Dr. Todd Duhamel
Principal Investigator
Physical Activity and Chronic Disease Prevention, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences
Associate Professor
Kinesiology & Recreational Management, University of Manitoba
The Duhamel lab is looking for 1000 women aged 55 and over to participate in women’s heart health research. The WARM (Women’s Advanced Risk Assessment in Manitoba) Hearts study is trying to improve our ability to determine women’s risk for cardiovascular disease through novel risk assessment techniques.
Participants in WARM Hearts will receive the results of their testing as well as basic recommendations related to those findings. Women interested in participating in the study can email warmheartsresearch@gmail.com or phone 204-480-1815.
For more information, please click the WARM Hearts tab below.
Research Focus
Creating a link between Kinesiology and the Cardiac Sciences
Physical activity and health research is an area of fundamental importance. Therefore, my research program focuses onto two major research themes:
Basic exercise physiology
Although it is widely accepted that exercise training prevents and counteracts many of the disease processes that contribute to chronic disease, researchers still do not fully understand the biological mechanisms to explain how physical activity promotes health. With this in mind, my research program utilizes exercise physiology as a tool to identify novel therapeutic targets and signaling pathways that regulate cardiovascular and skeletal muscle health. In order to do so, my research program utilizes isolated cell models, animal models as well as human volunteers to conduct a physical activity-based physiology research program. Specifically, we have focused particular attention to study processes that are activated by physical activity to regulate calcium transport proteins and muscle metabolism in models of health and disease.
Clinical exercise physiology
Sufficient physical activity is a prerequisite for health. However, 85% of Canadian adults do not accumulate enough physical activity on a weekly basis to achieve health benefits. This statistic is alarming because the Public Health Agency of Canada estimates that physical inactivity contributes to the development of 25 different diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer and mental disorders. With this in mind, my clinical research program seeks to better support the utilization of physical activity as a health intervention. To facilitate this clinical research program, I have created links with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, the regional cardiac rehabilitation programs at the Reh-Fit Center and the Wellness Institute at Seven Oaks Hospital, the Health, Leisure and Human Performance Research Institute at the University of Manitoba and the Cardiovascular Health and Research in Manitoba (CHaRM) Investigator group at the St. Boniface Hospital. The CHaRM group was created to improve the care and quality of life of patients with cardiovascular disease through multi-disciplinary, investigator-initiated research and to promote the collaboration for basic, translational and clinical research in Manitoba. This inter-professional research group draws expertise from several disciplines in the field of cardiac sciences, including cardiac surgery, cardiology, nursing, pharmacy, cardiac rehabilitation and epidemiology. For example, we have completed a prospective, observational trial at the St. Boniface Hospital examining the Impact of Physical Activity on Depression after Cardiac Surgery (IPAD-CS). This work discovered that the prevalence of depression amongst cardiac surgery patients prior to surgery and immediately after surgery was 24% and 38%. Our data also indicated that physical inactivity prior to and after cardiac surgery was an independent risk factor associated with the development of depression. Another example of our clinical research program has sought to improve the types and quality of supports that the health care system provides to patients so they can adopt a more physically active lifestyle. To address this gap, my research program partnered with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority to conduct an integrated knowledge translation project examining the implementation of a model for physical activity promotion within primary health care, which we commonly refer to as the ENCOURAGE project. This initiative has helped previously sedentary people to re-schedule their lives in a manner that enabled them be physically active for 104 minutes per week more than they were before the ENCOURAGE intervention.
Why is this work important?
Insufficient physical activity is the single largest risk factor contributing to development of chronic diseases in the world today. In fact, epidemiological studies have indicated that less than 15% of Canadians are physically active enough to maintain optimal health. A greater concern for the health of Manitoban’s, is the fact that less than 10% of our children meet current physical activity guidelines. If this trend continues, it is expected that 1/3rd of our children will develop type 2 diabetes by the time they reach 20 years of age. This should concern parents as diabetics tend to have a life-expectancy that is ~7 years shorter than non-diabetic populations. Diabetes is also a major risk factor for the development of many cardiovascular diseases, which could be expected to further reduce the life expectancy of our children as cardiovascular diseases tend to develop much earlier in diabetic patients compared to the general population. Physical inactivity is also a major concern for the health care system, as health care expenditures associated with diabetes exceed $13 billion per year. In contrast, exercise is considered to be a viable therapy for the prevention and management of at least 25 different chronic disease conditions, including heart disease, stroke, depression, hypertension, type-2 diabetes and some cancers.
