The Centre for Cardiometabolic, Oncology, Diet, and Exercise research for Women (CODE-W) is co-led by Drs. Amy Kirkham and Jenna Gillen, who are both Professors in the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education at the University of Toronto and Scientists within the University Health Network (UHN)’s Women’s Health Program. Together, they utilize their joint expertise in disease physiology, nutrition and exercise to study women with or at risk for cancer, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity across the lifespan.
This page lists CODE-W research studies that are actively recruiting women to participate. You’ve likely been directed to this page through various recruitment efforts or word of mouth. Please share with other women!
If you have a history of breast cancer, please visit Dr. Kirkham’s research page dedicated to breast cancer here: https://kpe.utoronto.ca/breast-cancer-research
Please share these pages with women you know!
Studies Currently Recruiting Women
We have 6 ongoing trials that are recruiting females who have no history of cancer (other than skin cancer). All of these studies involve understanding more about using lifestyle interventions in women to prevent chronic disease including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes and/or providing a point of comparison to women who have had breast cancer to help us to understand more about the impact of a breast cancer diagnosis. These studies vary in eligibility criteria related to age or menopausal status as well as the amount of involvement and required visits to our lab located at Bedford & Bloor St in downtown Toronto. To make it easy to determine which studies may be of interest, they are sorted according to some of the key eligibility criteria related to age/menopause and the number of visits to our lab.
Body mass index – you will note that some studies list a specific ‘BMI’ requirement, which stands for body mass index. This is a calculation from your height and weight and can be determined using this website: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmicalc.htm
If you are not sure about your eligibility, BMI, or just want some guidance, please contact us at womenshealthstudy@utoronto.ca and we can help!
Don’t live close to our University of Toronto (U of T) Lab? Here are some study options to consider:
(exact address is 100 Devonshire Place, Toronto, 300 m from St. George subway station)?
- PACE – entirely remote study (no visits to U of T). Eligibility criteria include:
- postmenopausal
- not currently on hormone replacement therapy
- BMI ≥25 kg/m2
For more info see the study website: https://kpe.utoronto.ca/alternative-physical-activity-strategies-women
- IMPACT-control – 2x U of T visits over 2 years. Eligibility criteria include:
- age 30-75 years
- BMI between 18.5 & 40 kg/m2
For more info, contact the study team and mention the study by name: womenshealthstudy@utoronto.ca
- STRIVE long-term – involves 1x U of T visit and 1 virtual visit. Eligibility criteria include:
- postmenopausal
- have not received hormone replacement therapy for longer than 3 years total and not within the past 6 months
For more info see the study website: https://kpe.utoronto.ca/join-strive
Are you Premenopause or Perimenopause? Here are some study options to consider:
(have experienced a menstrual cycle within the past 12 months)
- Ms. FIT – Other eligibility criteria include:
- still experiencing a menstrual cycle most months of the year
- no history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes (other than gestational or pre-diabetes), liver disease or respiratory disease
- BMI ≥25 kg/m2
- Have one or more of: abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, pre-diabetes, high blood lipids.
For more information, see the study website: https://kpe.utoronto.ca/join-ms-fit
- IMPACT-control – 2x U of T visits over 2 years. Eligibility criteria include:
- age 30-75 years
- BMI between 18.5 & 40 kg/m2
For more info, contact the study team and mention the study by name: womenshealthstudy@utoronto.ca
- POWER –Other eligibility criteria include:
- aged 40+
- Experiencing menopausal symptoms (we can help you determine this if you don't know)
- having had at least one menstrual cycle within the past 12 months, with cycle length varying by seven days or more
- no history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes (other than gestational diabetes or pre‑diabetes), liver disease, or respiratory disease
- BMI ≥25 kg/m2
For more information, contact the study coordinator, Clara: kpe.powerstudy@utoronto.ca
Are you Postmenopause? Here are some study options to consider:
(no menstrual cycle for the past 12 months or more)
- Ms. FIT – Eligibility criteria include:
- no history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes (other than gestational or pre-diabetes), liver disease or respiratory disease
- BMI ≥25 kg/m2
- One or more of: abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, pre-diabetes, high blood lipids.
For more information, see the study website: https://kpe.utoronto.ca/join-ms-fit
- IMPACT-control – Eligibility criteria include:
- age 30-75 years
- BMI between 18.5 & 40 kg/m2
For more info, contact the study team and mention the study by name: womenshealthstudy@utoronto.ca
- STRIVE short-term - Eligibility criteria include:
- has not received hormone replacement therapy for longer than 3 years total and not within the past 6 months
For more info see the study website: https://kpe.utoronto.ca/womens-heart-and-brain
- STRIVE long-term - Eligibility criteria include:
- has not received hormone replacement therapy for longer than 3 years total and not within the past 6 months
- For more info see the study website: https://kpe.utoronto.ca/join-strive
- has not received hormone replacement therapy for longer than 3 years total and not within the past 6 months
- PACE – Eligibility criteria include:
- not currently on hormone replacement therapy
- BMI ≥25 kg/m2
For more info see the study website: https://kpe.utoronto.ca/alternative-physical-activity-strategies-women
If you are not sure about your eligibility, BMI, or just want some guidance, please contact us at womenshealthstudy@utoronto.ca and we can help!