MIR Lab
University of Ottawa Heart Institute
Advancing cardiovascular prevention through clinical research, behavioural interventions, and innovation.
Welcome to the official website for the MIR Lab!
We are located at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI)in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Directed by Dr. Hassan Mir, MD, FRCPC, MHI, MPH a cardiologist at UOHI. The MIR Lab comprises a dedicated team of researchers focused on advancing knowledge in cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation.
The team is currently engaged in projects focused on hypertension, smoking and vaping cessation, and other areas of cardiovascular health.
For general comments, questions about our research, or information on getting involved with the MIR Lab as a volunteer, student, or collaborator, don't hesitate to contact Dr. Mir or Evyanne using the contact form below.
OUR RESEARCH FOCUS
Our 3 Research Pillars
Our lab drives translational science through three interconnected pillars that shape research, training, and practise
OUR TRANSLATIONAL APPROACH
From Discovery to Impact
Precision Medicine
Personalize diagnosis and treatment to improve outcomes.
Innovative Interventions
Create and test new therapies, devices, and care models.
Health Systems & Implementation
Integrate proven solutions into real-world systems for scale and sustainability.
Policy, Population Health, & Equity
Shape policies that reduce disparities and expand equitable access.
Training & Leadership Development
Train and mentor the next generation of ethical, collaborative leaders.
Recent News & Updates
Congratulations to Dr. Mir!
We are proud to share that Dr. Hassan Mir, Principal Investigator of our lab, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Royal College Award for Early-Career Leadership in Health Policy and Health Systems by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
This national award recognizes Dr. Mir’s leadership and contributions to smoking cessation, cardiovascular prevention, and healthcare innovation, with a focus on improving patient outcomes through evidence-based and system-level approaches. His work bridges clinical care, research, and health policy, advancing scalable strategies that support both individual patients and population health.
Dr. Mir’s research and leadership continue to shape innovations in cardiovascular medicine, digital health, and preventive care while supporting the development of impactful healthcare programs across Canada.
This recognition reflects Dr. Mir’s ongoing commitment to advancing healthcare systems, mentorship, and clinically meaningful research that improves long-term patient outcomes.
Congratulations to Dr. Mir!
We are proud to share that Dr. Hassan Mir, Principal Investigator of our lab, has been awarded the 2025 CCS-Novo Nordisk Cardiometabolic Research Award by the Canadian Cardiovascular Society.
This national award recognizes Dr. Mir’s impactful research in cardiometabolic health, with a particular focus on cardiovascular prevention, smoking and vaping cessation, hypertension, and patient-centred approaches to improving long-term health outcomes. His work bridges clinical care and research, advancing evidence-based strategies that support both individual patients and population-level prevention.
This recognition reflects Dr. Mir’s ongoing commitment to innovative, clinically relevant research and reinforces our lab’s mission to advance cardiovascular prevention through rigorous science and real-world impact.
Advancing Translational Research in E-Cigarette Science
We are excited to share that Dr. Hassan Mir, Principal Investigator of our lab, is a co-lead on a project selected for funding through the 2025 Translational Research Grant competition at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine.
This initiative is part of a faculty-wide investment of over $100,000 aimed at accelerating research that bridges fundamental science and clinical application. Dr. Mir’s funded project, Uncovering the Hidden Effects of E-Cigarettes: Understanding the Biological Impact from Bench to Bedside, brings together preclinical and clinical expertise to examine the biological consequences of chronic e-cigarette exposure.
The project will investigate how vaping affects inflammation, oxidative stress, and tissue function, using animal models to identify key biomarkers that will then be evaluated in participants enrolled in ongoing vaping cessation trials. By integrating molecular findings with human data, this work aims to clarify the biological impact of vaping and inform future prevention, cessation, and public health strategies.
This funding highlights the strength of interdisciplinary collaboration and reflects our lab’s commitment to translational research that directly informs clinical care and population health.
The Ottawa Model for Smoking Cessation (OMSC)
Ottawa Model for Smoking Cessation
Widely considered the most established and scalable smoking cessation program in Canada
Implemented in hundreds of hospitals and healthcare settings nationwide
Identified as the most widely implemented hospital-based cessation intervention in the country
Demonstrated to significantly increase long-term quit rates (e.g., ~11% absolute increase in some evaluations)
Built as a system-level intervention: automatically identifies smokers, initiates treatment (often including pharmacotherapy), and provides structured follow-up
Why it stands out
Strong clinical evidence base
Integrated into routine care (not optional or ad hoc)
Includes follow-up support, which is critical for sustained quitting
Has been scaled nationally and adapted to primary care and regional programs
Contact Us
Interested in collaborating with our team or learning more about our research? We welcome inquiries from researchers, healthcare professionals, community organizations, and other potential collaborators.
Please complete the contact form below and a member of our team will be in touch.
Organizations interested in research collaboration, sponsorship, or industry partnership opportunities are also invited to contact us directly at mirlab@ottawaheart.ca.