Ontario’s research hospitals secured more than $2.23 billion in research funding in fiscal 2023-2024. This funding supported over 27,000 researchers, trainees and staff, and contributed to the commercialization of more than 70 products and approximately 300 intellectual property disclosures. More recently, the Ontario government announced an investment of more than $47 million to accelerate homegrown research and innovation across the province, benefiting colleges, universities and hospitals alike.
This investment highlights the critical role research plays in driving innovation and propelling our communities and economy forward. Now more than ever, innovation is essential to meet the growing demands on the health system, address current gaps, and develop solutions where existing approaches are no longer sufficient.
By combining bedside care, real-world patient data, clinician expertise, and commercialization capacity – and by bringing together multidisciplinary teams like clinicians, researchers, allied health professionals and patients themselves – hospitals in Ontario are the heartland of research and discovery. Research questions are shaped and answered by frontline experience and represent a unique intersection of care and research that drives medical breakthroughs and saves lives.
From Southlake being the only hospital in Ontario to participate in the ALLAY-HF study – advancing new ways to improve quality of life for people living with heart failure – to Scarborough Health Network leading a new global clinical trial exploring a potential oral treatment for sickle cell disease, and Baycrest researchers exploring the link between everyday speech and brain health, Ontario hospitals continue to lead in medical research and innovation.
Year after year, half of Canada’s top 40 research hospitals – 20 in the current ranking – are in Ontario, demonstrating the province’s sustained leadership and influence in the national health and research sector.
- University Health Network
- Hospital for Sick Children
- Hamilton Health Sciences
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
- The Ottawa Hospital
- Unity Health Toronto
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
- London Health Sciences Centre
- Sinai Health
- St. Joseph’s Health Care London
- St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario
- Kingston Health Sciences Centre
- Baycrest
- Women’s College Hospital
- Bruyère Health
- The Royal
- Trillium Health Partners
- Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
- Hôpital Montfort
“This annual distinction confirms their essential role in the health and prosperity of Canadians and underscores their work in advancing health innovations that benefit patients and the economy,” said Anthony Dale, President and CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association.
Clinical research that will define the future of care is happening here.
Together, Ontario hospitals will continue to move the needle on health research and care outcomes by translating frontline clinical insights into evidence that informs practice, policy, and fuels innovation.