Dr. Stephen Choi secures CIHR Grant to Revolutionize Cardiac Surgery Outcomes

We are excited to share the exciting news that Dr. Stephen Choi has been awarded a prestigious CIHR Project Grant for a study entitled Cognitive Outcomes after Dexmedetomidine Sedation in Cardiac Surgery: CODEX RCT. The goal of the study is to identify a new treatment to prevent postoperative neurocognitive disorder, which affects up to 25% of older patients following heart surgery. The disorder is associated with delirium and impaired memory and is associated with a reduced quality of life and increased mortality. Dr. Choi will lead a team that will investigate whether dexmedetomidine prevents long-term cognitive decline in cardiac surgery patients. In addition, the trial will explore how pre-existing cognitive issues, as well as comorbidities like heart disease and diabetes impact the likelihood of cognitive changes after surgery.

The CIHR award (Total Amount: $2,620,125 over 5 years) is the third largest in the project grant competition nationally and the largest grant in the Toronto region.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Stephen Choi on his wonderful and well-deserved achievement!