News

A Lasting Legacy at the Heart Institute

When he came to the University of Ottawa Heart Institute on April 2, 2004, Robert Roberts, MD, was well established as an international leader in cardiovascular genetics and research. He arrived with a mandate to put research at the Heart Institute on par with the world-class care and training the

Putting Genetics Research at the Heart Institute on the World Map

When Robert Roberts, MD, joined the University of Ottawa Heart Institute as President and CEO in 2004, he came with a mandate: establish the Institute as a world leader in cardiovascular genetics research. “Over the past 50 or so years, the data have been pretty consistent that somewhere around 50

The Great E-Cigarette Debate: The Potential Risks and Benefits of Electronic Cigarettes

Since 2009, Health Canada has enforced a ban on electronic nicotine delivery systems, known more commonly as electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes. The agency cites the potential for nicotine poisoning and addiction as reasons for the ban. But that decision is hardly without controversy in the

The Heart Institute at AHA 2013

With more than 18,000 heath care professionals reportedly in attendance this past November in Dallas, Texas, the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions remains the largest meeting on the science and medicine of heart disease in the world. The impact of the University of Ottawa Heart

Cardiac Rehabilitation: Beyond the Physical

When you enter the rehabilitation area of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, it looks very much like a gym—treadmills, stationary bikes and elliptical trainers, all surrounded by a four-lane track. So you might think rehabilitation is all about physical fitness, but there’s much more to it

MicroRNAs: New Pieces to the Puzzle

It has been little more than a decade since researchers categorized the full suite of genes contained in the human body, but this exciting milestone merely opened up an even more challenging frontier. There turns out to be only about 20,000 genes associated with the famous DNA molecule—a sizable

Meet the Heart Institute’s Incoming President and CEO

A renowned cardiac surgeon, a champion of innovation, and an experienced and respected administrator, Dr. Thierry Mesana is also a passionate advocate for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. On September 11, the Heart Institute announced his appointment as its third President and CEO, to

Update on the Heart Institute Expansion

Since the initial proposal was developed in 2004, the road to expansion for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute has been a long one. The Province of Ontario announcement in August 2011 of funding to expand and update facilities at the Heart Institute had been greatly anticipated. Since the

Raising Awareness and Improving Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension

Few health challenges are as well-publicized as high blood pressure, a topic that has become all too familiar, appearing everywhere from the daily news to medical conferences. And being so familiar, it is easy to overlook the fact that most of this attention has been devoted to a problem that stems

Heart Institute Programs Identified as Leading Practices

Like most health care organizations in Canada, the University of Ottawa Heart Institute undergoes regular review by Accreditation Canada. This rigorous process assesses hospitals against more than 900 standards and criteria. As part of its 2013 accreditation, Accreditation Canada identified four