A research study that started with a question at the bedside in Durham Region's largest hospital system has attracted a new $50,000 grant — and more local patients will now be able to enrol.
The J.P. Bickell Foundation has awarded Lakeridge Health a $50,000 Medical Research Grant to support its Adjunctive Methylene Blue in Septic Shock study, known as BLUSH, according to a Lakeridge Health news release. The announcement comes after the Oshawa-based health system secured a $543,150 grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, a funding competition in which the application ranked among the top 10 per cent nationwide.
Lakeridge Health operates five hospitals across Durham Region, including a site in Whitby, along with a same-day surgical centre, a long-term care home and more than 30 community locations.
The BLUSH study will test whether adding methylene blue — a medication already in use — to standard treatment can improve outcomes for patients with septic shock, a life-threatening condition caused by severe infection.
With support from the Canadian Critical Care Trials Group, the study is set to expand into a multi-centre clinical trial involving hospitals across Ontario in early 2027, with the possibility of adding sites elsewhere in Canada.
The project began with seed funding in 2024 from the Ajax Pickering Foundation and the Lakeridge Health Foundation through their Research & Education Fund, which allowed the team to develop a pilot project. The new money will let more Lakeridge Health patients participate in the trial.
At Lakeridge Health, physicians have the opportunity to ask important questions and lead work that could shape care far beyond our organization
said Dr. Shannon Fernando, a critical care physician, Research Lead for Critical Care and BLUSH principal investigator, in a Lakeridge Health news release. "What matters most is the possibility that this work could make a difference for critically ill patients and their families, here in Durham Region and potentially across Canada."
Dr. Fernando led the funding application with co-principal investigator Dr. Karim Soliman.
Embedding research in a community hospital connects the questions we study with the needs of the people we serve
said Dr. Soliman, also a critical care physician, in the release. "As Durham Region grows, nurturing that culture of inquiry helps us advance education and research in ways that respond to our community."
The study is described as a Health Canada-approved, investigator-led randomized critical care trial launched from a Canadian community hospital site. Lakeridge Health says it is one of a growing critical care research program's projects, with the hospital system participating in national and international clinical trials alongside academic partners.
BLUSH shows what is possible when we back our teams' ideas with investment and partnership
said Dr. Randy Wax, Chief of Staff at Lakeridge Health, in the release. "This is our vision of One System. Best Health. in action: a question from our bedside bringing hospitals together to find answers that could improve critical care across Canada."
For Whitby and Durham Region residents, the funding means access to a nationally recognized trial without leaving the community, as critically ill patients at Lakeridge Health sites will have expanded opportunities to take part in the research.
