Research at the Centre for Health Innovation

Research at the CHI is led by our CEO, Dr. Dugald Seely, who serves as Executive Director for the Patterson Institute for Integrative Oncology Research. The Patterson Institute is responsible for the integrative and naturopathic oncology research conducted by the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM). Our research involves the conduct of clinical trials, observational studies, and synthesis research relating to complementary and integrative medicine in the context of cancer care.

Research Summaries for Integrative Therapies

To support informed decision-making, The Patterson Institute is committed to developing evidence-based research summaries for select integrative cancer therapies. These summaries provide information on the safety and effectiveness of some of the more invasive and/or costly complementary therapies used in supportive cancer care.

The evidence summaries are hosted on the Patterson Institute's website, which you can access here. Each summary includes a patient version, which is concise and easy to read, and a health care professional version, which contains a more detailed and referenced summary.

Available Summaries

Intravenous Vitamin C (IVC) updated June 2025
Mistletoe (Viscum album) updated February 2024
Intravenous Curcumin updated February 2024
Artemisinin updated January 2024
Intravenous Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) updated January 2024
Locoregional Hyperthermia (LRHT) updated Dec 2023
Dichloroacetate (DCA) updated September 2025

Active and Ongoing Research Studies

The Thoracic Peri-Operative Integrative Surgical Care Evaluation (POISE) Trial

Study Status: Recruiting

Our research team has partnered with the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute to create the first randomized clinical trial in North America studying the real-world effects of integrative care guided by a naturopathic doctor (ND) in patients with lung and gastro-esophageal cancers. Patients in this study will receive either recommendations from an ND alongside their conventional treatments (integrative group) or conventional care alone (control group). Outcome measures include quality of life, qualitative experience, adverse events, blood markers, and survival. Together with other clinics across Ontario and Nova Scotia, the study team will recruit and follow 175 participants.

Clinical trials identifier: NCT04871412

Adjunctive Intravenous Ascorbic Acid for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (AIVAA)

Study Status: Recruiting

We have partnered with the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute have partnered to conduct a blinded, randomized clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness of intravenous vitamin C (IVC) on the quality of life of patients with incurable lung cancer. Patients in the treatment arm will receive routine chemotherapy plus high dose IVC for 6 months, with those in the control arm receiving routine chemotherapy plus a placebo infusion for the same duration. Outcomes include quality of life, chemotherapy-associated side effects, safety, progression, and survival. We plan to enroll 90 patients who will be followed over the next 8 years.

The Canadian/US Integrative Oncology Study (CUSIOS)

Study Status: Closed to Recruitment

Working in partnership with Bastyr University, we have initiated a North American study to explore the impact of complementary care delivered by NDs for patients with advanced breast, colorectal, ovarian, and pancreatic cancer. 12 clinics across North America have recruited patients to participate in this prospective observational study to describe quality of life, costs, qualitative experiences, and survival outcomes. Recruitment is now complete, with 400 patients enrolled, and the data is currently being analyzed.

Clinical trials identifier: NCT02494037

An Evaluation of Head Start: A Program of Self-Agency and Support for People with Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer

Study Status: Recruiting

Our research team is evaluating the Head Start program – a support program for people with newly diagnosed breast cancer – which is offered virtually at the CHI. The research study is designed to determine if the program has an effect on anxiety, depression, quality of life, and/or mindfulness. Recruitment for the study occurs at the start of each program session. Anyone attending the program can participate in this study if they wish. We are aiming to recruit 40 to 50 patients by December 2026.

Maitake for Integrative Cancer Care

Study Status: Completed

Our research team has partnered with Shogun Maitake to conduct a research study on maitake for people with cancer. Maitake is an edible mushroom that is hypothesized to improve immune function. We are conducting a clinical trial to assess the effects of maitake in patients with cancer who are receiving chemotherapy or CDK 4/6 inhibitor therapy as a conventional treatment. Outcomes include immune function, quality of life, and safety. Together with the CCNM Integrative Cancer Clinic, we enrolled 20 participants in this trial. Analysis is underway and we hope to publish the results in an open access journal by the end of the year.

Clinical trials identifier: NCT06323473

Research Team

Dr. Dugald Seely, ND, M.Sc.

Executive Director

Dugald Seely is a naturopathic doctor with a clinical practice focused on cancer care who has been involved in research since graduation from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM) in 2003. Dr. Seely serves as clinic director at the CHI and leads the research as Executive Director for CCNM’s Patterson Institute for Integrative Oncology Research. Dr. Seely completed his MSc in cancer research at the University of Toronto in 2007 and has been a Fellow of the American Board of Naturopathic Oncology (FABNO) since 2012. As a clinician scientist, Dr. Seely has been awarded over 11 million dollars in competitive grant and trainee funding from the Lotte and John Hecht Memorial Foundation, CIHR, CBCRA, the SickKids Foundation, the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation and the Gateway for Cancer Research. In addition to clinical research, Dr. Seely has conducted and supervised dozens of synthesis reviews and meta-analyses with the goal of building on the growing body of evidence that supports integrative and naturopathic oncology.

