Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre Improves its Ranking on Annual Top Research Hospitals List

After debuting on the list of Top 40 Research Hospitals in Canada in 2010, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) continues to rank among the leading health research institutions in the country.

Five years ago, TBRHSC appeared on the list for the first time, entering at #40. This year, the Health Sciences Centre has climbed to its highest-ever ranking on the list at #35. That’s an improvement from #37 on last year’s list.

The research activity that has catapulted TBRHSC into Canada’s Top 40 Research Hospitals is attributed to the ongoing success of its research arm, the Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute (TBRRI).

“We are very proud that the research activity that has helped TBRHSC be recognized as one of Canada’s Top 40 Research Hospitals is the result of the work being done at TBRRI,” says Dr. Bill McCready, Interim President & CEO, TBRHSC and Interim CEO, TBRRI. “We can celebrate this as a very tangible indication of developments in medical research. All of the research at TBRHSC aims to improve patient care in Northwestern Ontario and contribute to the future development of new treatments and services.”

A robust research program is vital to advancing patient care. It provides patients with access to equipment that wouldn’t be available without it, such as the PET/CT scanner used to diagnose lung cancer or the new cyclotron, which will eliminate TBRHSC’s dependence upon outside sources of radioactive isotopes used for diagnostic imaging. Research also improves healthcare by attracting the best and brightest medical minds, including both scientists and clinicians.

Research also advances economic development. “Every dollar invested in research is an economic driver for the community and region”, says McCready. “We see that most obviously in terms of researchers and clinicians moving to the region to work, which automatically impacts our economy. With the intellectual property (IP) and medical devices now in development at TBRRI, our knowledge-based economy will continue to grow.”

In addition to climbing the ranking, TBRHSC’s research income increased by 4.0 percent to $7.59 million from $7.29 million the prior year. In total, 27 institutions on the list reported activity gains against 13 where activity declined. According to Canada’s Top 40 Research Hospitals List 2015, research income includes all funds to support research received in the form of a grant, contribution or contract from all sources (internal and external) to the organization.

Donations to the Health Sciences Discovery Fund of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation support the activities of TBRRI. To help Bring Discovery to Life, visit www.healthsciencesfoundation.ca

The Top 40 list is a compilation by Research Infosource to emphasize the very important role that hospitals play in Canadian medical research.

Canada’s Top 40 Research Hospitals List 2015 is available on the Research Infosource website: http://bit.ly/1PUlXLz


For more information, please contact: