Virtual reality (VR) holds significant promise for health care, particularly in eye health. Its immersive experience, ability to deliver care remotely, and potential to collect large amounts of data through headset-mounted sensors are among its many advantages. But research on VR in vision care is still in its infancy. Understanding what has been studied and what remains unexplored is essential for continued progress and improved outcomes.
Dr. Michael Reber, Senior Scientist at UHN’s Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute (DKJEI), and Dr. Lora Appel, Affiliate Scientist at UHN’s KITE Research Institute (KITE), address this need in a recent literature review published in the journal, Technologies.
The DKJEI and KITE teams assessed 76 studies on VR headsets as interventions for vision-related conditions. Across these studies, 31 different VR systems were evaluated. Some focused on specific conditions—most commonly glaucoma or amblyopia—while others simulated disease symptoms in healthy participants. Most studies explored VR as a diagnostic or treatment tool and a smaller subset examined its screening potential. Notably, only 15% were randomized controlled trials.
The review highlights a major challenge to widespread VR adoption in vision care: inconsistent study designs. Without standardized sample sizes, participant types, and VR systems, reliable conclusions about accessibility, efficacy, and usability remain elusive.
Drs. Reber and Appel also note barriers to clinical implementation, including high start-up costs and data security concerns, and propose strategies to address them.
As the first scoping review of VR as a tool in eye care, this work offers a comprehensive roadmap for future research and clinical adoption. By integrating expertise in vision care and digital health technologies, the review demonstrates how coordinated efforts can overcome current barriers and accelerate adoption in clinical settings.
These recommendations aim to make future studies more robust and implementation of VR into clinical settings more seamless. Ultimately, as researchers continue to explore VR and clinicians begin to integrate it into eye care, this technology has the potential to transform treatment approaches and improve accessibility for patients worldwide.
Kiana Masoudi is the first author of this review. She is a research assistant in the VRx Lab.
Ani Orchanian-Cheff, a co-author of this study, is an archivist at UHN.
Dr. Michael Reber is a co-senior and corresponding author of this review. Dr. Reber is a Senior Scientist at UHN’s Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, and Associate Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto.
Dr. Lora Appel is a co-senior author of this review. She is an Affiliate Scientist at UHN’s KITE Research Institute, Collaborating Scientist with OpenLab at UHN, where she leads the VRx Lab, and Associate Professor in the Faculty of Health at York University.
This review was supported by UHN Foundation.
Masoudi K, Wong M, Tchao D, Orchanian-Cheff A, Reber M, Appel L. Seeing Opportunity in Virtual Reality: A Rapid Review of the Use of VR as a Tool in Vision Care. Technologies. 2025 August; 13:342. doi: 10.3390/technologies13080342.
The Pride in Patient Engagement in Research (PiPER) team envisions a future where UHN is an international leader in partnering with people with lived experience (PLEX; includes patients, families, and caregivers) in research. PiPER is working to build organizational structures, policies, and technology to make these partnerships possible, ensuring that research is relevant and impactful. On October 8, 2025, PiPER hosted its third annual Research Day to share accomplishments toward this goal and enhancing health outcomes.
The event was held at the Guild Inn Estate in Scarborough, and welcomed over 200 registrants including PLEX, researchers, community organization representatives, trainees, and health care leaders. Guided by the theme “Research Engagement in Action: Do the Right Thing, Share It With Others, Build a Better Tomorrow,” PiPER Research Day aimed to inspire collaboration across disciplines and create learning opportunities to foster innovation.
Brad Wouters, Executive Vice President of Science and Research at UHN, kicked off the day by emphasizing PiPER’s essential role in improving the impact and value of research at UHN. He provided an overview of PiPER’s key accomplishments to date and announced the launch of UHN Research Explained, a public-facing website that offers easy-to-read summaries of research at UHN.
Mahadeo Sukhai, a leading expert on accessibility and inclusion, delivered a keynote address titled “Anti-Ableism in Patient Engagement and Research: A Personal and Professional Journey”. As the world’s first congenitally blind geneticist, he encouraged attendees to reflect on how disability is represented in health research and challenged them to consider new models of inclusive research.
