toh

The University of Ottawa and The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) are joining forces to establish the Ottawa region as a Canadian leader in biotherapeutics manufacturing, clinical trials and biodefence during a transformative period of growth in these critical sectors.

Through this partnership, the planned expansion of TOH’s Biotherapeutics Manufacturing Centre (BMC) will now be located at the University of Ottawa’s Advanced Medical Research Centre (AMRC), which is set to open later this year. The BMC will continue to be governed and operated by the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI).

TOH’s BMC is one of the most experienced and successful biomanufacturing facilities in Canada, having manufactured more than 20 different therapies that incorporate biological materials such as cell, genes and viruses to treat and prevent disease. These therapies have been used in human clinical trials in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia.

The BMC expansion and strengthened partnership between TOH and uOttawa comes at a critical time, as Canadian leaders continue to focus on bolstering Canada’s economy and capacity for innovation, manufacturing and defence, including biodefence and pandemic preparedness.  

OHRI and uOttawa were recently awarded more than $78 M in grants for a major BMC expansion, funded through Canada’s Biosciences Research Infrastructure Fund and the Ontario Research Fund.

Located on the uOttawa Faculty of Medicine campus adjacent to TOH’s General Campus and CHEO, the AMRC will serve as a dynamic hub for collaboration between Faculty of Medicine researchers, clinicians and industry partners. The seven-storey, 350,000 square foot facility will also house the Ottawa Health Innovation Hub, a signature initiative designed to incubate startups, develop novel therapies and accelerate the translation of research into real-world health-care solutions.

“Strengthening the University of Ottawa’s research and innovation ecosystem, this new partnership with TOH will play a critical role in advancing Canada’s biomanufacturing capabilities,” said uOttawa Vice-President, Research and Innovation Julie St-Pierre. “By connecting world-class biomedical research with advanced manufacturing infrastructure, TOH’s Biotherapeutics Manufacturing Centre will support the AMRC’s goal of providing researchers and industry partners with a unique, end-to-end launchpad for Canadian health innovations, all under one roof.”

“The Ottawa Hospital is reshaping the future of health care, and our Biotherapeutics Manufacturing Centre will continue to play a critical role in this goal,” said Dr. Rebecca Auer, Executive Vice-President of Research and Innovation at TOH, CEO and Scientific Director of OHRI and professor at uOttawa. “Our expanded Biotherapeutics Manufacturing Centre will bring life-changing clinical trials and therapies to Canadians while also promoting the development of made-in-Canada products and solutions for global health challenges.”

The Ottawa Hospital’s BMC and uOttawa’s AMRC will continue to play leading roles in the Canadian Pandemic Preparedness Hub and Canadian Biomanufacturing Cooperative, both funded through Canada’s Biomanufacturing Life Sciences Strategy.

uOttawa and TOH are proud members of the Ottawa Academic Health Network (OAHN).

About The Ottawa Hospital

The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada’s top learning and research hospitals, where excellent care is inspired by research and driven by compassion. As the third-largest employer in Ottawa, our support staff, researchers, nurses, physicians, and volunteers never stop seeking solutions to the most complex health-care challenges. Our multi-campus hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, attracts some of the most influential scientific minds from around the world. Backed by generous support from the community, we are committed to providing the world-class, compassionate care we would want for our loved ones.

About the University of Ottawa 

The University of Ottawa is powered by research. Located in Canada’s capital, we bring together energetic and creative scholars to tackle urgent global challenges and to respond to emerging opportunities.

As one of Canada’s most innovative universities, we generate breakthroughs and discoveries that make a real difference in communities across Ontario, Canada and the world. Our thought leaders provide evidence-based insights that inform policy and support industry.

Our influence keeps growing due to our vast range of international partnerships, including our membership in the U7+ Alliance. As the world’s largest French-English university, we are a driving force in the Francophonie.

Media contacts

Jennifer Ganton
Director, Communications and Public Relations
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
jganton@ohri.ca
613-614-5253

uOttawa
media@uottawa.ca