Health Research Town Hall

Northern Ontario hosts immense expertise in health research. This is despite a significant federal funding gap in the region, especially compared to other parts of the country. Northern Ontario is the only region in Canada with a new medical school and two new academic health sciences centers, yet federal research funding to the region does not recognize this reality. Accessing our fair share of federal funding for health research is a persistent challenge for researchers in Northern Ontario.

• Northern Ontario’s population (812,710) represents 2.2% of Canada’s population (37.6 million).
• Of the $14.6 billion in research funding allocated by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) since 1999-2000, only $21.5 million (0.15%) was to Northern Ontario.
• If Northern Ontario had received 2.2% of CIHR investments since 1999-2000, it would have received $316.6 million instead of $21.5 million, thus the $295 million health innovation gap in Northern Ontario.
• Since 1999-2000, CIHR has invested 6.5 times more in the United States than Northern Ontario and more in the United Kingdom, Australia, France and Sweden combined than Northern Ontario. CIHR has even invested more in California than in Northern Ontario. 
• There is also a significant gap in Northern Ontario for federal research chairs. Currently, CIHR funds 348 Tier 1 Canada Research Chairs at Canadian universities. The number in Northern Ontario: 0. Northern Ontario’s appropriate share based on population should be 8. CIHR also funds 342 Tier 2 Canada Research Chairs at Canadian universities. The number in Northern Ontario: 2. Northern Ontario’s appropriate share based on population would be 8. 
   

• Seven organizations are joining forces as founding members of Northern Ontario’s Health Innovation Cluster. Those include: 
  • Health Sciences North;
  • Health Sciences North Research Institute;
  • Lakehead University;
  • Laurentian University;
  • Northern Ontario School of Medicine;
  • Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre;
  • Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute.
• These seven organizations have a combined budget of $1.4 billion and received 97% of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) funding allocated to Northern Ontario since 1999-2000. Laurentian University in Sudbury and Lakehead University in Thunder Bay are among Canada’s top 32 research universities. 
• The two academic health science centers, Health Sciences North in Sudbury and the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, are among Canada’s top 40 research hospitals. 
• In June 2018, these partners launched the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) North which allows clinical investigators, scientists, staff and students to pursue strategic, long range, health research priorities for Northern Ontario with direct access to confidential patient-level information.

We know we are stronger when we work together. The purpose of Northern Ontario’s Health Innovation Cluster is to close this significant funding gap for health research and innovation facing our organizations, while increasing synergies, reducing red tape, and increasing efficiencies so we can reinvest in health innovation. If successful, the benefits will be impactful for our researchers, our organizations, our regional economy, and for the people of Northern Ontario. 

Northern Ontario’s Health Innovation Cluster will work on ambitious health research based on our unique regional health challenges to support improved health outcomes and economic growth. We will build a shared competitive advantage that attracts cutting-edge research, investment and talent by addressing gaps, aligning strengths, enhancing attributes, and positioning it as a leading health research cluster.

The seven founding member organizations of Northern Ontario’s Health Innovation Cluster are working together to finalize a multi-year proposal in 2020 to the federal and provincial governments to support collaborative research efforts and strengthen the health innovation ecosystem of Northern Ontario.