Mahadeo Sukhai delivering the keynote presentation.
The afternoon keynote panel, “The Important Role of People with Lived Experience in Long COVID Care and Research”, led by Angela Cheung, Senior Scientist at UHN, explored the evolving role of engaging those affected by long-COVID in care and research. Panelists Alexandra Rendely, Rebecca Lewkowicz, and Susie Goulding shared their personal learnings related to PLEX engagement and long-COVID as a physician, caregiver, and long-COVID patient.
Other Research Day activities included a workshop, oral presentations, posters, and an art exhibit highlighting best practices and innovations in PLEX engagement in research. Presenters discussed engaging PLEX early, involving them in research decisions, and including them in pre-clinical research.
Teams shared examples of PLEX engagement in action such as co-designing an aquatic rehabilitation program, a Veteran-led project creating learning modules on engaging Veterans in research, and partnering with Youth in a randomized controlled trial. Teams also presented on the power of artificial intelligence to include marginalized communities as partners in research and the co-development of more inclusive electoral practices.
We thank the Planning Committee, volunteers, speakers, and attendees who made PiPER Research Day possible. Beyond this annual event, PiPER continues collaborating with TeamUHN to develop new policies, processes, resources, and research methods that support the implementation of transformative research experiences, driving collective impact toward A Healthier World.
(Left) Attendees enjoying a guided walk during a break; (top, right) Keynote panellists (L-R) Angela Cheung, Susie Goulding, Rebecca Lewkowicz, and Alexandra Rendely; (bottom, right) Graphic artist Devon Kerslake, from ThinkLink Graphics, visually recorded key themes of the day.
To view summaries of the works presented, click here.
For more information on PiPER, click here or email piper@uhn.ca. Follow PiPER on LinkedIn and BlueSky.
PiPER Research Day was made possible by the support of our Silver Sponsor, The Ontario SPOR Support Unit (OSSU), and our PLEX Sponsors: Asthma Canada, BioCanRx, Canadian Cancer Survivor Network, Institute for Clinical and Evaluative Sciences, Ontario Aids Network, and the Ontario Brain Institute. PiPER supported PLEX to attend through the CIHR-IMHA Inclusive Research Excellence Prize - Patient Engagement (RE5-195224).
Photographs in this story by Tim Fraser of UHN’s KITE Studio.
Congratulations to the 11 researchers with principal investigator [no-lexicon](PI)[/no-lexicon] status at UHN who have made the coveted 2025 list of Highly Cited Researchers from Clarivate—a global leader in bibliometrics and analytics. This year, Clarivate recognized 6,868 individuals across 60 countries, awarding 7,131 Highly Cited Researcher designations.
Citations—the acknowledgment of a scientific article in subsequent research—are a key measure of a publication's influence within a specific field. The Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher accolade is a testament to those whose publications over the past decade rank among the top 1% most-cited publications in their respective fields and publication years.
Notably, four of UHN's PIs earned the added distinction of being included in the ‘Cross-Field’ category, underscoring their interdisciplinary excellence and impact in multiple research fields.
Dr. Brad Wouters, Executive Vice-President of Science and Research at UHN, expresses admiration for these PIs, “These leaders are shaping the future of medicine and science. The recognition today reflects the fact that their work not only contributes directly to scientific advancement, but also has a tremendous influence globally on the research of others. Their impact reaches far beyond publications—it drives innovation that brings our vision of A Healthier World closer to reality.”
The full list of UHN PIs and the categories in which they received their distinction are listed below. For more details, see the Clarivate press release.
Dr. Gary Bader | Cross-Field
Affiliate Scientist, UHN’s Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
Research focus: Bridging molecular and clinical datasets to identify clinically relevant targets of disease.
Dr. David Cherney | Clinical Medicine
Senior Scientist, UHN
Research focus: Physiological factors that initiate renal disease in patients with diabetes.
