November 7, 2024
The Research Trainee Program supports health researchers in the training phase of their research career to enable career development and enrich BC’s health research talent.
We are proud to announce that Dr. Daljeet Chahal, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of Gastroenterology at the UBC Department of Medicine, has been awarded the 2024 Michael Smith Health Research BC Trainee Award for his groundbreaking work on cerebrovascular physiology in patients undergoing medical assistance in dying (MAiD). Dr. Chahal’s research was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Mypinder Sekhon, Program Director of Adult Critical Care Medicine Training at the Department of Critical Care.
Hosted by the University of British Columbia and conducted in collaboration with BC Transplant and the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute at Vancouver General Hospital, Dr. Chahal’s research is poised to contribute valuable insights to the field of organ donation and transplantation.
Research Overview: Improving Organ Donation Outcomes in MAiD Patients
Dr. Daljeet Chahal’s research addresses a crucial challenge in organ donation for patients undergoing MAiD. Patients who choose MAiD can often qualify as organ donors, with donation processes commencing once death is declared based on specific blood pressure thresholds. Currently, these thresholds are based on studies of critically ill patients in intensive care units, and they may not fully apply to MAiD patients, who may have different underlying physiology.
Dr. Chahal’s work involves using transcranial doppler to measure blood flow velocity to the brain in MAiD patients. The goal is to determine if blood flow to the brain stops at higher blood pressure levels than current cutoffs. If it does, this would mean a higher blood pressure threshold could be used, thus reducing ischemic time—the time organs are exposed to low blood flow. This could potentially lower organ damage and improve the viability of organs for transplantation.
Potential Impact and Future Dissemination
The findings from this research could have a significant impact on the organ donation process for MAiD patients by reducing ischemic damage and increasing the number of viable organs available for transplant. These insights will be shared in scientific journals and through collaborations with organ donation organizations, ensuring that Dr. Chahal’s work has a direct impact on the field of organ donation and on patient outcomes.
We extend our congratulations to Dr. Daljeet Chahal for his well-deserved recognition and look forward to the progress and contributions that his research will bring to the field of cerebrovascular physiology and organ donation.