Author: Jeffrey Kenzie, Ph.D.
He was a physician, a father, a world traveler, and in the end, a fighter. My grandfather suffered a stroke 10 years ago, like tens of thousands of Canadians do every year, and it drastically changed his, and our family's lives. The fact that modern medicine couldn't prevent or cure his inability to walk, get dressed, or hold his grandchildren was incomprehensible to me. It made me realize that progress in science and medicine requires a continuous battle against nature, and sometimes we lose.
Watching a loved one transition from being active and independent to wheelchair bound in a matter of hours is not something you forget easily. Nor is it an experience anyone should have to go through. Despite how devastating this was for him and our family, my grandfather always had a positive outlook. Anytime we were together he had a smile on his face and a story that was masterfully executed, a story that made you laugh until you cried and made your ribs hurt the next day. He was one of those people that when he spoke, people listened. Until another stroke limited his ability to speak. Didn’t anyone see this coming? Couldn’t this have been prevented? What I’ve learned is that medicine is practiced based on the best available evidence in order to produce the best outcome for each patient. The best available evidence typically comes from well-controlled scientific research, but the truth is that it is time consuming, expensive, and isn’t perfect.
Science is based on probabilities and controlled observations. It allows us to draw conclusions based on observations being accurate 99% of the time, for example. But, when that 1% happens, people quickly lose trust in the scientific evidence and start to draw conclusions based on that single experience. This makes sense because, as humans, we most strongly believe in our own experiences. Unfortunately, personal stories and celebrity opinions are often the worst available evidence for health-related issues. Science offers a way to make the best available evidence better, and is a method by which we can maximize the potential for positive outcomes when faced with unexpected events. As scientists, that 1% intrigues us and fuels our need for discovery.
My name is Jeff and I'm currently a PhD student at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute performing scientific research. My research uses technology like robotics and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to better understand the effects of stroke and improve treatment for those affected by stroke. The robot we use, called a KINARM, allows us to measure arm function after someone has had a stroke. It can accurately measure how affected someone is and how well they recover. It’s like playing a video game with your arms! I’m combining these robotic assessments with pictures of people’s brains, taken from an MRI machine, to better predict how someone might recover after a stroke and provide better, personalized treatment.
I’m completing my PhD because I think the best evidence for treating stroke can be better, and in fact, it is getting better. A recent study, called the ESCAPE trial, was just completed by researchers right here at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute. They showed that a specific procedure known as endovascular therapy can dramatically improve patient outcomes and reduce death caused by stroke by 50%. While my own research has yet to produce results this inspiring, I am able to interact with stroke survivors and see them through their recovery, and work together with colleagues to solve complex problems. Knowing that the science I am a part of is improving people’s lives inspires me, and remembering my grandfather’s experiences keeps me humble.
To me, scientific research means progress. It means improved treatment for those affected by disease, an increased understanding of the world around us, and ultimately, a means to improve our quality of life. If scientific research can offer the potential to prevent others from going through what my grandfather went through, then I'm all in.