Nineteen Ontario hospitals have been recognized for their significant contributions to health research in Canada being named among Canada's Top 40 Research Hospitals. Each year, Research Infosource Inc. releases a list of the Top 40 Research Hospitals in Canada, which is determined by total research spend by institute with investments for each organization coming primarily from philanthropy, government and industry.

"Ontario hospitals are powerful engines of innovation and discovery with world-class scientific talent," said Anthony Dale, President and CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA). "The OHA and its membership congratulates the 19 hospitals that have been recognized for 2021 and applauds these organizations for the significant contributions made over the past year to health research in Canada."

Hospital-based research occurs at the unique intersection of patients, clinicians, clinician-scientists and other researchers with linkages to universities, medical schools, specialized institutes and leading-edge biotech firms that develop and commercialize new treatments. In no other setting are researchers as connected to patients or as involved in the delivery of care as in hospitals. Ontario research hospitals have a strategically important role that cannot be fulfilled by any other research sector, bringing tremendous value to individuals and the health care system. 

Now, as the provincial and federal governments begin to plan for recovery from the global COVID-19 pandemic, renewed support for research and innovation is more important than ever before.

"Over the past two years, the expertise and dedication of researchers, clinician-scientists and teams from Ontario's hospitals have resulted in remarkable breakthroughs in the fight against COVID-19," Dale said. "The race to save lives and recover our economies rests on science and the continued contributions from Ontario's hospitals to the global research and innovation ecosystem."

The following Ontario hospitals have been included in the 2021 top 40 ranking:

• University Health Network

• Hospital for Sick Children

• Hamilton Health Sciences

• The Ottawa Hospital

• London Health Sciences Centre/St. Joseph's Health Care London

• Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

• Sinai Health

• Unity Health Toronto

• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

• Baycrest

• St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton

• Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario

• Kingston Health Sciences Centre

• Women's College Hospital

• The Royal

• Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

• Bruyère

• Hôpital Montfort

• Health Sciences North