Shaun Ranada

Graduate student - PhD

BRAIN CREATE

Contact information

Biography

About me

Shaun Ranada is a Primary Care Paramedic (2015) and is currently a PhD student in the Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences program at the University of Calgary under the supervision of Drs. Satish R Raj and Robert S Sheldon. He completed a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Biological Sciences (2021) at the University of Calgary. His research focuses on investigating novel therapeutic management options for patients with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).

My research

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a debilitating condition that significantly impacts quality of life for patients. POTS is a chronic form of intolerance to standing and is due to problems with the autonomic nervous system. A hallmark feature of POTS is an excessive increase in heart rate (HR) when standing (increase of >30 beats per minute) without a drop in blood pressure. POTS patients report frequent and chronic (>3 months) symptoms when upright. Symptoms include chest pains, light-headedness, mental clouding, and breathlessness. When patients stand, they can also experience mild hyperventilation. As a result, patients exhale more carbon dioxide (CO2) resulting in low CO2 (hypocapnia). Hyperventilation worsens the increase in HR and symptoms in POTS. It is unclear whether it is the increase in breathing (i.e., increase in breathing depth) or hypocapnia that worsens HR and symptoms. Additionally, treatment options for POTS patients are limited. We are trying to see if we can develop a new therapy. Some studies have found that breathing slightly higher levels of CO2 (hypercapnia) improves HR and symptoms. We will test this idea in patients with POTS. We will also test whether the effects of hyperventilation are caused by increased breathing depth or low CO2. The results from this study will determine if breathing higher levels of CO2 can serve as a novel treatment for POTS patients.

BRAIN CREATE program aspirations

I am honoured and excited to be a part of the BRAIN CREATE program which is geared towards professional development. The program provides unique opportunities including various neuroscience courses, technical/professional workshops, enhanced mentorship, and opportunities to participate in national/international conferences, academic exchanges, industry collaborations and environmental extreme expeditions.

Commercialization

If hypercapnia can effectively reduce heart rate and symptoms in POTS, this may facilitate the development and commercialization of a rebreathe device to increase inspired CO2. This could serve as a novel therapeutic intervention in the management of POTS. This study will generate new knowledge and ideas that will be an important driving force for expanding cardiovascular research aimed at improving quality-of-life of patients.

Publications

Published Articles

  1. Ranada SI, Lei LY, Baker J, Wilson R, Phillips AA, Sheldon RS, Raj SR. Is there a relationship between hypocapnia and tachycardia in Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS): a systematic review. (2023) Clinical Autonomic Research. 10.1007/s10286-023-00928-y.
  2. Hira R, Baker JR, Siddiqui T, Ranada SI, Soroush A, Karalasingham K, Ahmad H, Mavai V, Ayala Valani LM, Ambreen S, Bourne KM, Lloyd MG, Morillo CA, Sheldon RS, Raj SR, on behalf of the Canadian Long COVID Autonomic Network (CanLoCAN). (2022). Objective Hemodynamic Cardiovascular Autonomic Abnormalities in Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19. Can J Cardiol. doi: 10.1016/j.cjca.2022.12.002
  3. Incognito AV, Baker J, Li O, and Ranada S. (2022) Thinking from the heart: Arrhythmia-induced reduction in cerebral blood flow and the cumulative burden on cognitive function in cardiovascular disease. The Journal of Physiology. doi:10.1113/JP283651
  4. Sheikh N, Ranada S, Lloyd M, McCarthy D, Kogut K, Bourne K, Jorge J, Lei L, Sheldon RS, Exner DV, Phillips A, Runte M, and Raj SR. (2022). Lower Body Muscle Pre-Activation and Tensing Mitigates Symptoms of Initial Orthostatic Hypotension in Young Females. Heart Rhythm. doi:10.1016/j.hrthm.2021.12.030
  5. Sheikh N, Phillips A, Ranada S, Lloyd M, Kogut K, Bourne K, Jorge J, Lei L, Sheldon RS, Exner DV, Runte M, and Raj SR. (2022). Mitigating Initial Orthostatic Hypotension: Mechanistic Roles of Muscle Contraction vs Sympathetic Activation. Hypertension. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.121.18580
  6. Sheikh N, Ranada S, Kogut K, Bourne K, Lei L, Sheldon R, Exner D, Phillips A, Runte M, and Raj SR. (2021). Exploring the Refractory Period of an Active Stand in Females with Initial Orthostatic Hypotension. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2021.04.068

