On March 12, 2026, UHN’s Toronto Western Hospital (TWH) celebrated the opening of the new TWH Centre for Clinical Research—an intentionally designed space that brings together supports for participants and researchers, making clinical research more accessible, coordinated, and patient-centred.

“The launch of the new Centre for Clinical Research is not simply the opening of a physical space,” says Clinical Vice President at UHN, Marnie Escaf. “It represents our commitment to the future of clinical research at Toronto Western Hospital, and our belief that research and clinical care should be integrated.”

Operated by the TWH Clinical Research Unit (CRU), the Centre expands the hospital’s capacity to conduct complex research protocols, early-phase clinical trials, and studies involving advanced treatment procedures.  

For Dr. Carmela Tartaglia, Clinician Investigator at UHN’s Krembil Brain Institute (KBI) and Medical Lead of the Centre, this milestone marks an important step forward for patients facing challenging diagnoses.

“Many of our patients live with chronic diseases for which treatment options are limited. For patients and families, access to high-quality clinical research gives them hope,” says Dr. Tartaglia. “This Centre enables us to offer innovative clinical studies to patients and families more quickly and within a safe and well-supported environment.”

Located on the fifth floor of TWH’s West Wing, the Centre includes a welcoming reception area, private exam rooms, and a newly renovated treatment and monitoring space. With full integration with Epic, UHN’s electronic medical record system, and support from the TWH CRU, research teams and participants benefit from coordinated operations, streamlined workflows, and consistent standards of care. Centralizing these research services reduces pressure on care clinics and advances UHN’s Purpose of transforming lives and communities through excellence in care, discovery, and learning. 

By providing dedicated space and infrastructure for clinical research, the Centre supports research teams that previously lacked access to resources to conduct a broader range of studies and advance new ideas across clinical programs. In doing so, it lays the foundation for the next generation of clinical trials at TWH.

Dr. Susan Fox, KBI Clinician Investigator and Co-Chair of the Clinical Research Collaborative Centre, emphasizes the broader vision, saying, “Better care begins with rigorous, real-world trials that address unmet needs. This Centre gives us the environment to do exactly that.”

For more information about the TWH Centre for Clinical Research, email TWHCRU@uhn.ca. 

The construction of this facility was supported by UHN Foundation and Surgo Surgical Supply Inc., which donated medical equipment and furnishings.

The Toronto Western Hospital Centre for Clinical Research project team pictured in the main treatment room alongside images of the new Centre facilities.