Two Hamilton health care networks among top researchers in Canada

Two Hamilton health care networks were listed among Canada’s best research hospitals.

Each year, Research Infosource Inc. releases a list of the Top 40 Research Hospitals in Canada, which is determined by total research spending by the institute, with investments for each organization coming primarily from philanthropy, government, and industry.

Hamilton Health Sciences and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton are two of 19 Ontario hospitals that made the list.

“The Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) congratulates each of these highly skilled research teams for their continued dedication and passion for scientific discovery and advancement,” said Anthony Dale, President and CEO of the OHA, in a media release. “Nearly half of the Canadian organizations recognized today are located in Ontario, and the OHA is proud of the crucial role that Ontario research hospitals play in the Canadian research ecosystem.”

Hamilton Health Sciences ranked 7th after spending $138 million on research. The year prior, it ranked 4th, having spent 20 per cent more.

Formed in 1996, Hamilton Health Sciences comprises seven hospitals and cancer centres: Hamilton General Hospital, McMaster University Medical Centre, McMaster Children’s Hospital, Juravinski Hospital, St. Peter’s Hospital, West Lincoln Memorial Hospital, Juravinski Cancer Centre, West End Clinic-Urgent Care Centre, Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre, Regional Rehabilitation Centre, David Braley Research Institute, and Satellite Health Facility.

St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton increased its ranking from 26th to 24th, spending nearly $28 million on research.

St. Joe’s is a 777-bed academic health science centre affiliated with the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine of McMaster University and Mohawk College. With three campuses in Hamilton — Charlton, West 5th, and King — the hospital is known for being one of the top national institutions for robotic surgery and having one of the largest kidney and urinary programs.

The rankings are based on 2021 data.