Research Participation Opportunities for our People

Sinai Health is an academic health sciences centre, fully affiliated with the University of Toronto. As part of the Toronto Academic Health Science Network, our mandate is to lead in providing safe, high quality care, accelerating discoveries, finding solutions and applying innovations.

Below are some current research opportunities that Sinai Health’s people (employees, physicians, scientists, learners and volunteers) may be interested in participating in. These studies have been Research Ethics Board approved.

GENCOV study on COVID-19

You’re invited to participate in a research study being done to see whether or not people who have been exposed to COVID-19 have DNA differences that might affect their response to the infection.

This study will also look at the antibody response over time to compare the immune response in people who have been previously diagnosed with COVID-19 and in people who have not been infected, but have had a COVID-19 vaccine.

As part of this study, participants will have the opportunity to receive antibody test results if desired. For participants with a prior positive diagnosis of COVID-19, their DNA will be sequenced and they will have the opportunity to receive their genetic results as well as the information about the viral strain.

Who can participate?

Anyone 18 years of age or older who:

• Has received a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 (vaccinated or unvaccinated);

OR

• Has received a Health Canada approved COVID-19 vaccine and has not had a previous diagnosis of COVID-19.

The full name of the study is “GENCOV: Implementation of serological and molecular tools to inform COVID-19 patient management.” The Sinai Health investigators for this study are Drs. Jordan Lerner-Ellis and Jennifer Taher. Participation is voluntary. For further information, or if you are interested in participating, please contact the GENCOV study team at 416-586-4800, Ext. 5738 or email [email protected]

Risk factors for COVID-19 in hospital workers

Investigators: Dr. Allison McGeer & Dr. Brenda Coleman

What is being studied?

• The number of COVID-19 infections and factors linked with infection
• Antibodies against COVID-19
• Effect of COVID-19 vaccines
• Psychological impact of working during a pandemic

Who can participate?
Staff working at Sinai Health (both Mount Sinai Hospital & Bridgepoint Health)

• Who are 18-75 years of age
• Who work anywhere in either hospital for more than 20 hours per week.
  • OR – is a MD/NP with privileges and spends at least 8 hours per week in the hospital
• Who have access to a computer or phone with internet access, and
• Who plan to be available at least for the next 3 months

The study is also looking for people working in private medical offices/clinics in the Toronto area

What is required?

• An online survey at enrolment and every 12 months
• Short online surveys about COVID tests, illnesses, COVID-19 vaccinations and stress
• Blood samples (either blood draws or dried blood spots) at various times throughout the study
• Invite adults and children in your home to join (optional)

*Participation is voluntary.

A small monetary gift is available for participating.

For further information visit here.
If you have questions, please email [email protected] or call 416-294-6383 between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM on weekdays.

HealthyHCW Study

Investigator: Dr. Keith Jarvi, Co-investigators: Dr. Anne-Claude Gingras and Dr. Jennifer Taher

We invite you to be a part of a study at the Mount Sinai Hospital to help us understand how many hospital workers have been infected with COVID-19 and if age, health or type of work changes your risks of being infected with COVID-19 and risks of having more severe COVID-19. You are invited to take part if you have no current symptoms of COVID-19, and, if previously infected, have completely recovered from the infection. We would also like to monitor you for up to 18 months to see if you become infected with COVID-19 in the future.

Infections with COVID-19 cause a variety of symptoms, from very severe breathing problems potentially needing a ventilator to infections causing no or very minimal symptoms. Even if you have not had symptoms of COVID-19, it is possible that you have been infected with COVID-19. A blood test can be used to find out if you have been infected in the past with COVID-19.

Volunteers will complete a de-identified questionnaire and provide a small blood sample from the tip of a finger. You will be given the results of the tests to know if you have had a previous infection with COVID-19. You will have to repeat testing at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months to find out if you have a new COVID-19 infection. Each visit should take less than 20 minutes.

If you are interested, e-mail [email protected] or call (416) 584-4800 x5375 for more details.

How R U Volunteer Program (Remote)

• Would you or someone you know like to help older adults who may be socially isolated or have feelings of loneliness due to the pandemic?
• Can you commit to volunteering for one to two shifts per week for four months?
• Are you comfortable facilitating phone conversations?

Sinai Health is partnering with the Schwartz/Reisman Emergency Medicine Institute and North York General Hospital on this volunteer program which is part of an ongoing research study. Interested and looking for ways to get involved? Please email [email protected].

Interested participants will be asked to sign a consent form.