Richard Webster

Dr. Richard Webster is the Scientific Director of the Clinical Research Unit (CRU) at the CHEO Research Institute, where he oversees a pediatric methodology unit, consisting of ~15 biostatisticians, epidemiologists and qualitative researchers. Richard co-leads the OCHSU (Ontario Child Health Support Unit) in efforts to accelerate patient-centered child health research.

As an associate scientist and adjunct professor at CHEO and the University of Ottawa’s Telfer School of Management, his research program focuses on climate friendly health systems. He catalyzed CHEO becoming the first Canadian hospital to set a board approved net-zero target. Richard is on the governance and scientific expert committee for SOSCHI (Standards for Official Statistics on Climate-Health Interactions) and an active member of the Cochrane Planetary Health Thematic Group.

Email Researcher Other Publications

Research Areas

Neurology Surgery Anesthesiology Mental Health Neuromuscular Disease COVID- 19 Health Data

Related News

Research Projects

1. Validation of a shortened MR imaging protocol for pediatric spinal pathology

   06/03/2025

   Conventional pediatric spine MRI protocols are lengthy and often require sedation; this study evaluated whether a limited MRI protocol could reliably diagnose common pediatric spine conditions. In a retrospective review of children under four years of age, a shortened protocol reduced scan time by 20 minutes while demonstrating high sensitivity and specificity for detecting cerebellar ectopia, syrinx, fatty filum, and spinal dysraphism. These findings support the use of limited spine MRI as an effective screening approach to reduce sedation and imaging burden in selected clinical scenarios.

2. Does Celecoxib Prescription for Pain Management Affect Post-tonsillectomy Hemorrhage Requiring Surgery? A Retrospective Observational Cohort Study.

   29/04/2024

   This study investigated whether prescribing celecoxib for postoperative pain management is associated with increased risk of hemorrhage requiring surgery following pediatric tonsillectomy. In a large retrospective cohort, celecoxib use was not associated with higher odds of post‑tonsillectomy bleeding after adjusting for patient and surgical factors. These findings provide compelling evidence supporting the safety of celecoxib in this setting, while underscoring the need for confirmation in multisite randomized controlled trials.

3. Real-time detection of neonatal seizures improves with on demand EEG interpretation

   11/11/2022

   Combining aEEG with on-demand cEEG interpretation improved accurate seizure detection in a high-risk NICU population, with the potential to avoid over-treatment.

4. Development and validation of a Fast Spine Protocol for Use in Paediatric Patients

   23/08/2022

   This study demonstrates that selected spinal imaging sequences allows for consistent and accurate diagnosis of specific clinical conditions. A limited spine protocol reduces acquisition time, potentially avoiding sedation. Further work is needed to determine the utility of selected imaging for other clinical indications.

5. Nasopharyngeal swabs vs. saliva sampling for SARS-CoV-2 detection: A cross-sectional survey of acceptability for caregivers and children after experiencing both methods

   08/07/2022

   Though most youth find saliva sampling painless and prefer it to nasopharyngeal swabs, primary decision makers present for the experience generally remain accepting of both methods for COVID-19 testing.