Why Research IS Care at The Ottawa Hospital
The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) is at the forefront of a transformative new approach to health care that is rooted in the vision that “research IS care.” The goal is to seamlessly integrate cutting-edge research into clinical practice to enhance patient outcomes, drive innovation and provide hope. This vision, championed by Dr. Rebecca Auer, Executive Vice-President of Research and Innovation at TOH, underscores the hospital’s commitment to pioneering new therapies and improving access to innovative care for Canadians.
“At The Ottawa Hospital, we believe that excellence requires research and clinical care to be intertwined” says Dr. Auer, who is also the CEO and Scientific Director of the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. “Our goal is to reshape the future of health care and integrating research is a critical part of this.”
TOH is renowned for its leadership in developing new therapies across the full innovation pipeline, from discovery to biomanufacturing to clinical trials and implementation. This comprehensive approach ensures that groundbreaking treatments are not only discovered but also brought to patients in a timely and efficient manner.
The hospital’s research is also characterized by meaningful patient partnerships, ensuring that the voices and experiences of patients and family members are integral to the research process. This collaborative approach enhances the relevance and impact of the research, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes.
“Today’s research will inform tomorrow’s care, but some patients do not have time to wait,” emphasizes Dr. Auer. “We must challenge the status quo and entertain disruptive ideas and innovative solutions to better integrate research into patient care, so that every patient has an opportunity to access tomorrow’s therapies today.”
One of TOH’s recent research successes is the development of the first made-in-Canada Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, in partnership with BC Cancer and BioCanRx. CAR T-cells are a type of biotherapy that is revolutionizing the treatment of blood cancers such as leukemia. It uses a genetically engineered virus to supercharge a patient’s own immune T-cells, enabling them to better detect and kill cancer cells.
Access to this therapy has traditionally been very limited, but TOH’s made-in-Canada CAR T-cell research program is making it more accessible to patients across the country, while also fueling the development of even better CAR-T cells for different types of cancers and immune conditions. This innovative program is possible because of dedicated clinical and basic researchers working side-by-side, with support from innovative core facilities such as TOH’s Biotherapeutics Manufacturing Centre and Ottawa Methods Centre.
With recent grants to expand these critical core facilities, TOH will soon be able to drive even more innovative research for the benefit of patients. “I believe we will continue to be successful, not because of what we do but because we will never lose sight of why we are doing it,” says Dr. Auer. “Research is our hope for a better future. This hope is not only central to our patients through their journey but to all the researchers, clinicians and staff who care for them. Hope is not just wishing for a better outcome, it is believing one is possible and having some control over making it happen. Research drives hope. Research IS care.”
ABOUT OTTAWA HOSPITAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute is the research arm of The Ottawa Hospital – one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals. Our research spans more than a hundred different diseases, conditions and specialties with an overall focus on translating discoveries and knowledge into better health. We are proudly affiliated with the University of Ottawa and supported by The Ottawa Hospital Foundation.
Media Contacts
Jennifer Ganton
Director, Communications and Public Relations,
613-614-5253
jganton@ohri.ca