Dr. Sarvee Moosavi, Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Gastroenterology and Dr. Jacqueline Purtzki, Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation are recipients of the 2023 VCHRI Team Grant Awards
The VCHRI Team Grant competition supports practice-based research projects and builds health research capacity. Projects for this competition are directly relevant to current health care issues within Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) and Providence Health Care (PHC) and based on the collaboration between health care providers and experienced researchers.
To read about all of the VCHRI Team Grant recipients, please visit the VCHRI website for the official announcement
Please join us in congratulating Drs. Moosavi and Purtzki on this wonderful achievement!
Predicting the risk of lung allograft dysfunction through esophageal function assessment
Dr. Sarvee Moosavi
Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Gastroenterology
Project title: Utility of esophageal function assessment in predicting risk of lung allograft dysfunction in lung transplant recipients: A single-centre study
Lung allograft dysfunction is a major complication following lung transplantation, manifesting as acute or chronic dysfunction at different stages post-surgery. Chronic lung allograft dysfunction is the leading cause of mortality beyond the first year following transplantation. Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and aspiration-induced lung injury have been identified as potential triggers for both acute and chronic lung allograft dysfunction, leading to poor outcomes.
Esophageal motility disorders and GER often coexist with pulmonary involvement, including connective tissue disorders. Many patients with these conditions may require lung transplantation due to the severity of their pulmonary symptoms. However, the clinical literature lacks comprehensive assessments of the optimal reflux testing method for lung transplant recipients.
The research team will evaluate esophageal function before and after lung transplantation to identify the risk of graft injury, with a specific focus on esophageal dysmotility. The findings will inform the development of a patient-specific treatment algorithm to reduce allograft injury, incorporating pharmacologic options and surgical anti-reflux intervention that can be performed during surgery. By using a GER clinical questionnaire and objective measures, the research team will observe patient outcome measures at one and five years post-transplantation.
Our research aims to develop a prediction model that will enhance clinician ability to identify the risk of lung allograft rejection associated with GER and aspiration. The study findings may also provide guidance for surgical interventions, including the decision to perform a surgical anti-reflux procedure, which is not typically performed during lung transplantation.
– Dr. Sarvee Moosavi
Validating a first-of-its-kind self-management concussion rehabilitation website for teenagers
Dr. Jacqueline Purtzki
Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Project title: Acceptability, usability and credibility of an online self-management tool for concussion rehabilitation: MyGuide Concussion – Teen Edition
Concussions are the most common reason for emergency room visits among adolescents in North America. When post-concussion symptoms persist beyond two to four weeks, they can lead to serious complications, including adverse mental health outcomes. British Columbia faces limitations in medical resources for concussion management, and research indicates that early psycho-education can significantly improve recovery. To enhance and complement direct medical management, an interactive and personalized psycho-educational website can serve as a cost-effective and easily accessible tool. In collaboration with Vancouver Coastal Health, the GF Strong Adolescent Complex Concussion Clinic team developed “MyGuide Concussion – Teen Edition,” the first-ever customizable and interactive concussion self-management website designed specifically for adolescents.
The goal of the study is to evaluate the acceptability, user friendliness and credibility of MyGuide Concussion while identifying potential barriers to its utilization by patients and community stakeholders. This mixed-methods study will recruit adolescents and a parent or caregiver, along with clinicians and community partners, to assess the website’s effectiveness. The study results will inform updates to the website based on feedback from patient, clinician and community stakeholders. The team will also collaborate with Doctors of BC, BC-CAN and other organizations to promote the website’s widespread adoption.
Our goal is for the website to be officially endorsed as a clinical tool in concussion management by the Provincial Guidelines Committee. Validating and sharing this evidence-based clinical management tool with stakeholders will ensure more equitable access to evidenced-based concussion care, provide front-line clinicians and patients with the latest knowledge, and ultimately enhance the quality of life for teenagers and their families.
– Dr. Jacqueline Purtzki
This story originally seen on VCHRI News