What techniques and equipment are used in this laboratory?
My basic science program employs a range of animal models of Type 1 diabetes or dietary induced insulin-insensitivity (high fat feeding, sucrose feeding, Western diet), as well as genetic models of type 2 diabetes (ob/ob mice or db/db mice). The physical activity models that we employ for our exercise studies utilize running wheels, or high-intensity interval treadmill running. To analyze tissue samples, we utilize biochemical, cellular and molecular assessment techniques to measure the changes that occur in response to physical activity. We also measure changes in heart function through the use of echocardiography technologies, miniature catheterization technologies, and isolated tissue (cell culture and isolated muscle) technologies. Our laboratory also has access to equipment that can detect and analyze proteins (Western blot) and RNA (real-time PCR). Fluorescent and spectrophotometric assays are used to characterize changes in protein function in tissue homogenates and isolated fractions.
My clinical research program also uses a variety of tools. For example, we use two approaches to assess changes in physical activity behaviour, namely the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and Actical accelerometers. We also use surveys to assess measures of anxiety and symptoms of depression using the Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire (CAQ) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), respectively. Finally, we assess clinical outcomes by reviewing patient medical records to determine if the specific physical activity interventions lead to changes in blood pressure, lipids and other parameters routinely collected by primary care physicians.
Dr. Todd Duhamel
Dr. Todd Duhamel was born in Atikokan, Ontario. After completing his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology at the University of Waterloo, he went on to complete a Ph.D. in the field of skeletal muscle physiology in the laboratory of Dr. Howard Green at the University of Waterloo. To complete his academic training, he finished a 2 year postdoctoral fellowship placement within the Institute of Cardiovascular Science at St. Boniface Hospital Research. Dr. Duhamel is a recently recruited Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, University of Manitoba. His research program brings a distinct expertise to the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, as he has a particular research emphasis examining the role of physical activity for the prevention, as well as treatment of cardiovascular disease in diabetes.
For more information, please contact:
Dr. Todd Duhamel
Tel: (204) 235-3589
Email: tduhamel@sbrc.ca
The Duhamel lab is looking for 1000 women aged 55 and over to participate in women’s heart health research. The WARM (Women’s Advanced Risk Assessment in Manitoba) Hearts study is trying to improve our ability to determine women’s risk for cardiovascular disease through novel risk assessment techniques.
Women have been under-represented in cardiovascular disease clinical research and, as a result, we do not have as good an understanding of their heart health. The Duhamel lab is trying to change this. This study hopes to establish new methods of identifying risk for cardiovascular disease in women earlier, allowing us to intervene and change their health trajectory.
WARM Hearts builds on the success of a similar project from 2015-2017 by the U of M and the St. Boniface Hospital Foundation that examined this same topic in what was the largest clinical study ever conducted at St. Boniface Hospital.
Manitoban women 55 years of age or older with no previous history of cardiovascular disease or stroke and who did not participate in the prior risk assessment study are eligible to participate in WARM Hearts.
Participation in the study involves:
- Two approximately 90-minute appointments one week apart (one at U of M Fort Garry Campus and one at St. Boniface Hospital)
- Light physical activity and functional movement testing
- Blood pressure assessments
- Wear an accelerometer to track physical activity for a week
- A fasted blood draw
- Collection of a stool sample
- Completion of questionnaires to characterize health habits
Participants in WARM Hearts will receive the results of their testing as well as basic recommendations related to those findings. Women interested in participating in the study can email warmheartsresearch@gmail.com or phone 204-480-1815.
Articles Published in Refereed Journals
1. Horne D†, Kehler DS†, Kaoukis G, Hiebert B, Garcia E, Chapman S, Duhamel TA‡, Arora RC‡. Impact of Physical Activity on Depression after Cardiac Surgery (IPAD-CS). Accepted for publication. Canadian Journal of Cardiology on August 18, 2013. † indicates an equal contribution to the project that warrants co-first authorship. ‡ indicates an equal contribution to the project that warrants co-senior authorship.
2. Epp RA, Susser SE, Morissette MP, Kehler DS, Jassal DS and Duhamel TA. Exercise training prevents the development of cardiac dysfunction in the high fat diet-fed, low-dose streptozotocin diabetic rat. Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology. 91(1):80-9. 2013. Funded by the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
3. Horne D†, Kehler DS†, Kaoukis G, Hiebert B, Garcia E, Duhamel TA‡, Arora RC‡. Depression before and after cardiac surgery: do all patients respond the same? Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 145(5):1400-6. 2013. † indicates an equal contribution to the project that warrants co-first authorship. ‡ indicates an equal contribution to the project that warrants co-senior authorship. Funded by the Manitoba Health Research Council.
