As of March 21, 2025, MGH’s main entrance on Coxwell Avenue is closed as the next phase of our redevelopment project begins. Patients and visitors can use the new temporary main entrance on Sammon Avenue between Coxwell Avenue and Knight Street. View our campus map.
In a first for Michael Garron Hospital (MGH), a scientist has received a Project Grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) spring 2025 competition. Dr. Christopher Kandel, MD, PhD, Clinician Scientist will lead a collaborative, multidisciplinary research team to tackle critical challenges in treatment for prosthetic hip and knee joint infections.
“This grant marks a significant milestone for Research and Innovation at our hospital,” says Dr. Kelly Smith, PhD, Chair in Patient Oriented Research and Chief Scientific Officer at MGH. “This project signals our commitment to research excellence, allowing us to meaningfully collaborate with our partners to develop groundbreaking research that can advance care for patients, in our East Toronto community and globally.”
Dr. Kandel was awarded $1.4 million for a CIHR Project Grant for the study Randomised Arthroplasty infections worldwide Multidomain Adaptive Platform Trial (ROADMAP).
$100,000 was also awarded to Dr. Kandel earlier this year via a Project Grant – Priority Announcement: Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis to kickstart the project.
Both grants will support bringing a platform randomized trial to Canada in late 2025 that aims to improve the treatment options for individuals with a prosthetic knee or hip joint infection. A trial is currently underway in Australia.
“The goal of the ROADMAP trial is to identify the surgical and antibiotic treatment options that maximize success in treating these kinds of infections,” says Dr. Kandel. “There is a pressing need to improve our management of these common and debilitating infections as the rates of cure remain stubbornly low.”
“It’s an exciting opportunity to collaborate internationally with like-minded researchers and build up a national research network to improve treatment for these and other common infections,” he continues. “ROADMAP will very quickly become the largest trial in the field, one that will eventually inform treatment guidelines.”
This achievement marks the beginning of an exciting chapter for Research and Innovation at MGH. The hospital is committed to advancing research excellence as a core pillar of the new strategic plan, Strategic Plan: Integrating Care. Bold Impact.
“The success of these grants position MGH well for continued growth as we advance our vision of embedding scientists within our clinical and operational programs to bring great care to our patients through community-focused research,” continues Dr. Smith. “This project demonstrates how innovative partnerships and rigorous science can work together to address health challenges that matter most to patients and communities.”