Dr. Slava Epelman | Immunology
Senior Scientist, UHN
Research focus: The contribution of immune cells to cardiac tissue injury and repair.
Dr. Eddy Fan | Clinical Medicine
Scientist, UHN
Research focus: Advanced life support for acute respiratory failure and patient outcomes from critical illness.
Dr. Michael Fehlings | Cross-Field
Senior Scientist, UHN’s Krembil Brain Institute
Research focus: Spinal cord injury treatments using regenerative medicine.
Dr. Anthony Lang | Neuroscience and Behaviour
Senior Scientist, UHN’s Krembil Brain Institute
Research focus: The disease etiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of Parkinson disease and related movement disorders.
Dr. Tak Mak | Cross-Field
Senior Scientist, UHN’s Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
Research focus: The mechanisms underlying immune responses and cancer development.
Dr. Ozgur Mete | Biology and Biochemistry
Clinician Investigator, UHN’s Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
Research focus: Biomarker discovery for endocrine and neuroendocrine tumours.
Dr. Amit Oza | Clinical Medicine
Senior Scientist, UHN’s Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
Research focus: Targeted therapies and clinical trials for gynecologic cancers.
Dr. Matthieu Schapira | Pharmacology and Toxicology
Affiliate Scientist, UHN’s Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
Research focus: Computational drug design to fight cancer through epigenetics.
Dr. Lillian Siu | Cross-Field
Senior Scientist, UHN’s Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
Research focus: New anticancer drug development, particularly with respect to head and neck malignancies.
When someone is in respiratory failure, a ventilator takes over breathing to keep oxygen levels stable. However, this support can sometimes harm the lungs, diaphragm, brain, and circulation. New research from UHN shows that both too little and too much breathing effort while on a ventilator can be harmful for critically ill patients.
For patients on a ventilator, if the ventilator does most of the work, the diaphragm can weaken, and parts of the lung may collapse. The brain also becomes inflamed, leading to delirium and cognitive impairment. At the same time, excessive breathing drive—the body’s natural signal from the brain to breathe—results in high breathing effort which can injure the lungs and diaphragm, strain the heart, increase oxygen use, and cause distress. Keeping breathing drive and effort at a moderate level may help prevent these problems, especially in patients with severe lung injury.
However, current ventilator guidelines do not address breathing drive or effort, and their clinical impact on recovery has been unclear. To address this, researchers analyzed data from 1,186 adults who received mechanical ventilation at Toronto General Hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU) between June 2019 and April 2022. Daily measurements of breathing drive and effort were collected for up to 10 days, along with indicators of lung stress and oxygen levels.
The study found that both insufficient and excessive breathing drive and effort were linked to worse outcomes, including a higher risk of death and lower rates of leaving the ICU. Patients with low blood oxygen levels were particularly vulnerable to these effects. Overall, the findings suggest that how much a patient breathes on their own while on a ventilator can affect recovery.
This is the first study to report on the link between breathing drive, breathing effort, and patient outcomes. Monitoring these factors during ventilation could help detect risk early. Personalized ventilator support and other treatments to optimize breathing effort could significantly improve survival and recovery for these patients.
Dr. Jose Dianti, former postdoctoral researcher at the University of Toronto and current Physician at CEMCIC, Buenos Aires, is the first author of the study.
Dr. Ewan Goligher, Senior Scientist at UHN and Associate Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Physiology, is the senior and corresponding author of the study.
This work was supported by the National Sanitarium Association and UHN Foundation.
Dianti J, Lovblom LE, Iftikhar MA, Sahetya S, Telias I, Urner M, Del Sorbo L, Amato MBP, Slutsky AS, Brochard L, Ferguson ND, Fan E, Goligher EC. Association of respiratory drive and effort with mortality and time to discharge in patients on mechanical ventilation in Canada: a longitudinal, prospective, registry-based cohort study. Lancet Respir Med. 2025 Sep 19:S2213-2600(25)00297-8. doi: 10.1016/S2213-2600(25)00297-8. Epub ahead of print.
