Schulich Heart Research
Cardiac disease is the leading cause of death in North America. Although lifestyle modification and control of risk factors are important, diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, such as those created and tested at Sunnybrook Research Institute (SRI), play a major role in the treatment of cardiac disease.
Innovations at SRI's Schulich heart research program have already led to significant new advances that are improving cardiac care, including the following:
- improvements to bypass surgery;
- the invention of real-time ultrasound perfusion methods (the measurement of blood flow through the heart); and
- new imaging techniques to assist with cardiac interventions, including oxygen-sensitive magnetic resonance.
Our scientists have studied the use and effectiveness of angioplasty and the socioeconomic factors related to heart disease. We are also leaders in the use of intravascular ultrasound.
We are developing and evaluating new treatments for ischemic heart disease, valvular diseases, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure and electrophysiological disorders such as arrhythmia. Because of our strong partnerships with industry, new discoveries made at SRI are transferred quickly into improvements in health care technology and practice to benefit our patients. Our cardiac scientists work closely with the Schulich Heart Centre clinical team.
The Schulich heart research program is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto and many of their graduate students and fellows, particularly from the cardiovascular sciences collaborative program and the medical biophysics program, conduct research under the supervision of our scientists on site.
