Clinical Research

QCPU opened its clinic doors in 2019 as an official KHSC Satellite and typically the clinic performs 8 echocardiograms (ECHO) per day. However, due to the pandemic the clinic was closed for a portion of the year due to public safety concerns and the cancellation of non-emergency procedures. While this cancellation was necessary as our understanding of COVID-19 expanded and as wait times for ECHO significantly increased in the Kingston and surrounding area, our clinic was able to safely return to operation in July. The clinic is home to 1 full time receptionist and 2 sonographers; and all clinical images are linked and stored on the Xclera server at KHSC. Since mid-summer of 2019, the QCPU clinic became the site for central booking for all local ECHOs. In 2020 we saw clinical services expand into using contrast agents for ECHO, which again has had a positive impact on patient waitlists. Once the pandemic is over, we are looking forward getting back on track and establishing several exciting research projects at our clinic. QCPU has a unique partnership with KHSC which allows 25% of the imaging capacity for use in clinical research studies. This partnership provides KHSC with a state-of-the-art imaging facility, and our researchers with access to the services of expert sonographers and ongoing maintenance of the equipment.

QCPU Room 1511

Facility Scientist: Dr. Amer Johri, Associate Professor, Cardiology, Brooke Ring-Snetsinger

The QCPU ECHO lab can perform 8 ECHOs a day; 6 slots are used to serve the public and 2 slots are avaliable for research. Researchers who book the ECHO lab would be able to utilize both labs equipment and its expert sonographers. Data can be stored onsite or linked with the KHSC Xcelera system. The equipment available in the QCPU ECHO lab is: standard and stress ECGs with treadmill and a Philips EPIQ 7G Ultrasound system, 3D Transducer, XMatric Transducer Heart Model and Off cart VPQ.

QCPU Room 1512

Facility Scientist: Brooke Ring-Snetsinger, Dr. Alberto Neder, Professor, Respirology & Sleep Medicine

Currently, the QCPU PFT lab is available for research use exclusively. The lab is currently in the process of building a business case with KHSC to mirror that of the operational QCPU ECHO clinic one room over. The equipment at this time does not have a respirational therapist. The equipment available in the QCPU PFT lab is: Upright and reclined exercise bicycles, pressure box and PhysioFlow non-invasive hemodynamics system

Human Cardiovascular Ultrasound

QCPU Room 1511

Facility Scientist: Dr. Amer Johri, Associate Professor, Cardiology, Brooke Ring-Snetsinger

Human Pulmonary Function Testing Laboratory

QCPU Room 1512

Facility Scientist: Brooke Ring-Snetsinger, Dr. Alberto Neder, Professor, Respirology & Sleep Medicine