HomeNews & TopicsTechnology and InnovationOntario hospitals play critical role in Canadian health care advancements and innovation

Ontario hospitals play critical role in Canadian health care advancements and innovation

Published on

Twenty Ontario research hospitals have been celebrated for their excellence in health research and for seeking to improve the delivery of health care in Canada. It’s a reminder of the vital role hospitals play in driving health care innovation and improving health care outcomes across Canada today.  

Each year, Research Infosource Inc. releases a list of Canada’s Top 40 Research Hospitals, which is determined by total research spend by institute. Investments come primarily from philanthropy, government and industry, and support the innovative research activities at each organization. 

“Ontario research hospitals play a tremendous role in driving health care innovation in Canada,” said Anthony Dale, President and CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA). “Investments in hospital-based research have led to significant clinical advancements and improvements in the delivery of health care services. Moving forward, as Canada’s population grows and ages, Ontario’s hospitals will play an anchor role in reimagining and redesigning health care services in their communities to meet this evolving need.” 

Hospital-based research occurs at the intersection of patients, clinicians, clinician-scientists, and other researchers with linkages to universities, medical schools, and leading-edge biotech firms. Nowhere else are researchers as connected to patients or as involved in the delivery of care as in hospitals. In recent years, hospitals have made breakthroughs in areas such as kidney, respiratory and cardiovascular disease. 

Ontario research hospitals attracted $1.82 billion in investment in 2021-22, an increase of 6.5 per cent over 2020-2021. This investment allows the sector to drive innovations that transform patient care and health care operations. Hospitals have also fostered strategic partnerships through national networks to improve Canada’s clinical trials and pandemic preparedness. 

Ontario’s research hospitals also attract and nurture scientific talent and contribute to Canada’s economic growth and prosperity. Since 2017-18, Ontario’s research hospitals have generated nearly 1,400 intellectual property disclosures and $162 million in commercialization revenue from more than 680 products, which are critical to strengthening the Canadian economy and competitiveness on a global scale. 

“The OHA is proud of Ontario’s research hospitals for their contributions in improving health care delivery and health outcomes,” said Dale. “Moving forward, the OHA and its member hospitals will continue to play a leadership role in re-engineering hospital-based care so that scientific, technological and clinical breakthroughs are adopted.” 

The following Ontario hospitals have been named among Canada’s Top 40 Research Hospitals for 2023: 

1. University Health Network

2. Hospital for Sick Children

3. The Ottawa Hospital

4. London Health Sciences Centre/St. Joseph’s Health Care London

5. Hamilton Health Sciences

6. Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

7. Unity Health Toronto

8. Sinai Health

9. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

10. St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton

11. Kingston Health Sciences Centre

12. Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario

13. Baycrest

14. Women’s College Hospital

15. The Royal

16. Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

17. Bruyère

18. Hôpital Montfort

19. Trillium Health Partners

20. Health Sciences North 

Latest articles

Transforming Acute Care with Near-Patient Testing: A Game Changer in the Fight Against AMR

These past few years, we have seen remarkable technological advances, particularly in healthcare with...

AI tools to ease administrative burdens in ER

Unity Health Toronto has received $200 thousand in funding from Toronto Innovation Acceleration Partners...

RVH’s emergency department Minor Ailment Patient Pathway

Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre’s (RVH) Emergency Department (ED) is well prepared to serve...

Early Talent, Big Impact: Powering the Future of Healthcare Technology Innovation

Rapid innovations in technology, particularly AI, have many worried that machines will threaten their...

More like this

AI tools to ease administrative burdens in ER

Unity Health Toronto has received $200 thousand in funding from Toronto Innovation Acceleration Partners...

Living with type 1 diabetes My journey through misconceptions, stigma and resilience

I was only a child when my life took a sharp turn. At around...

World first discoveries allow researchers to accurately diagnose prenatal exposure syndromes and birth disorders

Researchers at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and Lawson Health Research Institute are using...

Using AI to predict tumour response

For patients with metastatic cancer, individual tumours have different sensitivities to cancer therapies. A...

Uniting health and social services: The HUB@2115 opens its doors to a healthier community

In a significant step toward promoting public health and wellness, the North Western Toronto...

Brain-computer interface gives gift of freedom

Using your mind to control machinery sounds like sci-fi to some, but for Tristin...