St. John’s Rehab Research

St. John’s Rehab has developed leading rehabilitation care programs that help patients return to as productive and fulfilling lives as possible after experiencing life-changing illness or injury. Health care leadership is not only about great care today. It is also about improving long-term recoveries for tomorrow.

Our research program conducts collaborative, person-centred research that focuses on optimizing long-term outcomes and real-world, lived experiences across the continuum of care. We are working to advance rehabilitation science and to study the factors that contribute to successful patient recovery by:

By combining patient care with research, we develop and evaluate new treatments and strategies that allow patients to return home sooner and in better health for the long term.

Area of focus

The St. John’s Rehab Research Program focuses on the following research areas:

For people living with limb loss, we are developing innovative ways to improve patient outcomes and experiences, whether limb loss is due to trauma, cancer, diabetes, vascular diseases or another cause.

Current research projects:

A woman sits on a block and smiles. She has shoulder length blonde hair, light-toned skin, and a prosthetic leg.
  • Understanding the impact of limb loss to the individual and to the health care system.
  • Exploring the use of new technologies ( 3D-printing) & designing new prosthetics (thumb prosthesis).
  • Exploring the potential of using 3-D printed prosthetic sockets for less invasive fittings for patients and for reduced production time, allowing patients to get their prosthetics sooner. (funded by the Physician Services Inc. Foundation & the Ontario Association for Amputee Care).
  • Developing a quality of life patient-reported outcome (funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research).
  • Understanding the financial burdens of people living with limb loss.
  • Developing and assessing new psychosocial models of care to help treat depression and anxiety.
  • Examining the relationship between phantom pain and telescoping.
  • Developing an internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy program for people with lower limb loss.

If you are interested in participating in amputation research at St. John’s Rehab, contact Jorge Rios at 416-226-6780 ext. 57450 or at jorge.rios@sunnybrook.ca for more information.

In burn rehabilitation, we are focused on improved long-term outcomes after thermal and electrical burns.

Current research projects:

A healthcare worker touches the bare ankle of a patient.
  • Exploring electrical injury survivors’ and caregivers’ experiences with social support throughout recovery.
  • Examining new ways to prevent and treat contractures after burns.
  • Exploring ways to better address the psychological impact of a severe burn.

If you are interested in participating in this study at St. John’s Rehab, contact Julia Hemphill at 416-226-6780 ext. 57619 or at julia.hemphill@sri.utoronto.ca for more information.

We are focused on ways to improve the continuity of care for patients after neuromuscular injuries. Our COVID-19 rehabilitation research is focused on understanding patient, family and care providers’ experiences with novel approaches to help people who experience significant symptoms from COVID.

A man leans back in a leg-press exercise machine. He pushes on the weight with his feet.

Current research project:

  • Engaging patients in shared decision-making and goal-setting.
  • Using a collaborative co-creation approach to develop a rehabilitation strategy to support the psychosocial recovery of people with long COVID.

If you are interested in participating in this study at St. John’s Rehab, contact Julia Hemphill at 416-226-6780 ext. 57619 or at julia.hemphill@sri.utoronto.ca for more information.

In the area of stroke and neurological rehabilitation, we are focused on improving long-term outcomes through the use of innovative approaches to therapy.

Current research projects:

An older woman sits next to two other women. A walker is placed in front of her.
  • Enhancing the effects of exercise on lower limb motor function using fluoxetine (Prozac).
  • Exploring brain activity changes in healthy controls and patients with apraxia.
  • Determining which type of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation will be more effective to help stroke survivors improve their upper limb mobility.
  • Developing and piloting a program to ensure patients have the pertinent knowledge and confidence for their well-being at home and in the community.
  • Increasing the capacity for stroke research at St. John’s Rehab by interviewing patients and family members about their perspectives on how stroke research should be carried out at St. John’s Rehab.
  • Evaluating the effect of PROPEL (Promoting Optimal Physical Exercise for Life) on long-term participation after discharge.

If you are interested in participating in stroke research at St. John’s Rehab, contact Kay-Ann Allen at 416-226-6780 ext. 57614 or kay-ann.allen@sunnybrook.ca for more information.

In trauma rehabilitation, we are focused on improving outcomes for patients as they transition across the contiuum of care, from admission to the emergency room to discharge to home.

Current research project:

A man lays in a bed with his leg in a sling that he can control with a pully. He pulls it with his hand.
  • Evaluating ways to improve the continuity of care by having rehabilitation physicians be accessible at both acute and rehab care settings.
  • Optimizing the assessment and treatment of severe injuries to peripheral nerves and the brachial plexus.
  • Using an experience-based co-design approach to develop a cross-continuum peer support program for trauma survivors and preparing it for implementation.

If you are interested in participating in this study at St. John’s Rehab, Jorge Rios at 416-226-6780 ext. 57450 or at jorge.rios@sunnybrook.ca for more information.

Partnering with St. John’s Rehab Research

At St. John’s Rehab, we do research that helps patients and families live the best quality of life when faced with injury and illness. If you take part in our research, we can make this happen!

Frequently asked questions about partnering

  • Your experiences will drive rehabilitation research.
  • Patients and their families will have a voice as equal partners in research.
  • St. John’s Rehab researchers, patients, and families will work together as one team.
  • Patients’ and families’ experiences are the important stories behind the data.
  • Patients’ and families’ needs can be better met through the research we do.
  • Promotes equality and partnerships between patients, families, researchers, and healthcare providers.

Share your experience

  • Tell us what is important to you and your family.
  • Tell us about your experiences with care.

Review our research

  • Based on your experiences, provide feedback on our research proposals and results.

Spread the word

  • Let others know about our research and invite them to participate.

Each task is different. This will mean that the time will change from one task to another, but no individual task will take longer than two hours (e.g. reviewing research material, attending a meeting). We will always be as flexible as possible and work around your schedule.

We will cover your TTC and parking costs for any research related activities.

No. You can always “telecommute” (e.g. call into meetings or use video conferencing).

Yes! Your experiences and perspectives are important to help us decide on research priorities. We will offer lots of support and learning opportunities when it comes to the ‘nuts and bolts’ of research.