Research

Welcome to the Department of Surgery Research Page! 

A passion for study is an essential component of improving surgical care.  With diverse backgrounds, experiences and training, our shared spirit of collaboration in Saskatchewan fosters innovation and excellence.  From my experiences when I was a medical student at the University of Saskatchewan, I learned firsthand the importance of advancing a medical career centered on research.  That spark should only grow through residency and blossom fully in an established surgical practice.

As the new Director of Research in the Department of Surgery, I am eager to continue, along with the dedicated members of the Surgery Research Committee, our shared vision to be a model for basic science and clinical-translational surgical research in Canada. I want to foster leadership within each of the Divisions to mobilize enhanced research intensiveness and help facilitate a new level of success at the national and international level.

From our undergraduate students to our established professors, our work should reflect a culture of inquisitiveness and a drive to address new challenges.  With advances in technology and innovation, the future for surgery has never been brighter.

Daryl R. Fourney MD, FRCSC, FACS
Professor and Director of Research

Division of Neurosurgery, University of Saskatchewan
Royal University Hospital
103 Hospital Drive
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
S7N 0W8

Phone 306-844-1107

Research Coordinator/Navigator

Karen Mosier has a BA in Psychology and a MSc in Pharmacy. She has thirteen years’ experience in research administration. She has worked as a Research Coordinator/Navigator for the Department of Surgery, College of Medicine for almost 5 years, as a Research Facilitator in the Western College of Veterinary Medicine for 5 years, and as a Research Coordinator in the Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine for 4 years.              

Karen Mosier was hired as a Research Coordinator/Navigator by the Department of Surgery on December 1, 2015.  Her position was created to provide mentorship and research support for faculty and residents and to promote a dynamic research culture within the department. Her primary duties include finding funding opportunities for research projects, reviewing grant applications and budgets, providing guidance through the grant writing process, and educating and teaching on CCV development and ethic application submissions. She also acts as a liaison for the Department of Surgery with the Office of the Vice-Dean Research, College of Medicine and Research Services and Ethics Office to promote excellence in research and ensure timely processing of research applications.  Karen also works directly with the Research Director and coordinates the resident research programs and the Research Committee meetings and the annual Faculty Research Day and Resident Research Day.

Getting Started

The purpose of this brief guide is to provide quick assistance for you to read to orientate yourself to what funding opportunities you would like to apply for before you contact your Research Coordinator.

Surgery Research Handbook

 

The Clinician Investigator Program (CIP) is a RCPSC certified program, and is available to residents that have demonstrated interest and potential for a career as a clinical investigator. The program accommodates training in diverse research areas ranging from basic and correlative science studies of disease pathogenesis to epidemiological investigations of social/population determinants of health.

Are you writing a grant proposal and want to be inclusive of Indigenous knowledge, perspectives, and values in your research? Indigenous communities are very diverse, and many are interested in collaborative research partnerships.

A good place to start would be to visit the CIHR-funded Saskatchewan First Nations and Métis Health Research Network, housed at the University of Saskatchewan, for resources on the history of First Nations, Métis and Inuit people in Canada, contemporary issues in health and wellness, and principles on conducting health research in partnership with Indigenous communities.  

Chapter 9: Research Involving the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples of Canada, part of  the Tri-Council Policy Statement on Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS2), a joint policy of Canada’s three federal research agencies, provides guidance on ethical research policies and practices. The Tri-Councils’ Panel on Research Ethics has also produced a Chapter 9 Learning Module.

You can learn more about the Tri-Council Policy Statement from their online course on research ethics. 

The First Nations principles of OCAP® are a set of standards that establish how First Nations data should be collected, protected, used, or shared. They are the de facto standard for how to conduct research with First Nations. Standing for ownership, control, access and possession, OCAP® asserts that First Nations have control over data collection processes in their communities, and that they own and control how this information can be used. Visit the First Nations Information Governance Centre’s website for more information and the Fundamentals of OCAP® online course.

Métis and Inuit communities may also have data sovereignty and governance agreements in place, or want to develop research agreements as part of partnering on research.

Surgery Research Intranet

Research Support

The Biostatistical Support (BSS) is a new Biostatistics resource to clinical researchers at the Department of Surgery, University of Saskatchewan. The creation of Biostatistical resource raised the department to a new level effectiveness and relevance in clinical and health research. This support serving an important role in initiating interdisciplinary, collaborative research among divisions in the Department of Surgery.

Our Vision

The Biostatistical Support will provide the highest quality of services and will promote the highest standards in research.