4. Hnatiuk JA, Duhamel TA, Katz A, Ready AE. Physical Activity Supports Provided by Health Care Providers to Patients with Type 2 Diabetes. Can J Diabetes. 36.119-127. 2012.
5. Green HJ, Duhamel TA, Smith IC, Rich SM, Thomas MM, Ouyang J, Yau JE. Muscle Fatigue and Excitation-Contraction Coupling Responses Following a Session of Prolonged Cycling. Acta Physiol (Oxf). 203(4):441-55. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-1716.2011.02335.x. 2011. Funded by NSERC.
6. Green HJ, Duhamel TA, Smith IC, Rich SM, Thomas MM, Ouyang J, Yau JE. Muscle metabolic, enzymatic and transporter responses to a session of prolonged cycling. Eur J Appl Physiol. 111(5):827-37. 2011. Funded by NSERC.
7. Bohm CJ, Ho J and Duhamel TA. Regular physical activity and exercise therapy in end-stage renal disease: how should we move forward? J Nephrol. 23(3):235-43. 2010.
8. Adameova A, Xu YJ, Duhamel TA, Tappia PS, Shan L, Dhalla NS. Anti-atherosclerotic Molecules Targeting Oxidative Stress and Inflammation. Curr Pharm Design 15: 3094-3107. 2009. Funded by the Canadian Institute for Health Research.
9. Green HJ, Bombardier E, Duhamel TA, Stewart RD, Tupling AR, and Ouyang J. Metabolic, enzymatic and transporter responses in human muscle during consecutive days of exercise and recovery. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 295(4):R1238-50.2008. Funded by NSERC.
10. Dhalla NS, Sani-Chohan HK, and Duhamel TA. Strategies for the regulation of intracellular calcium in ischemic heart disease. Future Cardiology. 4(4), 339-345. 2008. Funded by the Canadian Institute for Health Research.
11. Green HJ, Burnett ME, Duhamel TA, D’Arsigny CL, O’Donnell DE, Webb KA, Ouyang J. Abnormal Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-Sequestering Properties in Skeletal Muscle in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 295(2):C350-7. 2008. Funded by NSERC.
12. Green HJ, Duhamel TA, Stewart RD, Tupling AR, and Ouyang J. Dissociation between changes in muscle Na+-K+-ATPase isoform abundance and activity with consecutive days of exercise and recovery. Am J Physiol: Endo Metab. 294(4):E761-7. 2008. Funded by NSERC.
13. Green HJ, Bombardier E, Duhamel TA, Holloway GP, Moule J, Ranney DW, Tupling AR and Ouyang J. Acute responses in muscle mitochondrial and cytosolic enzyme activities during heavy intermittent exercise. J Appl Physiol. 104(4):931-7. 2008. Funded by NSERC.
14. Stewart RD, Duhamel TA, Tupling AR and Green HJ. Effects of consecutive days of exercise and recovery on muscle mechanical function. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 40(2):316-25. 2008. Funded by NSERC.
15. Green HJ, Duhamel TA, Holloway GP, Moule J, Ranney DW, Tupling AR and Ouyang J. Rapid upregulation of GLUT4 and MCT4 expression during sixteen hours of heavy intermittent cycle exercise. Am J Physiol Regul, Integ Comp Physiol. 294(2):R594-600. 2008. Funded by NSERC.
Invited Commentaries Published in Refereed Journals
16. Czubryt M, Wigle J, Duhamel T, Singal P. Preface to: Scientific Basis for Heart Health and Care (Winnipeg Heart International Conference). Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2012 Aug;90(8):v. Epub 2012.
17. Duhamel TA. Viewpoint: Fatigue mechanisms determining exercise performance: integrative physiology is systems physiology. J Appl Physiol. 104(5):1544. 2008.
Published Reports.
18. Duhamel TA, McDonald G, Garcia E, Chapman C, Kehler DS, Petheric L, Norman TM, Buchanan P, Glazebrook C, Gysel A, Brown K, Giesbrecht G, Dunn N. AFTER THE SCHOOL BELL RINGS: A Manitoba After School Recreation Project. 1-258. 2013. http://www.afterschoolmanitoba.ca/assets/after%20the%20bell_july24_final.pdf Accessed on September 23, 2013. Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
19. Buchanan P, Norman M, Petherick L, Duhamel TA. Getting Girls Active: Examining the Physically Active Recreation Experiences of Ethno-Racially Diverse Girls. Boys and Girls Club Canada – City of Winnipeg. Funding Organization: Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC 6269-07-2010/1092046. Manuals. Date Submitted June 30, 2012.
Published Book Chapters.
20. Kehler DS, Dhalla NS and Duhamel TA. Biochemical Mechanisms of Exercise-Induced Angiogenesis. In: Biochemical Basis and Therapeutic Implications of Angiogenesis (pp. 181-206). Ed. By JL Mehta and NS Dhalla, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, New York. 2013.
21. Duhamel TA and Dhalla NS. Molecular Mechanisms of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone Blockade in Congestive Heart Failure. In: Recent Advances in Cardiovascular Sciences, Ed. by S.S. Agrawal, DIPfSAR, Govt. of NCT Delhi, New Delhi, 1-41. 2008.
Knowledge translation publications.
22. Duhamel T. (2012). 100 Steps a Minute. Reh-fit Center. http://www.reh-fit.com/fitness-basics/100-steps-a-minute/ Accessed on June 18, 2013. Winnipeg, MB. Canada.
23. Kent D, Kehler DS, and Duhamel T. (2013). A prescription for exercise? Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. Inspire:News and information for staff working for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. http://www.wrha.mb.ca/extranet/inspire/2013/130612-a-prescription-for-exercise.php Accessed on June 25, 2013. Winnipeg, MB. Canada.
24. Kent D, Kehler DS, Prowse S, and Duhamel T. (2013). Are you physically active enough? Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. WAVE (Winnipeg’s health and wellness magazine) Published on August 27, 2013. Winnipeg, MB. Canada. http://www.wrha.mb.ca/wave/2013/09/files/WaveFull-1309.pdf Accessed on September 23, 2013. Winnipeg, MB. Canada.
Published Theses
25. Morissette M. (2013) Examining the role of the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase α2 (AMPKα2) subunit on sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium-ATPase (SERCA) expression and function in sedentary and exercise-trained mice. University of Manitoba. Winnipeg, MB, Canada. April 2013.
26. Kehler SD (2012) Pre-habilitation Program for Elective Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery Patients: A Pilot Project. University of Manitoba. Winnipeg, MB, Canada. April 2013.
27. Nilupama Wanigasekara. (2012) Examining the effects of a novel model of cardiac rehabilitation in reducing wait times and increasing adherence to behavior changes promoted by the program. University of Manitoba. Winnipeg, MB, Canada. August 2012.
28. Riley Epp (2013). The ENCOURAGE project: Fee for service interviews. University of Manitoba. Winnipeg, MB, Canada. August 2013.
University of Manitoba Graduate Student Association Teaching Award (2013)
University of Manitoba Merit Award for Combination of Teaching, Service, and/or Research, Scholarly Work& Other Creative Activities. (2012)
Canadian Institutes of Health Research Fellowship (2008)
Manitoba Health Research Council Fellowship Award (2008)
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Postdoctoral Fellowship Award (2006-08)
Strategic Training Program in Health Research Fellowship Award;
Integrated and Mentored Pulmonary and Cardiovascular Training (IMPACT), funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Heart and Stroke Society of Canada (2006-08)
University of Waterloo Alumni Gold Medal Nominee – presented in recognition of outstanding academic achievement in graduate studies (2007)
Manitoba Health Research Council Fellowship Award (2006)
Canadian Graduate Scholarship Award – National Sciences & Engineering Research Council (2003-06)
University of Waterloo President’s Graduate Scholarship Award (2005-06)
Post Graduate Scholarship Award – National Sciences & Engineering Research Council (2003)
University of Waterloo Graduate Incentive Award (2003)
Ontario Graduate Scholarship – Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities (2002-03)
Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology Graduate Student Award Finalist (2004)
American Physiological Society: Muscle Biology Graduate Student Award (2002)
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Grant-in-Aid
Canadian Institutes of Health Research Operating Grant
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Discovery Grant
Manitoba Health Research Council Establishment Grant
St. Boniface Hospital Research Foundation
Recreation Connections Manitoba – Public Health Agency of Canada, Canada Healthy Living Fund
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