Brief Biography

Dr. Carcao is a Clinician Investigator in the Division of Haematology/Oncology (Department of Paediatrics), Associate Scientist in the Child Health Evaluative Sciences program at SickKids and Associate Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto. He is also a member of the Hemostasis program in Haematology.

Dr. Carcao received his medical degree in 1990 and a Masters of Science degree in Clinical Epidemiology in 2007 from the University of Toronto. He joined the division as a faculty member in 1999 following completion of haematology/oncology and hemostasis fellowships (1995-1999). Dr. Carcao's clinical and clinical translational research interests are in the area of the inherited and acquired bleeding disorders of children with a focus on the haemophilias. He is co-director of the Paediatric Comprehensive Care Haemophilia Program at SickKids and past President of the Association of Haemophilia Clinic Directors of Canada (AHCDC).

Research Interests

• Prevention of bleeding in haemophilia
• Inhibitor development in haemophilia
• Immune thrombocytopenia purpura
• Paediatric haemostasis
• Clinical trials

Research Activities

As an Associate Scientist Dr. Carcao is developing a career in the investigation of congenital and acquired bleeding disorders. Congenital bleeding disorders in children encompass the haemophilias, Von Willebrand disease as well as rarer disorders of platelet function and inherited thrombocytopenias.

The improvement of care for haemophiliac patients is the key focus of Dr. Carcao’s research. This is demonstrated by a number of studies where he is principal investigator in the field of prophylaxis in hemophlia. Prophylaxis refers to the regular administration of factor (missing in haemophilia patients) in order to prevent bleeding. Dr. Carcao, along with several co-investigators (Drs. Blanchette, Feldman, Babyn) are evaluating different prophylaxis strategies taking into account issues such as quality of life and costs. Additionally, Dr. Carcao is conducting studies assessing pharmacokinetics of using factor and other medications such as desmopressin acetate (DDAVP) involved in the management of haemophilia patients.

Publications

Biss TT, Chan AK, Blanchette VS, Iwenofu LN, McLimont M, Carcao MD for the Association of Hemophilia Clinic Directors of Canada (AHCDC) and the Canadian Association of Nurses in Hemophilia Care (CANHC): Current practice in haemophilia prophylaxis: results of a Canadian survey. Haemophilia 2008.

Heller M, Lau W, Pazmino-Canizares J, Brandao LR, Carcao M: A comprehensive review of rFVIIa usage in a tertiary care pediatric centre. Pediatric Blood and Cancer. 2008: 50(5): pp 1013-7.

Traivaree C, Blanchette V, Armstrong D, Floros G, Stain AM, Carcao M: Intracranial bleeding in haemophilia beyond the neonatal period - the role of CT imaging in suspected intracranial bleeding. Haemophilia 2007: 13(5): pp 552-9.

Barnes C, Lillicrap D, Pazmino-Canizares J, Blanchette V, Stain AM, Clark D, Hensmen C, Carcao M: Pharmacokinetics of recombinant factor VIII (Kogenate-FS((R))) in children and causes of inter-patient pharmacokinetic variability. Haemophilia 2006: 12(Supp.4): pp 40-49.

Carcao MD, St. Louis J, Poon M-C, Grunebaum E, Lacroix S, Stain AM, Blanchette VS, Rivard GE on behalf of the Inhibitor Subcommittee of the Association of Hemophilia Clinic Directors of Canada: Rituximab for congenital hemophiliacs with inhibitors: a Canadian experience. Hemophilia 2006: 12(1): pp 7-18.

Barnes C, Rivard GE, Poon MC, Teitel J, Pai M, Kern M, Blanchette V, Carcao M on behalf of the Inhibitor Subcommittee of the Association of Haemophilia Clinic Directors of Canada: Canadian multi-institutional survey of immune tolerance therapy (ITT)experience with the use of recombinant factor VIII for ITT. Haemophilia 2006: 12(1): pp 1-6.