Our Mission

Our mission is to conduct high quality innovative research, to provide research services and stimulate collaboration amongst investigators from all divisions. We will provide methodological support to clinical and biomedical researchers in a collaborative manner to assist researchers in making the best use of their resources in all phases of  clinical research.

To get support

  • Fill out the Clinical Research Support Intake Form

  • Provide a brief description of your project and the type of support needed

  • Be sure to submit the CRS Intake Form early

  • Submit the CRS Intake Form to Alex Cheng via email

Contact Information

Biostatistical Support - Department of Surgery:
Alex Cheng
Room B442, Department of Surgery
Health Sciences Building
107 Wiggins Road
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan   S7N 5E5
Phone: (306) 966-8029  Fax: (306) 966-8026

Research Days


The 2020 Virtual Resident Research Day was held on October 8, 2020 from 8 am – 12 pm. Over 100 surgeons, residents and staff attended. We had 10 resident and undergraduate medical student presentations. Our invited speaker was Dr. Lloyd Mack, Professor, Surgical Oncology, University of Calgary.

The winners of the Resident Research Day were:

  • 1st Prize – Dr. Kristen Marciniuk (Neurosurgery)
  • 2nd Prize – Dr. Kristi Billard (Orthopedics)
  • 3rd Prize – Dr. Amit Persad (Neurosurgery)
  • Dash Reed Research Award – Emmitt Hayes (Undergraduate Medical Student)
  • Resident Best Publication Award – Dr. Amit Persad (Neurosurgery)

 

Researcher Videos

Faculty Research Interests

If you are a faculty member and you are looking for a collaborator for a research project or you are a resident, medical student, graduate student, or undergraduate student looking for a supervisor with an interesting research project please check out the research interests of our researcher faculty below. If you would like to add your research interests to this spreadsheet, please contact Karen Mosier at karen.mosier@usask.ca.

Databases/ACCURO

The following faculty have clinical datasets that could be used for research purposes. Please see the information listed below:

Name

Topic

Details

Dr. Daryl Fourney

Spinal Surgery; Spinal Cord Injury

Rick Hansen Spinal Cord Injury Registry (RHSCIR) is a pan-Canadian prospective observational registry of individuals sustaining a spinal cord injury at 31 major Canadian acute care and rehabilitation hospitals. It links clinicians, researchers and health care administrators to facilitate the translation of research into clinical practice and promotion of evidence-based practices.

The ultimate goal of RHSCIR is to improve the quality of life of those living with spinal cord injury (SCI). Saskatoon database started in 2009, 220 participants were enrolled to the study in Saskatoon; There are currently more than 6,000 individuals with SCI enrolled in the registry nationally.

Dr. Geoffrey Johnston

Distal Radial Fracture

Clinical, radiographic and self-reported outcome data related to patient’s follow up to a maximum of one year post fracture.

Dr. Mike Kelly

Stroke

Database started in 2015; time last seen normal; RUH imaging time; home hospital arrival time; home hospital imaging time; home health region of patient; VAN screen; imaging type; preliminary ICU; repatriation date; NIHSS at discharge: NIHSS at 90 days: MRS at 90 days.

Dr. David Kopriva

Carotid Endarterectomy

~192 patients; Variables: age; sex; ethnicity; lateralization; symptomatic status of carotid plaque; date of most recent symptom; date of surgery; preoperative medications; total cholesterol; LDL; HDL; triglycerides; blood pressure; smoking status; duration of smoking cessation; diabetes; biobank of carotid artery plaques & peripheral blood samples also available

Dr. Jeremy Reed/

Dr. Megan Dash

Sport Related Arthroscopic Surgery

Utilize clinic EMR system, in conjunction with diagnostic and fee codes, to identify patients of interest for post-op follow-up studies on clinical questions related to sport medicine as well as arthroscopic surgery of the knee and shoulder.

Resident Lunches

Date Topic Seminar Documents
Sept. 28th, 2018   Information Session View PDF 
Nov. 16th, 2018 Data Management & Sample Size Calculation View PDF
Feb. 8th, 2019 Ethics & SHA Operational Approval View PDF

                                                                         

                           

Seminars

Date Topic Seminar Documents
March 17, 2016 We were very pleased to have our first Department Research Seminar on the topic of “Successful Grantsmanship” on March 17th, 2016. It was an enjoyable evening of sharing, laughing, learning and vibrant group discussion. For more details regarding the workshop including some suggested resources for grant writing View PDF
September 29, 2016 We were very pleased to have our second Department Research Seminar on the topic of “Promoting Partnership with Industry” on September 29, 2016. We had a fine array of speakers with varying backgrounds and talents and all very knowledgeable in regards to collaborating with industry. View PDF

Events Calendar

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