Jessica Spence
PHRI Scientist Jessica Spence has been awarded with the prestigious Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) Young Investigator Award for her exceptional contributions to clinical research in cardiovascular health.
Spence received the award at the CCS Awards Ceremony during the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress on October 24th, for her work on the B-Free study. As the principal investigator, she presented the study’s findings during the “Featured Research” session.
“I’m grateful to have received the CCS Young Investigator Award. The B-Free study wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my colleagues at PHRI, PJ Devereaux, Emilie Belley-Cote, and Richard Whitlock. It’s a bittersweet moment, as we deeply miss the late Dr. Stuart Connolly, whose mentorship and support were instrumental through every phase of the study until his passing a few months ago.”
The B-Free study, a large international study has found that avoiding the use of benzodiazepine, a medication used for nearly 90% of patients undergoing anesthesia for cardiac surgery, may reduce the risk of postoperative delirium without increasing the risk of adverse events, like intraoperative awareness.
