Hospitals continue to play a critical role in Canadian health care advancements and innovation.
Each year, many of Ontario's hospitals are celebrated for their excellence in health research and for improving the delivery of health care in Canada - and 2024 was no different.
In December 2024, Research Infosource Inc. published an annual list of the Top 40 Research Hospitals in Canada, determined by total research spend by institute. These investments come primarily from philanthropy, government and industry, and are intended to support the innovative research activities at each organization.
For 2024, Research Infosource Inc. recognized 19 Ontario hospitals for their vital role in driving health care innovation and improving health care outcomes across Canada.
This is a strong reflection of the tremendous work Ontario's hospitals have done to advance health research across the province. In recent years, hospitals have made breakthroughs in areas such as kidney, respiratory and cardiovascular disease. In 2023–24, Ontario's research hospitals attracted $2.21 billion in investment, which supports more than 27,000 highly skilled researchers, trainees and support staff along with state-of-the-art research space, equipment and technologies.
“Our health care systems face a multitude of pressures, and Ontario hospitals are already driving change by leveraging technology and innovation to help meet future health care needs," said Anthony Dale, President and CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA). “Growing investments in hospital-based research allow hospitals to strategically address Canada's national health priorities. They also significantly contribute to Canada's economic growth. The untapped potential of Canada's health research ecosystem presents an incredible opportunity to advance our health care system to meet the demands of Canada's growing and aging population".
Canada is at a critical juncture where there is an opportunity to leverage health research investments, while engaging with industry and the private sector to bring forward transformational change led by innovation. Ontario's hospitals are already embracing change – they are Canada's engine room for health research and innovation. Investments in hospital-based research enable system change and address generational problems.
Technology and innovation offer great potential for creating capacity and capability in the health system, and health research drives both fundamental discoveries and practical innovations, enhancing well-being and boosting economic competitiveness. Therefore, research hospitals are not only Ontario's largest contributors to health-related discoveries and innovation within Canada's hospital sector, but they also provide significant opportunities for the commercialization of technological innovations.
To build on these investments and ensure ongoing success, the OHA will continue to advocate for support of the full continuum of research, which includes basic research, applied research, and the commercialization of research findings.
The following Ontario hospitals have been named among Canada's Top 40 Research Hospitals for 2024:
1. University Health Network
2. Hospital for Sick Children
6. The Ottawa Hospital
7. London Health Sciences Centre/St. Joseph's Health Care London
8. Hamilton Health Sciences
9. Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
11. Unity Health Toronto
13. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
14. Sinai Health
22. St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
23. Kingston Health Sciences Centre
24. Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario
28. Baycrest Centre
31. Women's College Hospital
33. Bruyère Health
34. The Royal
37. Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
38. Hôpital Montfort
39. Trillium Health Partners