Clinical trials at Niagara Health are bringing research breakthroughs closer to home
Radhika Yelamanchili, a gastrointestinal oncologist at Niagara Health, recently contributed to an international study. For years, doctors have encouraged cancer patients to stay active during recovery. Researchers now have strong evidence to explain why.
Radhika Yelamanchili, a gastrointestinal oncologist at Niagara Health, recently contributed to an international study. For years, doctors have encouraged cancer patients to stay active during recovery.
Researchers now have strong evidence to explain why. Radhika Yelamanchili, a gastrointestinal oncologist at Niagara Health who contributed to the study, known as the CHALLENGE Trial (CO.21).
What Happened
"By studying it scientifically, we were able to quantify the impact and show just how meaningful exercise can be." The findings are one example of how Niagara Health patients are helping shape the future of healthcare through clinical research.
An international study involving Niagara Health patients found that about two-and-a-half hours of moderate exercise each week after treatment for colon cancer reduced the risk of recurrence by 28 per cent and lowered the.
In 2025 alone, Niagara Health supported 58 active clinical trials involving 629 patients across a wide range of specialties, including oncology, critical care, cardiology and stroke care.
Cancer clinical trials at Niagara Health date back to 1985, when Dr.
Key Details
Through the Niagara Health Knowledge Institute (NHKI), those opportunities continue to grow. "It's about asking whether there's a better solution than the one we're using today."
While cancer research has a decades-long history at Niagara Health, NHKI is helping create similar opportunities across the organization.
"Many participate knowing the research may not directly benefit them, but that it could help future patients."
The credit belongs to patients as much as anyone else.
Why It Matters
Research is how we discover better ways to care for people. Most clinical trials at Niagara Health are conducted in partnership with universities, research networks and industry sponsors.
For Yelamanchili, the common thread across every study is giving patients access to innovative care closer to home while helping advance knowledge for future patients.
"Without those clinical trial opportunities, his journey would have been very different."
What Reports Say
Coverage of the story so far points to:
Continued reporting by niagarahealth.on.ca as more details emerge
