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Research

The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

More than 1,300 scientists, clinical investigators, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and support staff are involved in research at The Ottawa Hospital. All of these efforts are coordinated through the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) the research arm of The Ottawa Hospital and an affiliated institute of the University of Ottawa.

Research at the OHRI is organized into six main programs:

The Cancer Therapeutics Program is based at The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre. Scientists, oncologists and surgeons are investigating everything from basic cancer cell biology to the development of novel targeted therapeutics, to clinical trials and population-based studies in patients.

The Chronic Disease Program includes scientists and clinicians focused on improving the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of chronic disease. Major areas of research include hypertension and kidney disease, diabetes and obesity, infectious disease (e.g. AIDS) and problems of reproduction and development.

The Clinical Epidemiology Program is focused on improving health through research involving patients and the health care system. Major research themes include circulatory and respiratory health, emergency medicine and critical care, maternal and fetal health, knowledge translation, quality and safety and health research methods.

The Neuroscience Program includes scientists, neurologists, and neurosurgeons conducting research to improve our understanding of the brain and aid in disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Major areas of research include multiple sclerosis , Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury and stroke.

Researchers in the Regenerative Medicine Program are working to improve our understanding of disease and open the road for regenerative medicine to enter the clinic. The Regenerative Medicine Program includes biologists, geneticists, stem cell scientists and transplant specialists working from various locations including the new Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research.

The Vision Program is based at the University of Ottawa Eye Institute at the General Campus of The Ottawa Hospital. Researchers are investigating a wide range of vision health issues, with particular emphasis on diseases such as macular degeneration and glaucoma at the new Centre for Research on Age-Related Blindness.

The OHRI is governed by a Board of Directors that includes representatives of The Ottawa Hospital, the University of Ottawa and The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, as well as members of the community. The CEO and Scientific Director of the OHRI is also the Vice-President of Research at The Ottawa Hospital and a Professor of Medicine at the University of Ottawa. For more information, visit the OHRI Web site.

Institute for Rehabilitation Research and Development

The Institute for Rehabilitation Research and Development (IRRD) at The Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre was created to foster research, development, and networking activities with a focus on the clinical and practical application of rehabilitation services.

The Ottawa Hospital Research Ethics Board (OHREB)

Any research project involving human subjects carried out by a member of the staff of The Ottawa Hospital or the University of Ottawa's Faculty of Medicine, must be reviewed and approved by the Ottawa Hospital Research Ethics Board (OHREB) before work is started. Research is defined as a systematic investigation to establish facts, principles or develop generalizable knowledge.