Dr. Seely is an adjunct professor with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa, is an affiliate investigator with the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, and is an assistant editor for the journals Current Oncology and Integrative Cancer Therapies. Dr. Seely was one of the founding directors of the Knowledge in Integrative Oncology Website (KNOW) and is Past President of the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians (OncANP). Having published over 100 peer-reviewed publications and chapters, Dr. Seely has spoken frequently at national and international conferences with the goal of expanding consciousness towards a more proactive model of healthcare. In 2017 Dr. Seely was the recipient of the Dr. Rogers Prize for excellence in Complementary and Alternative Medicine and in 2022 was the winner of the International Sheikh Zayed award for excellence in naturopathy research.

Dr. Ellen Conte, ND

Research Associate

Dr. Ellen Conte is a naturopathic doctor and clinical researcher with a focus in integrative cancer care. In addition to her clinical practice at Halifax Naturopathic, Ellen is an associate researcher with the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine and the Patterson Institute for Integrative Oncology Research where she studies the effects of a complementary and integrative approach to cancer care. Her work has been published in peer-reviewed medical journals and presented at academic conferences. Ellen completed a degree in biochemistry from the University of Ottawa prior from obtaining her Doctor of Naturopathy from The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM), she then completed a 2-year residency at the Ottawa Integrative Cancer Centre, and is board certified in naturopathic oncology through the American Board of Naturopathic Oncology (FABNO). Ellen is involved with the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians as a board member and as Chair of the Research Committee, she is also on the editorial review board for the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors Journal.

Mark Legacy, CCRP

Research Coordinator

Mark is a full-time researcher with the Patterson Institute for Integrative Oncology Research. He functions as trial coordinator and is involved in the development, implementation, day-to-day activities, and publication of all clinical research conducted at the CHI. Mark joined Dr. Seely’s research team in 2018 after volunteering with his brother, Dr. Andrew Seely, at The Ottawa Hospital in 2017. Mark is also an employee of The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI), working closely and often collaboratively with the Thoracic Surgery Research Team. In 2021, he became a Certified Clinical Research Professional with the Society of Clinical Research Associates, and in 2022 he joined the Ottawa Health Sciences Network Research Ethics Board, the ethics committee which oversees clinical research at the OHRI. With most of the research at the CHI being the first of its kind, Mark and his colleagues are eager to provide new insights to the field of integrative oncology.

Dr. Erica Rizzolo, ND

Research Assistant

Dr. Erica Rizzolo, ND is a licensed naturopathic doctor and research assistant at the Patterson Institute for Integrative Oncology Research. Prior to naturopathic medical school, she completed her undergraduate degree in Kinesiology at McMaster University, where she also worked as a personal trainer. Erica is an active member of the research committee for the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians (OncANP) and is passionate about integrative oncology research.

In practice, she focuses on supporting people affected by cancer from initial diagnosis through chemotherapy, surgery, and preventing recurrence. She helps patients manage side effects, energy levels and mental health throughout all stages of their cancer journey. In addition to supportive cancer care, she has a clinical focus on mental health concerns including stress management and anxiety, as well as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), and sports nutrition.

Dr. Rizzolo’s clinical approach is evidence-based and patient-centered. She enjoys working with patients to create realistic and sustainable treatment plans, through the use of nutrition, physical activity, supplements, herbal medicine and counselling.

Research Publications

Browse by Year

2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2003 - 2009

2025

Enhancing Quality of Life in People with Lung Cancer: An Integrative Program of Yoga, Education, and Group Support

Authors: Conte, E., Legacy, M., Pitman, A., El Sayed, M., & Seely, D.

Journal: Integrative Cancer Therapies

Publication Date: November 2025

Citation: Integrative Cancer Therapies 24 (2025): 15347354251385246

Research at the Centre for Health Innovation

Research Summaries for Integrative Therapies

Active and Ongoing Research Studies

Research Team

Dr. Dugald Seely, ND, M.Sc.

Dr. Ellen Conte, ND

Mark Legacy, CCRP

Dr. Erica Rizzolo, ND

Research Publications

Browse by Year

Enhancing Quality of Life in People with Lung Cancer: An Integrative Program of Yoga, Education, and Group Support

Naturopathic Oncology for Advanced Cancers: Survival Outcomes from the Canadian/US Integrative Oncology Study

A Comprehensive Description of Naturopathic Care for Advanced Cancers: Outcomes from the Canadian/US Integrative Oncology Study

Melatonin in Cancer Treatment

Advancing Supportive Cancer Care: A Survey of Naturopathic Doctors to Identify Practice Patterns, Knowledge Gaps, and Resource Needs