A Lakeridge Health septic shock study developed by critical care physicians in Oshawa has received more than $543,000 in research funding to expand into a larger multi-centre clinical trial.
Lakeridge Health says the $543,150 Canadian Institutes of Health Research grant will support the next phase of the BLUSH study, short for Adjunctive Methylene Blue in Septic Shock.
The research was developed at Lakeridge Health Oshawa by critical care physicians Dr. Shannon Fernando and Dr. Karim Soliman.
The funding is being administered through Queen’s University and is expected to help expand the project beyond Oshawa to hospitals across Ontario, with the potential for additional Canadian sites.
Lakeridge Health Septic Shock Study Examines Methylene Blue
Septic shock is a severe and potentially life-threatening complication of infection that can cause dangerously low blood pressure and organ dysfunction.
The BLUSH study is examining whether methylene blue, an existing medication, could be used alongside standard treatment to help stabilize blood pressure in critically ill septic shock patients.
Researchers have not yet established whether the treatment improves recovery or survival.
The expanded clinical trial is designed to generate stronger evidence about whether methylene blue provides meaningful benefits when added to existing septic shock treatment.
Research Began at Oshawa Hospital
Lakeridge Health says the project grew from an earlier pilot study developed at its Oshawa hospital.
Fernando and Soliman are both members of the hospital’s critical care team and are also affiliated with Queen’s University’s Department of Critical Care.
Fernando serves as a critical care research lead at Lakeridge Health Oshawa, while Soliman is the health system’s chief and medical director of critical care.
The new funding will allow their research team to move from a local pilot project toward a broader clinical study involving multiple hospitals.
Trial Could Expand Across Ontario
Lakeridge Health says the next phase of the BLUSH study is expected to begin at multiple Ontario hospitals this fall.
Additional Canadian sites could eventually participate as the research expands.
A multi-centre trial would allow researchers to study the treatment in a larger and more diverse group of critically ill patients than was possible during the initial pilot phase.
The goal is to determine whether the findings can be reproduced consistently across different hospitals and patient populations.
Durham Hospital Expands Research Role
The research also reflects Lakeridge Health’s growing role as a teaching and research organization in Durham Region.
Queen’s University has used Lakeridge Health Oshawa as an affiliated critical-care training site since 2011.
Lakeridge Health says it currently supports more than 170 active research studies, hosts approximately 3,600 learners each year and collaborates with more than 50 academic institutions.
Hospital officials say expanding locally developed research is intended to allow Durham patients and clinical teams to participate more directly in developing new medical evidence.
The Lakeridge Health septic shock study will now move into its next phase as researchers work to determine whether methylene blue can safely and effectively improve care for critically ill patients.
