Information for research participants:
The Hodaie Lab is committed to protecting the rights and welfare of participants who volunteer for research. All studies are overseen by the Research Ethics Board (REB), which helps ensure that this research meets the highest ethical standards, and that the greatest protection is provided to participants who serve as research subjects.
If you agree to participate in a research study, your information will be held in strict confidence and will be treated with the same confidentiality as all hospital records. All imaging used for our studies are anonymous. No clinical records are attached and you will be identified with a study number only. All electronic and hard copy data will be stored securely at Toronto Western Hospital and will not be transferred beyond the investigators of the study. As always, your participation is voluntary, and you may withdraw at any time.
Currently, there are several ongoing studies in which you may choose to participate. These studies include:
Most of our studies involve the assessment of a participants MRI scans before and after treatment. These MRI’s may be part of your standard of care, or special types of MR imaging may be required - this depends on the type of study. Most of our research studies also require participants to complete questionnaires, before and after treatment. These questionnaires are an important addition to the MRI findings.
As a participant, the research study may not benefit you directly, but it may provide significant findings for the understanding of your medical condition and its treatment. Researchers are searching for new information and new answers to health-related problems. When you participate in research, you are contributing to scientific progress and helping us to determine ways in which we can better help our patients, both now and in the future.
If you are considering participating in a research study or if you are a current participant and have any questions about the operation or research, please call Dr. Mojgan Hodaie at 416-603-6441 or email us at [email protected]. If you have any questions about your rights as a research subject, please call 416-340-4557 to reach the Chair of the University Health Network Research Ethics Board.
If you agree to participate in a research study, your information will be held in strict confidence and will be treated with the same confidentiality as all hospital records. All imaging used for our studies are anonymous. No clinical records are attached and you will be identified with a study number only. All electronic and hard copy data will be stored securely at Toronto Western Hospital and will not be transferred beyond the investigators of the study. As always, your participation is voluntary, and you may withdraw at any time.
Currently, there are several ongoing studies in which you may choose to participate. These studies include:
- Imaging of healthy subjects, to allow us to understand small changes in the anatomy of the brain.
- Imaging in patients with a severe facial pain called trigeminal neuralgia. Trigeminal neuralgia is a common pain disorder and is characterized by episodes of intense pain in one side of the face. These patients are eligible for treatment with a number of surgical procedures including microvascular decompression and Gamma Knife radiosurgery.
- Imaging of patients with acoustic neuromas. These unique tumors are very close to the cranial nerves. We are working to find out ways to preserve the function of the cranial nerves better by performing detailed three dimensional imaging of these structures.
Most of our studies involve the assessment of a participants MRI scans before and after treatment. These MRI’s may be part of your standard of care, or special types of MR imaging may be required - this depends on the type of study. Most of our research studies also require participants to complete questionnaires, before and after treatment. These questionnaires are an important addition to the MRI findings.
As a participant, the research study may not benefit you directly, but it may provide significant findings for the understanding of your medical condition and its treatment. Researchers are searching for new information and new answers to health-related problems. When you participate in research, you are contributing to scientific progress and helping us to determine ways in which we can better help our patients, both now and in the future.
If you are considering participating in a research study or if you are a current participant and have any questions about the operation or research, please call Dr. Mojgan Hodaie at 416-603-6441 or email us at [email protected]. If you have any questions about your rights as a research subject, please call 416-340-4557 to reach the Chair of the University Health Network Research Ethics Board.