Chronic Disease & Pharmacotherapy Research Program

The Chronic Disease and Pharmacotherapy (CDP) research program has two main areas of emphasis. In the chronic disease area, scientists track the epidemiology, management and outcomes of chronic illnesses. Such illnesses include diabetes, arthritis, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The CDP program tracks these illnesses over time and among population subgroups and geographic areas.
In the area of pharmacotherapy, cutting-edge epidemiologic methods are used to examine the real-world use, safety and effectiveness of prescription drugs and drug insurance policies.

Recent Publications

4/27/2022

Background incidence rates of adverse events of special interest related to COVID-19 vaccines in Ontario, Canada, 2015 to 2020, to inform COVID-19 vaccine safety surveillance

Nasreen S, Calzavara A, Buchan SA, Thampi N, Johnson C, Wilson SE, Kwong JC; on behalf of the Canadian Immunization Research Network CIRN Provincial Collaborative Network PCN Ontario investigators. Vaccine. 2022; Apr 27 [Epub ahead of print]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.04.065

4/26/2022

Impact of a publicly funded pharmacy-dispensed naloxone program on fatal opioid overdose rates: a population-based study

Antoniou T, Men S, Tadrous M, Leece P, Munro C, Gomes T. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2022; 236:109473. Epub 2022 Apr 26. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109473

4/14/2022

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of opioid agonist therapy discontinuation in Ontario, Canada: a population-based time series analysis

Garg R, Kitchen SA, Men S, Campbell TJ, Bozinoff N, Tadrous M, Antoniou T, Wyman J, Werb D, Munro C, Gomes T. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2022; Apr 14 [Epub ahead of print]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109459

see all CDP Publications

Recent ICES Grants

Evaluating outcomes of total joint arthroplasty in immigrant populations in Ontario

Principal investigator: Ravi B
Co-investigators: Fowler R, Hawker G, Paterson M, Pincus D, Shah B, Widdifield J

The Arthritis Society, Project Grant
2021-2023; $126,000

Safety immUnogenicity of COVID-19 vaCcines in systEmic immunE mediated inflammatory Diseases (SUCCEED)

Principal investigators: Bernatsky S, Widdifield J
Co-investigators: Avina-Zubieta A, Barnabe C, Boire G, Bowdish D, Chandran V, Colmegna I, Colwill K, Cook R, Durocher Y, Fortin P, Garner S, Gingras A, Haroon N, Hazlewood G, Hitchon C, Inman R, Kaplan G, Kuriya B, Kwong J, Lacaille D, Larché M, Marshall J, McGeer A, Nazy I, Piguet V, Rahman P, Silverberg M, Watts T, Wood H

COVID-19 Immunity Task Force (CITF), Operating grant
2021-2023; $3,131,216

Assessing the patient, provider and policy impacts of a positive airway pressure device recall for obstructive sleep apnea: a mixed-methods evaluation

Principal investigators: Ayas N, Kendzerska T, Pendharkar SR
Co-investigators: Fenton ME, Gagliardi AR, Gershon AS, Hawken S, Kaminska M, Mackenzie CA, McBrien K, Povitz M

Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Project Grant
2021-2025; $321,300

Recent Awards & Recognition

Emerging Investigator Award

2022: Awarded to Dr. Jessica Widdifield by the Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA). The awards are given annually to CRA members who have demonstrated excellence in the field of rheumatology.

1/11/2022

Order of Canada

2021: Dr. Mehran Anvari was named an Officer of the Order of Canada for his exemplary leadership in the innovative field of telerobotic surgery.

12/30/2021

Canada Research Chair

2020: Dr. Gillian Booth named Canada Research Chair in Policy Solutions for Diabetes Prevention and Management.

12/21/2020

Trainee Success

Dissertation Defence

September 2013
Bheeshma Ravi
Degree: PhD in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto
Dissertation: Complications following total joint arthroplasty in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Recent Graduations

June 2013
Jessica Widdifield
Degree: PhD in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto
Dissertation: Accuracy of Ontario administrative health data in identifying patients with rheumatoid arthritis

ICES Scientists

All