With a mission to create A Healthier World, University Health Network (UHN) is at the forefront of healthcare research and innovation. UHN comprises four academic hospitals, an education institute, a technology accelerator and six research institutes. Research is supported in part by UHN Foundation and The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.
Research Excellence
UHN’s research institutes are epicenters of groundbreaking research across diverse disciplines.
At Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, a team of dedicated researchers seeks to understand all aspects of cancer. In recent achievements, researchers have brought a new anticancer drug closer to clinical application and uncovered protein structures that can be used as drug targets.
The KITE Research Institute is a world leader in complex rehabilitation, with scientists dedicated to improving the lives of people living with the effects of disability, illness and aging. Recent work has shown how the connection between the brain and hand muscles can predict recovery after spinal cord injury and how mixed reality technology can be used to improve the lives of individuals with dementia.
The Toronto General Hospital Research Institute has contributed to therapeutic advances in organ transplantation, cardiac pacemakers and novel therapies in endocrine and autoimmune disorders. Most recently, researchers developed a technology to predict a patient’s risk of severe outcomes from infection and worked with Indigenous populations towards the goal of eliminating Hepatitis C in Canada.
The Krembil Research Institute is dedicated to developing innovative treatments for chronic debilitating conditions that include neurological, ophthalmologic and musculoskeletal system disorders. Recent advancements include discovering biomarkers for a form of arthritis and improving vision loss with a new rehabilitation method.
The Institute for Education Research strives to support and advance the healthcare system through developing and implementing new ways of educating the healthcare workforce. Research has identified gaps in oncology training and education for family physicians and challenges in care that occur due to staff changeovers during surgery.
The McEwen Stem Cell Institute is on a mission to develop new stem cell–based therapies for chronic diseases with unmet clinical needs such as blood cancers, diabetes and heart and liver disease. Researchers continue to explore methods for cell therapy, a potential future treatment for these diseases.
Leaders in regenerative medicine
UHN has been committed to stem cell research since the first discovery of blood-forming stem cells at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (formerly the Ontario Cancer Institute) in 1961, which paved the way for modern regenerative medicine.
Over the years, continued advancements in the field led to the creation of the McEwen Stem Cell Institute. The institute’s renowned researchers are developing new cell-based therapies in collaboration with UHN’s clinical teams and industry partners.
One such industry collaboration is BlueRock Therapeutics, scientifically co-founded by two UHN researchers, that is investigating its proprietary technology for creating and manufacturing cell types in the areas of neurology, cardiology and ophthalmology.
Through its many discoveries—such as the generation of blood, pancreatic, heart muscle and liver cells from human pluripotent stem cells—UHN is and will continue to be a leader in the field.
The University Health Network is a Member of Research Canada: An Alliance for Health Discovery and a Sponsor of the Parliamentary Health Research Caucus Morning Panel and Luncheon, Breakthrough Stem Cell Research & the Power of Regenerative Medicine. Visit rc-rc.ca to learn more.