The facility enables the conduct of clinical research involving healthy children and those with health issues and disabilities.
The Clinical Research Centre (CRC) is a specialized clinical facility designed for the conduct of studies in both healthy children, those with long-term health issues and/or disabilities and adults. To ensure the safety of research subjects, the centre is staffed with skilled and experienced registered nurses, respiratory therapists, exercise physiologists, and technicians. The CRC provides clinically equipped beds and rooms for the performance of study procedures including pharmacokinetic analysis, drug administration (oral, subcutaneous, IV infusions), biosample collection, oral glucose-tolerance testing, vitals monitoring, anthropometry, body composition, nasal potential difference and other services. Within the CRC, an Infant Pulmonary Function Laboratory is available for lung-function testing in children, from infancy to early childhood. Cardiopulmonary function, muscular strength and power, activity monitoring, and other services are offered through the Exercise Medicine Research Laboratory.
- General research patient assessment and treatment procedures such as growth measurement, specimen or blood collection, administration of medications and monitoring of vital signs
- Metabolic testing includes open-circuit calorimetry under hood (measurement of O2 uptake and CO2 production, respiratory quotient, resting energy expenditure)
- Whole body composition measurements using air-displacement technology (BOD POD and PEA POD testing), bioelectrical impedance and skinfold thickness measurement
- Cardiopulmonary exercise includes assessments of pulmonary function, maximal aerobic power (max VO2), running economy (treadmill) and anaerobic power (sprint bike)
- Infant pulmonary function testing (iPFT) for children
- Nasal potential difference testing
- Preparation of experimental diets, either food-based or chemically based, in the research kitchen, which includes a fridge, a microwave, an analytical balance and blenders
- Healthcare and social services
- Life sciences, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment
Specialized labs and equipment
| Equipment | Function |
|---|---|
| COSMED Quark CPET metabolic cart | Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) measuring static and exercise pulmonary function as well as respiratory muscle strength and metabolism during exercise. |
| Ergometers (Lode Corival, Corival Recumbent, Corival Pediatric) | Accurate stress test analysis measuring work or energy expended during a period of physical exercise.
|
| Treadmill | Exercise stress test for cardiovascular assessment. |
| MRI-compatible pedal ergometer | Accurate stress test analysis during an MRI. |
| Accelerometers | Assess acceleration of movement, includes data on movement intensity and patterns. |
| Near-infrared spectrometer (NIRS) | Monitor muscle-tissue oxygenation |
| Bioelectrical impedance analyzer (BIA) | Measure body composition. |
| ECHO MEDICS EXHALYZER D infant and pediatric pulmonary function system | Test pulmonary function, multiple breath washout (MBW) test analyzer. |
| BOD POD Air Displacement Plethysmography (ADP) systems (2) | Determine body composition in adults and adolescents using whole body densitometry. |
| TOD POD Air Displacement Plethysmography (ADP) system | Determine body composition in toddlers using whole body densitometry. |
| PEA POD Air Displacement Plethysmography (ADP) system | Determine body composition (fat and fat-free mass) in infants using whole body densitometry. |