This past year has been a time of great change, hope and strategic advancement at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI).

With new leadership at the OHRI Board Chair level (Paul Davidson) and CEO level (Rebecca Auer), there has been a lot of learning, teamwork and strategic thinking. We continued to make progress in implementing our Strategic Plan, Designing the Future of Health Care, while also bringing forward exciting new initiatives to strengthen the full spectrum of our research.

We finalized our scientific reorganization under six multidisciplinary Scientific Programs: Acute Care Research; Cancer Research; Inflammation and Chronic Disease; Methodological and Implementation Research; Neuroscience; and Regenerative Medicine. This new structure is increasing alignment with Clinical Departments, while also supporting collaboration and the translation of basic science discoveries into new therapies for patients at The Ottawa Hospital and around the world.

We strengthened our support for clinical research by hiring a full-time Clinical Research Navigator, partnering with the University of Ottawa on an investment in Clinical Research Chairs, enhancing and simplifying how we approach patients about research, and streamlining our processes around contracts and ethics review.

We also continued to invest in our world-class discovery research, including recruitment of new basic scientists in Regenerative Medicine and Cancer Research (three in the last two years) and initiating international searches for three Canada Research Chairs, in partnership with the University of Ottawa.

We implemented new technologies and innovations to enhance our core research facilities and services, ensuring that we can support the full spectrum of research, from basic discovery to the development of new treatments, to clinical trials, implementation and commercialization.

We have much to look forward to in the coming year, as we continue to advance the expansion plan for our world-class Biotherapeutics Manufacturing Centre, implement new initiatives related to trainees and planetary health, and increase our capacity and efficiency for conducting clinical trials.

Throughout all of these activities, we are guided by the core belief that Research Is Care and should be integrated into everything we do at The Ottawa Hospital. We also recognize that research is hope, not only for our patients and staff, but also for a more prosperous future for all Canadians. World events have powerfully reinforced the importance of having a strong Canadian research capacity to meet the needs of Canadians.

This is an exciting time for health research and innovation in the National Capital Region, with transformative projects on the horizon not only for The Ottawa Hospital, but also for the University of Ottawa and other partners. Working together, we will solidify our position as a major hub for translating bioscience and health innovation into better health care.

On behalf of the OHRI Board of Directors and Senior Leadership Team, we thank all our dedicated trainees, researchers, clinicians and staff for their hard work and commitment to harnessing research to reshape the future of health care. We also thank the many patients, donors and partners who contribute to our research.

Paul Davidson
Chair, Board of Directors, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Dr. Rebecca Auer
CEO and Scientific Director, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Executive Vice-President, Research and Innovation, The Ottawa Hospital
Professor, University of Ottawa