI agent can effectively communicate complex medical information, meet patients' informational needs, and potentially reduce the communication burden on healthcare providers. If successful, this study could represent a significant advancement in digital health technologies,Ìýoffering a scalable solution to improve patient education and potentially extending information access to minority populations.
Dr. Justin Sanders (MUHC) will lead a team including co-investigators, Dr. Samara Perez (MUHC), Dr. Nicholas Meti (SMHC) and Dr. Charles-Olivier Basile (SMHC) as well as collaborators, Dr. Tibor Schuster (51³Ô¹ÏÍø) and Brigitte Durieux (PhD Candidate).Ìý
Uterine Transposition to Preserve Fertility
A Pilot Project to Evaluate the Feasibility of implementing the First Uterine Transposition Program in Canada
Radiotherapy to the pelvis, needed to treat cancer affecting pelvic organs other than the reproductive organs, compromises fertility by damaging the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus. Uterine transposition (UT) is an innovative surgical technique pioneered by Dr. Reitan Ribeiro to preserve fertility. The uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes are temporarily moved out of the radiation field into the upper abdomen and returned to the pelvis after treatment. While Dr. Ribeiro has trained surgeons internationally to perform UT, it is not yet available in Canada. Now working at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Health Centre, Dr. Ribeiro has assembled a team of experts to establish the first UT program in Canada, within the RCN network. This pilot project will assess what is needed to establish a successful long-term program and perform the first UT procedures in Canada. The information will help create a sustainable program for young women with cancer in Quebec and Canada.
Dr. Reitan Ribeiro (MUHC) will lead a team including co-investigators, Dr. Thierry Muanza (JGH) and Dr. Adrian Langleben (SMHC).Ìý
End-of-Life Care: Clinical and Psychosocial Profile
Clinical and Psychosocial Profile of Patients Relocated for End-of-life care: A First Step Towards Developing an Algorithm for Short-Term Prognosis of Patients with Terminal Pathologies
Prediction of life expectancy is an important end-of-life care issue for patients/families, and health care professionals. This research will result in a good knowledge of patients’ psychosocial and clinical characteristics at admission to an end-of-life setting or transfer to another location. It will provide useful information for the optimization of an algorithm to predict life survival in any palliative care setting. This study will enable HCP to evaluate the main reasons for transferring patients (clinical and psychosocial), at what time and where patients are transferred. It will help determine and adapt our prognosis tool to make it reliable and useful in the decision making as to when and where to transfer patients. It will help in determining whether patients are oriented toward the appropriate services tailored to their needs and at the most appropriate time. It will define entry criteria for the most appropriate care location making efficient use of end-of-life care resources.
Dr. Sylvie Bouchard (51³Ô¹ÏÍø) will lead a team including co-investigators, Dr. Jean Zigby (JGH),ÌýDr. Charles-Olivier Basile (SMHC) and Dr.ÌýSreenath Madathil (51³Ô¹ÏÍø).Ìý
Past Years
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
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