Published Abstracts

  1. Ranada SI, Baker J, Karalasingham K, Hira R, Incognito AV, Wilson R, Phillips A, Sheldon RS, and Raj SR. Postural hyperventilation in patients with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS): Effects of posture versus tidal volume versus hypocapnia on heart rate [abstract]. Clinical Autonomic Research.
  2. Baker J, Incognito A, Ranada SI, Sheldon RS, Phillips A, Wilson R, and Raj SR. Stroke Volume and Not Exaggerated Peripheral Chemoreceptor Activity Drives Postural Hyperventilation in Female POTS Patients [abstract]. Can J Cardiol 2023; 39, 5, S15 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cjca.2023.02.062
  3. Ranada SI, Karalasingham K, Baker J, Hira R, Wilson R, Phillips A, Sheldon RS, and Raj SR. Hypocapnia increases heart rate in patients with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) [abstract]. Physiology 2023; 38, S1 https://doi.org/10.1152/physiol.2023.38.S1.5730244
  4. Baker J, Incognito AV, Ranada SI, Phillips AA, Sheldon RS, Wilson RJA, and Raj SR. (2023) Postural hyperventilation in POTS is not driven by exaggerated peripheral chemoreceptor activity [abstract]. Physiology 2023; 38, S1 https://doi.org/10.1152/physiol.2023.38.S1.5730244
  5. Hira R, Siddiqui T, Baker J, Bourne K, Ranada SI, Soroush A, Karalasingham K, Ahmad H, Morillo CA, Sheldon RS, and Raj SR. (2023) Objective cardiovascular autonomic abnormalities persist over time in patients with Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) [abstract]. Physiology 2023; 38, S1 https://doi.org/10.1152/physiol.2023.38.S1.5735031
  6. Ranada SI, Karalasingham K, Baker J, Phillips AA, Raj SR, and Edgell H (2022). Effects of Q-Collar on Hypoxic Cerebral Blood Flow Velocity in Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) [abstract]. Clinical Autonomic Research 2022; 32, 375
  7. Ranada SI, Lei LY, Baker J, Wilson RJA, Phillips AA, Sheldon RS, and Raj SR (2022). Effects of hypocarbia on heart rate in patients with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS): a systematic review [abstract]. Clinical Autonomic Research 2022; 32, 375-376
  8. Baker J, Incognito A, Ranada SI, Phillips AA, Sheldon RS, Wilson RJA, and Raj SR. (2022). Hemodynamic consequences of hypocapnic hyperventilation in POTS [abstract]. Clinical Autonomic Research 2022; 32, 371
  9. Baker J, Incognito A, Ranada SI, Phillips AA, Sheldon RS, Wilson RJA and Raj SR. (2022). Stroke volume and not blood pressure drives postural hyperventilation in disorders of orthostatic intolerance [abstract]. Clinical Autonomic Research 2022; 32, 371
  10. Hira R, Siddiqui T, Baker J, Bourne K, Ranada SI, Soroush A, Karalasingham K, Ahmad H, Morillo CA, Sheldon RS, and Raj SR. (2022). Objective Cardiovascular Autonomic Abnormalities in Post-Acute Sequelae of Covid-19 (PASC): Overall and Sex-Based Prevalence [abstract]. Clinical Autonomic Research 2022; 32, 363
  11. Hira R, Siddiqui T, Baker J, K. Bourne, Ranada SI, Karalasingham K, Mavai V, Morillo CA, Sheldon RS, and Raj SR. (2022). Objective Cardiovascular Autonomic Abnormalities in Post-Acute Sequelae of Covid-19 (PASC): Role of Initial Covid Illness Severity and Symptoms [abstract]. Clinical Autonomic Research 2022; 32, 364
