This year, UHN continued to make significant strides in health research, building on its commitment to innovation, collaboration, and patient-centred care. Through interdisciplinary research, community engagement, and transformative discoveries, UHN is shaping the future of health care.
Patient-centred research remains central to our mission. Programs like Pride in Patient Engagement in Research (PiPER) emphasize the role of patients as active collaborators in shaping research. By embedding patient insights at every stage, UHN strengthens its learning health system and ensures that research outcomes directly translate into improved patient care.
Collaboration across UHN’s six research institutes and five hospitals is vital to advancing scientific discovery. Notable achievements include breakthroughs in regenerative medicine, where teams have accelerated the translation of stem cell research from the lab to clinical applications, offering new treatments for complex diseases.
UHN also excels in moving innovations from discovery to practice. Among this year’s accomplishments is the Penta Guide, a cutting-edge tool developed for precision in radiation therapy, now adopted globally to improve cancer treatment outcomes.
In artificial intelligence (AI) and digital health, UHN has emerged as a leader. The appointment of Canada’s first Chief AI Scientist at a hospital exemplifies UHN’s role in leveraging AI to revolutionize diagnostics, treatment, and prevention. Ongoing advancements in AI-driven solutions and robotics are personalizing care while making health systems more efficient.
Financial sustainability is critical to ensuring continued innovation. UHN has strengthened its capacity to fund cutting-edge research through robust support from our foundations, government, and private partnerships. These efforts include integrating inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) principles to address health disparities and ensure equitable care for all communities.
The next generation of scientists is a priority at UHN. Programs like STEM Pathways and the Office of Research Trainees empower emerging researchers, fostering a passion for discovery and equipping future leaders to address tomorrow’s health challenges.
Our scientific achievements would not have been possible without our academic partner, the University of Toronto, our foundations—The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation and UHN Foundation—and support from all levels of government, the private sector and many nonprofits. We also share our success with our patient partners, who inspire us to make a difference.
Explore the Stories Behind the Progress:
● Bringing Discoveries to Life: Learn how UHN translates research breakthroughs into life-changing health solutions.
● Better Together: Discover how UHN engages patients to strengthen research and improve outcomes.
● Bridging Gaps: See how UHN integrates health equity into research to serve diverse communities.
● Unlocking the Future with AI: Explore UHN’s innovations in AI and robotics that are reshaping health care.
● Inspiring the Next Generation: Find out how UHN supports emerging researchers to address tomorrow’s challenges.