HHS researchers Drs. Gregory Pond, Hira Mian, Alexandra Papaioannou and Darryl Leong share what the hospital’s new recruitment process for research studies means for patients.

February 24, 2025

What does Explore Research mean to HHS patients?

Find out from four HHS researchers

Starting Feb. 24, all patients receiving care at Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) will automatically be enrolled in Explore Research, our new patient recruitment process for research studies, unless they choose to opt out. What does Explore Research mean for patients? We asked four HHS researchers to share their thoughts.

Dr. Hira Mian, HHS hematology oncologist and researcher

“Explore Research means that even more cancer patients may be contacted with opportunities to participate in clinical trials involving new drugs that will hopefully improve overall outcomes.”

“Explore Research will help even more patients to participate in research studies,” says Dr. Hira Mian, an HHS hematology oncologist and researcher who leads clinical trials on multiple myeloma.

Clinical trials are used to determine the safety and effectiveness of potential new treatments. They’re often done in collaboration with universities and industry partners in innovation, pharmaceutical and biotechnology fields provincially, nationally and internationally.

“Explore Research means that even more cancer patients may be contacted with opportunities to participate in clinical trials involving new drugs that will hopefully improve overall outcomes,” says Mian, adding, “As a cancer researcher, I’m really excited about Explore Research because we’ll be able to offer trial opportunities to a larger number of patients, and make these opportunities more accessible and more equitable.”

Explore Research is also expected to greatly increase the pool of eligible candidates. And the more patients willing to participate in studies, the greater the opportunities to advance human health, adds Mian.

Dr. Alexandra Papaioannou, Geras executive director

“Participating in studies could dramatically change patients’ lives for the better, improving their care as well as the care of others through study findings.”

Alexandra Papaioannou stands at the edge of an indoor swimming pool

Dr. Alexandra Papaioannou is an HHS geriatrician, researcher and executive director of the Geras Centre for Aging Research, a centre at HHS that’s affiliated with McMaster University.

“Explore Research will allow even more older adults to participate in world-class research here at HHS including trials on dementia, falls, frailty, and sarcopenia, which is the loss of muscle tissue that happens with aging,” says Papaioannou.

Starting Feb. 24, all HHS patients will be notified about Explore Research during their hospital visit and can opt out at any time if they prefer not to be contacted. No one will be registered for a study without giving consent, and all personal health information will remain confidential.

“Participating in studies could dramatically change patients’ lives for the better, improving their care as well as the care of others through study findings,” says Papaioannou.

Dr. Gregory Pond, ECRI director

“Identifying research opportunities is a critical part of ensuring that patients get the best care they can possibly receive.”

Dr. Gregory Pond stands outside the Juravinski Cancer Centre, smiling

“Access to research is one of the most critical parts of patient care, and helps ensure that patients get the very best care that they can possibly receive,” says Dr. Gregory Pond, an HHS statistician, researcher and director of the Escarpment Cancer Research Institute, a joint institute of HHS and McMaster University.

Prior to Explore Research, patients were invited to take part in studies on a case-by-case basis by a member of their HHS health-care team, such as their doctor. But this approach didn’t give patients equal access to study opportunities, since some team members may not have been aware of research opportunities, or may not have had the time to talk about studies with their patients.

Explore Research allows HHS researchers to screen patient records confidentially and privately through Epic, the hospital’s state-of-the-art electronic medical records system, to determine eligibility for studies. Researchers can then contact potentially eligible patients about opportunities, unless the patient has chosen to opt out of being contacted.

“Identifying research opportunities is a critical part of ensuring that patients get the best care,” says Pond. “By having a team of researchers sourcing opportunities and reaching out to patients, it lowers the possibility of a patient missing potential access to a clinical trial or some other form of research necessary in order to get them the very best treatment option.”

Dr. Darryl Leong, HHS associate chief medical information officer for research

“We’ve gone to great lengths to ensure that patients’ privacy, confidentiality and security are respected.”

Dr. Darryl Leong sits at a desk, where he conducts research

Researchers must obtain Research Ethics Board approval to use Explore Research for a study before contacting patients to gauge their interest in potentially taking part. And only authorized HHS research personnel and key members of the patient’s health-care team can access their records for research recruitment purposes. Patients can opt out of being contacted about research opportunities at any time.

“We’ve gone to great lengths to ensure that patients’ privacy, confidentiality and security are respected,” says Dr. Darryl Leong, an HHS cardiologist, researcher and associate chief medical information officer for research.

“From a patient perspective, receiving care at HHS won’t feel radically different,” adds Leong. “The main change is that in the past, only HHS doctors and team members providing direct care could reach out to their patients with research opportunities. Now, with Explore Research, certain researchers can also reach out directly to patients with potential opportunities.”

HHS is a leading academic and research health sciences institution. The hospital’s world-class researchers, clinician-scientists, research staff and learners work in labs and at patients’ bedsides, collaborating with the wider community to improve health outcomes for patients locally, nationally and globally.