On World Science Day for Peace and Development, UHN announces the launch of the 2024–2025 Research Report: Driving Discovery, Delivering Impact. This report showcases TeamUHN’s goal of turning discovery into impact through collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to improving lives.
This year’s research report celebrates the transformative role science plays in shaping a healthier future. Highlighting advancements in regenerative medicine and AI-generated tools, the report explores how innovation is driving progress toward novel therapies, smarter diagnostics, and more. The report also emphasizes new approaches to making health care more accessible and inclusive. Central to these advances is the power of collaboration—demonstrating how partnerships across disciplines and institutions are fueling scientific progress.
Aligned with the 2025 World Science Day theme, “Trust, Transformation, and Tomorrow: The Science We Need for 2050," the report underscores how UHN’s research continues to shape a more sustainable and equitable future. Guided by our Research Strategic Action Plan, we are driving innovation through Transformative Experiences, Solutions Beyond Boundaries, and Alignment for Impact.
This year’s research report features research advancements, milestones, awards and other highlights from across UHN’s research spaces, including the following:
● UHN’s Research Strategic Action Plan, launched in spring 2025, aims to drive impactful, inclusive, and purpose-driven research and empowers teams to collaborate, accelerate innovation, and translate discovery into real-world solutions.
● Researchers at UHN are redefining care and bringing health care to communities through mobile health clinics.
● Scientists are engineering human heart tissue from human cells to study early cardiac development and have uncovered a role of cardiac immune cells.
● A new AI-driven tool, AnnoSpat (Annotator and Spatial Pattern Finder), was developed to identify different cell types and map their spatial position in tissues, helping scientists better understand how cells behave in tissues.
● UHN has introduced six Collaborative Centres, purpose-built hubs where scientists, clinicians, engineers, policy experts, and patients work together to address some of health care’s most complex challenges. Several Centres are building partnerships to expand their reach and impact.
Join us in celebrating a year of discovery and progress toward A Healthier World.
Click here to read the full report. Previous reports can be found here.
Watch the 2024–2025 UHN Research Report welcome message from Dr. Brad Wouters, Executive Vice President of Science and Research at UHN.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for people on dialysis, yet few therapies have shown clear success in reducing that risk. Despite facing cardiovascular risks up to 20 times higher than the general population, individuals with kidney failure have had limited options to protect their heart health. Now, results of a new international study published in The New England Journal of Medicine offer a promising path forward.
The PISCES trial, also known as the Protection against Incidences of Serious Cardiovascular Events Study with daily fish oil supplementation in dialysis patients, was led by Dr. Charmaine E. Lok of UHN and the University of Toronto. The study followed 1,228 patients receiving hemodialysis at 26 sites in Canada and Australia. Participants were randomly given either daily fish oil capsules or placebo capsules and followed for 3.5 years.
The fish oil capsules contained omega-3 fatty acids, specifically EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). These are natural substances found in fish that help reduce inflammation, prevent blood clots, and support heart rhythm. People on dialysis often have very low levels of these nutrients, which may increase their risk of heart problems. By taking fish oil, patients may be restoring a healthier balance in their bodies.
The results were striking. Patients who took fish oil had nearly half the number of serious heart-related events—including heart attacks, strokes, amputations due to poor circulation, and deaths from heart disease—compared to those who took the placebo. Even patients who had already experienced a heart event saw benefits.
“While other heart protective medications have been shown to be beneficial in the general population, they haven’t consistently reduced cardiovascular events in the hemodialysis population,” said Dr. Lok. “Fish oil supplementation is a simple, well-tolerated intervention that could have a meaningful impact.”
Importantly, the study found no increase in bleeding or other serious side effects, which was once a concern with omega-3 supplements. Blood tests showed that patients taking fish oil had higher levels of EPA and DHA, confirming that the capsules were absorbed and used by the body.