  12. Hira R, Siddiqui T, Baker J, Bourne K, Ranada SI, Karalasingham K, Valani L, Morillo CA, Sheldon RS, and Raj SR. (2022). Objective cardiovascular autonomic abnormalities in post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC): impaired sympathetic and parasympathetic modulation [abstract]. Clinical Autonomic Research 2022; 32, 364
  13. Karalasingham K, Hall J, Hira R, Siddiqui T, Ranada SI, Bourne K, Morillo CA, Sheldon RS, and Raj SR. (2022). Palpitation and lightheadedness are associated with poorer health-related quality of life in Post-Acute Sequelae of Covid-19 (PASC) Patients [abstract]. Clinical Autonomic Research 2022; 32, 365
  14. Karalasingham K, Chew D, Hira R, Siddiqui T, Ranada SI, Bourne K, Morillo CA, Sheldon RS, Raj SR. (2022). Post-acute sequelae of Covid-19 (PASC) patients experience losses of work productivity [abstract]. Clinical Autonomic Research 2022; 32, 365-366
  15. Hall J, Karalasingham K, Hira R, Siddiqui T, Ranada SI, Bourne K, Morillo CA, Sheldon RS, and Raj SR. (2022). Sex-based differences in the Long-COVID patient experience [abstract]. Clinical Autonomic Research 2022; 32, 364
  16. Soroush A, Hira R, Siddiqui T, Baker J, Ranada SI, Adingupu DD, Morillo CA, Sheldon RS, Dunn JF, and Raj SR. (2022). Cortical hypoxia, measured with near-infared spectroscopy (NIRS), in Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) [abstract]. Clinical Autonomic Research 2022; 32, 369
  17. Sheikh N, Phillips A, Ranada SI, Lloyd M, Kogut K, Bourne K, Jorge J, Lei L, Sheldon RS, Exner DV, Runte M, and Raj SR. (2021). Blunting Initial Orthostatic Hypotension: Mechanistic Roles of Muscle Contraction vs Sympathetic Activation. American Autonomic Society. Abstract Published in: Clinical Autonomic Research https://doi.org/10.1007/s10286-021-00822-5
  18. Sheikh N, Ranada SI, Lloyd M, McCarthy D, Sheldon RS, Phillips A, Exner DV, Runte M, and Raj SR. (2020). Characterizing the Physiology of an Active Stand in Initial Orthostatic Hypotension. American Autonomic Society. Abstract Published in: Clinical Autonomic Research (Oral Presentation) https://doi.org/10.1007/s10286-020-00728-8
  19. Sheikh N, Ranada SI, Lloyd M, McCarthy D, Sheldon RS, Phillips A, Exner DV, Runte M, and Raj SR. (2020). Activating Lower Body Muscles Prior to Standing Mitigates Symptoms of Initial Orthostatic Hypotension. American Autonomic Society. Abstract Published in: Clinical Autonomic Research https://doi.org/10.1007/s10286-020-00728-8

Awards

  1. CANTRAIN-CTTP Doctoral Studentship Award (2023) - $17,500

  2. CANet HQP Symposium 2nd place poster award in ‘Scientific Research’ category (2022) - $200

  3. CIHR-ICRH 2023 Fall Travel Award (2023) - $1500

  4. Libin Cardiovascular Institute Travel Award (2023) - $500

  5. Osten-Victor Graduate Scholarship in Cardiology (2023) - $5000

  6. CANet HQP Symposium 3rd place poster award in ‘Research’ category (2022) - $100

  7. Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarships (AGES) Master’s Research (2022) - $11,000

  8. MDCV Student Award (2022) - $1000

  9. Alberta SPOR SUPPORT Unit (AbSPORU) Patient-Oriented Research Studentship (2022) - $30,000

  10. Libin Cardiovascular Institute Graduate Scholarship – Brain CREATE (2021) - $12,500

  11. Brain CREATE Travel/Conference Awards (2021) - $3000

  12. Alberta Innovates Summer Research Studentship (2019) - $4500