Andrew Baker

Dr. Baker directs a neuroscience laboratory with capacity for cell culture; calcium imaging, single cell and field electrophysiology; histopathology and protein analysis; and physiologic and behavioural paradigms in rodents. His lab has developed models of white matter injury with multiple readouts. He has established a blast injury model in the rodent evaluating subclinical severity. His lab has described a model of brain blast injury in the zebrafish and are evaluating new and repurposed drugs. His research also evaluates the use of progenitor cells in repair of brain injury.

Clinically, his research team is evaluating the use of a clinically available NMDA antagonist in delayed cerebral ischemia following subrachnoid hemorrhage. He has evaluated the impact of red cell transfusion on near infrared spectroscopy. They are also evaluating the inflammatory phenotype of athletes with persistent post-concussion symptoms. Dr. Baker leads a large provincial group evaluating knowledge translation and exchange for concussion care, specifically addressing access and standardization of data and approach. He is involved in the knowledge translation of death diagnosis for global application aimed at uniform standards and improved organ donation practices.

Research Synopsis

During the last 4-5 years, Dr. Baker have created and led an alliance aimed at developing a coordinated approach to concussion care across Ontario. He has been involved in the improvement of the process of organ donation in Canada and Ontario.

Dr. Baker directs a brain injury laboratory and supervises several clinical trainees and graduate students in the Keenan Research Centre and he publishes and speaks internationally on his clinical and laboratory research.

Recent Publications

1. Hunt C, de Saint-Rome M, Di Salle C, Michalak A, Wilcock R, Baker AJ. Mapping Stakeholder Perspectives on Engagement in Concussion Research to Theory. Can J Neurol Sci. 2020 Jan 22:1-8. doi:10.1017/cjn.2019.324. [Epub ahead of print].
2. Takaoka A, Honarmand K, Vanstone M, Tam B, Smith OM, Baker A, LeBlanc A, Swinton M, Neville.TH, Clarke FJ, Hancock J, McMullen S, Meade MO, Rose T, Arora S, Cook DJ. Organ Donation at the End of Life: Experiences From the 3 Wishes Project. J Intensive Care Med. 2020 Jan 21:885066619900125. doi: 10.1177/0885066619900125. [Epub ahead of print].
3. Manara A, Shemie SD, Large S, Healey A, Baker A, Badiwala M, Berman M, Butler AJ, Chaudhury P, Dark J, Forsythe J, Freed DH, Gardiner D, Harvey D, Hornby L, MacLean J, Messer S, Oniscu GC, Simpson C, Teitelbaum J, Torrance S, Wilson LC, Watson CJE. Maintaining the permanence principle for death during in situ normothermic regional perfusion for donation after circulatory death organ recovery: A United Kingdom and Canadian proposal. Am J Transplant. 2020 Jan 10. doi: 10.1111/ajt.15775. [Epub ahead of print].
4. Park E, McCutcheon V, Telliyan T, Liu E, Eisen R, Kinio A, Tavakkoli J, Baker AJ. Remote ischemic conditioning improves outcome independent of anesthetic effects following shockwave-induced traumatic brain injury. IBRO Rep. 2019 Dec 17;8:18-27. doi: 10.1016/j.ibror.2019.12.001. eCollection 2020 Jun.
5. Khodaei S, Avramescu S, Wang DS, Sheng H, Chan NK, Lecker I, Fernandez-Escobar A, Lei G, Dewar MB, Whissell PD, Baker AJ, Orser BA. Inhibiting α5 Subunit-Containing γ-Aminobutyric Acid Type A Receptors Attenuates Cognitive Deficits After Traumatic Brain Injury. Crit Care Med. 2019 Dec 17. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000004161. [Epub ahead of print].
6. Sawyer KN, Humbert A, Leroux BG, Nichol G, Kudenchuk PJ, Daya MR, Grunau B, Wang HE, Ornato JP, Rittenberger JC, Aufderheide TP, Wittwer L, Colella MR, Austin M, Kawano T, Egan D, Richmond N, Vithalani VD, Scales D, Baker AJ, Morrison LJ, Vilke GM, Kurz MC; Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium. Relationship Between Duration of Targeted Temperature Management, Ischemic Interval, and Good Functional Outcome From Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest. Crit Care Med. 2019 Dec 10. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000004160. [Epub ahead of print]
7. Barretto TA, Park K, Maghen L, Park E, Kenigsberg S, Gallagher D, Liu E, Gauthier-Fisher A, Librach C, Baker AJ. Axon Degeneration Is Rescued with Human Umbilical Cord Perivascular Cells: A Potential Candidate for Neuroprotection After Traumatic Brain Injury. Stem Cells Dev. 2019 Dec 10. doi: 10.1089/scd.2019.0135. [Epub ahead of print]
8. Baron Shahaf D, Hare GMT, Baker AJ, Chenosia V, Priven L, Mistry N, Shahaf G. A New Index of Coordinated Posterior and Anterior Evoked EEG to Detect Recall Under Sedation - A Pilot Study. Sci Rep. 2019 Nov 28;9(1):17859. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-54270-3.
9. Vanstone M, Neville TH, Clarke FJ, Swinton M, Sadik M, Takaoka A, Smith O, Baker AJ, LeBlanc A, Foster D, Dhingra V, Phung P, Xu XS, Kao Y, Heels-Ansdell D, Tam B, Toledo F, Boyle A, Cook DJ. Compassionate End-of-Life Care: Mixed-methods multisite evaluation of the 3 Wishes Project. Ann Intern Med. 2019 Nov 1 doi: 10.7326/M19-2438. [Epub ahead of print].
10. Hunt C, Zahid S2, Ennis N, Michalak A, Masanic C, Vaidyanath C, Bhalerao S, Cusimano MD, Baker A. Quality of life measures in older adults after traumatic brain injury: a systematic review. Qual Life Res. 2019 Sep 14.doi: 10.1007/s11136-019-02297-4. [Epub ahead of print].

Appointments

Vice Chair, Clinical Affairs, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Toronto
Board Member and Vice Chair Grants Committee, Physicians’ Services Incorporated (PSI)  Foundation
Chief, Departments of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Unity Health Toronto, St. Michael's Hospital
Cara Phelan Endowed Chair in Critical Care Medicine, Unity Health Toronto, St. Michael's Hospital
Medical Director, Surgery and Critical Care Program, Unity Health Toronto, St. Michael’s Hospital 
Full Member, Institute of Medical Science, School of Graduate Studies, University of Toronto
Director, Brain Injury Research Laboratory, Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science
Scientist, Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute

Honours and Awards

Name:
Description:

• Jeffrey C. Lozon Physician Leadership Award, St. Michael’s Hospital
• Keenan Legacy Award, Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science
• Lifetime Achievement Award, Ontario Trillium Gift of Life Network
• Spirit of Philanthropy Award, St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation
• Research Recognition Award, Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society
• Cara Phelan Chair, Critical Care Medicine, St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto
• Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. 60th Anniversary of Her Majesty’s Accession to the Throne, Ottawa