Further research is underway to better understand how fish oil works in patients receiving hemodialysis. But for now, the findings suggest that daily supplementation of specific omega-3 could be a safe and effective way to protect the hearts of people on hemodialysis.
Dr. Charmaine E. Lok, lead and corresponding author of the study, is a Senior Scientist at UHN and Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto. She also serves as Medical Director of the Hemodialysis Program at UHN.
This work was supported by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Lawson Health Research Institute, Peter Munk Cardiac Care Innovation Fund, Kidney CARE Network International, the National Health and Medical Research Council, in-kind contributions from DSM (formerly Ocean Nutrition Canada), and operational support by UHN Foundation. The study also received a philanthropic donation from Mr. Alexander Epstein. This work was in part supported by a personnel award (Dr. Charmaine Lok) from the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Ontario Provincial Office.
Lok CE, Farkouh M, Hemmelgarn BR, Moist LM, Polkinghorne KR, Tomlinson G, Tam P, Tonelli M, Udell JA. Fish-Oil Supplementation and Cardiovascular Events in Patients Receiving Hemodialysis. N Engl J Med. 2025 Nov 7. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2513032.
On October 28, UHN’s Krembil Brain Institute, Schroeder Arthritis Institute, and Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute hosted the 2025 Krembil Science Jam: Spotlight on Discovery.
Now in its second year, the event brought cutting-edge science to life for an enthusiastic audience of over 130 attendees. Ten leading UHN researchers shared their latest research in dynamic, five-minute TED Talk-style presentations, offering insights into some of today’s most pressing health challenges. Speakers were introduced by host Mary Ito, whose wit and thoughtful questions kept the evening engaging. Topics ranged from Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease to low vision, osteoarthritis, and mental illness:
● Dr. Mark Reed shared how a childhood fascination with fire led him to his pursuit of new drugs that could stop diseases in their tracks.
● Dr. Melanie Cohn discussed her application of economic principles to improve cognitive assessments for diverse patient populations with Parkinson disease.
● Dr. Heather Baltzer described how her team is co-developing a sensory-feedback thumb prosthesis with engineers at the University of Toronto.
● Dr. Ishrat Husain’s shared his work on bridging the gap between mental and physical health care
● Dr. Martin Ingelsson spoke about using precision medicine to develop immunotherapies that can treat neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer disease.
● Dr. Valeria Ramaglia walked through her group’s investigation to catch the “criminal” responsible for memory loss in multiple sclerosis—the complement system.
● Dr. Anthony Perruccio discussed his family legacy of firsts at Toronto Western Hospital and his quest to reshape how osteoarthritis is understood and treated in Canada.
● Dr. Hance Clarke inspired with his bold vision to redefine how chronic pain is managed across Canada.
● Dr. Monica Daibert-Nido spoke about using biofeedback training and VR to retrain the brains of people with low vision.
● Dr. Christopher Kim shared ways to treat knee osteoarthritis, including robotic-assisted knee replacements and injectable cell therapies.
Attendees and presenters also had opportunities to network, creating a vibrant space for connection among donors, media, researchers, and supporters. Attendees left the event inspired by the shared mission of building A Healthier World.
For those who missed it, the Krembil Science Jam will be available to watch online soon, and you can listen to the Krembil Science Jam playlist here.
For the first time, presenters competed for research funding, thanks to generous sponsors:
● First Place ($100,000, Krembil Foundation): Dr. Mark Reed
● Second Place ($60,000, Krembil Foundation): Dr. Valeria Ramaglia
● Third Place ($40,000, Donald K. Johnson, OC): Dr. Melanie Cohn
● People’s Choice Award ($50,000, Give Back Health Innovation Foundation): Dr. Valeria Ramaglia
Research at UHN takes place across its research institutes, clinical programs, and collaborative centres. Each of these has specific areas of focus in human health and disease, and work together to advance shared areas of research interest. UHN's research spans the full breadth of the research pipeline, including basic, translational, clinical, policy, and education.
See some of our research areas below:
Research at UHN is conducted under the umbrella of the following research institutes. Click below to learn more:
