Background
Inspiration Research Limited (IRL) is an independent company founded in 2003 by Dr. Kenneth Chapman. His vision for Inspiration Research Limited is to create a place to conduct quality clinical trials. Currently, IRL specializes in phases II to IV clinical studies in asthma, allergy, and COPD. In addition, IRL operates a pulmonary function test laboratory.
Since incorporation, Inspiration Research Limited has successfully conducted clinical trials in areas of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), asthma, and Ragweed allergy, working with leading global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies such as GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Novartis, Boehringer Ingelheim, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Nycomed, Schering-Plough, and Forest Laboratories.
Qualified Investigator
Dr. Kenneth Chapman, M.D., M.Sc., F.R.C.P.C, F.A.C.P. President, Inspiration Research Limited Director, Asthma & Airway Centre, University Health Network
Dr. Kenneth Chapman is the founder and current president of Inspiration Research Limited. He is also the director of the Asthma and Airway Centre at the University Health Network. A graduate of the University of Toronto and a former member of the faculty at Case Western Reserve University, he is now a Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. He chaired Canada’s first Consensus Conference to establish Canadian guidelines for the management of COPD. Dr. Chapman has recently been named to the CIHR-GSK Research Chair in Respiratory Health Care Delivery.
Dr. Chapman is an internationally respected researcher in the field of asthma, COPD and airway diseases. He has published more than 400 research papers in highly prestigous journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine and the Lancet. His publications, with titles ranging from "Emergency medical services for outdoor rock music festivals" to "The effect of posture on thoracoabdominal movements during progressive hyperoxic hypercapnia in conscious man", has been sited more the 6000 times by other members of the medical society.
Research areas include:
Asthma management strategies
It is now a standard of care that patients with unstable asthma are given a short course of oral steroids in hospital emergency rooms, walk-in clinics and offices to allow their
safe discharge home. This strategy was first examined rigorously by Dr. Chapman and his colleagues who published their pivotal study in the New England Journal of Medicine. This was
followed by other studies examining the optimal strategies for managing asthma.
Patient Education
Optimizing asthma treatment outcomes lead inevitably to studies of patient education, compliance, and control assessment. Doctor Chapman founded the Canadian Network for Respiratory
Care, an organization that manages respiratory educator certification programs for Canada. He remains active on its executive.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Dr. Chapman wrote Canada’s first guidelines for the management of COPD and maintains a broad program of research in this area, addressing issues of diagnostic delay, epidemiology and
non-invasive monitoring. He is a member of the CanCOLD consortium, a trans-Canadian program of study examining the natural history in a large population-based cohort of patients with
COPD. He has addressed issues of gender bias in his work.
Alpha1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
Dr. Chapman follows a large number of patients with alpha1 antitrypsin deficiency and is considered one of the world’s experts in this comparatively rare lung disease. His work
reflects both the Canadian perspective (from the Canadian registry) and his collaboration with international colleagues.
Site Personnel
Jane Duke BScN, RN, CCRP
Clinical Trials Coordinator
Jane Duke has worked at Inspiration Research Limited for over 7 years. She is responsible for overseeing overall operations in the clinic. Prior to joining Inspiration, Jane had over 15 years of experience in conducting clinical trials in areas of organ transplant, cardiac care and respirology. She is a current member of SoCRA.
Heather Sporn, BSc
Clinical Trials Coordinator
Heather Sporn has been working in clinical trials since 2007. After graduation, she had been working with various doctors in conducting trials in areas of cardiology, radiology, and respirology. In addition to conducting clinical trials, Heather is also the manager of the Inspiration Research Pulmonary Function lab.
Jeff He, BSc, Ph.D
Clinical Trials Coordinator
Jeff He has graduated from the Doctorate program at the University of Toronto in 2009. He started to work at Inspiration Research Limited in July 2010.