OTTAWA, December 4, 2025 — The 2025 Research Infosource rankings highlight a strong research and innovation sector in Ottawa, with five local hospitals, two universities, two colleges and multiple corporations making the list of the top institutions in Canada for research and development.
The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) / University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI) ranked as the top research hospital in Ottawa and among the top 10 in Canada, with $168 million in combined research activity in 2023-24, up from $165 million the previous year.
“We’re very pleased that our research activity has continued to grow over the last several years, resulting in more treatment options for our patients, more innovation in our economy and more scientific advances,” said Dr. Rebecca Auer, executive vice-president of research and innovation at TOH and CEO and scientific director of the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. “With a number of exciting projects just getting started, we know there is a very bright future for research at The Ottawa Hospital.”
“The growth in our collective research achievements reflects not only excellence but leadership, and a drive to push the boundaries of what’s possible in cardiovascular science,” said Dr. Katey Rayner, chief scientific officer and vice-president of research at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. “As we continue to expand our scientific impact, every breakthrough brings us closer to transforming care and fulfilling our promise of heart health for all.”
The University of Ottawa (uOttawa) also ranked among the top 10 research universities in Canada, with $513 million in sponsored research income in 2023-24, up from $495 million the previous year. This includes research income administered through affiliated local hospitals such as TOH / the UOHI.
Together, uOttawa and affiliated research hospitals and institutes form the Ottawa Academic Health Network (OAHN), which is the second largest life science research ecosystem in Ontario.
OAHN members are embarking on a number of exciting projects that will further strengthen Ottawa’s life science research ecosystem, including TOH’s new campus and expanded Biotherapeutics Manufacturing Centre, uOttawa’s Advanced Medical Research Centre and the Brain-Heart lnterconnectome program, which bring together long-standing areas of priority and excellence from uOttawa and the UOHI.
About The Ottawa Hospital
The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) is one of Canada’s top learning and research hospitals where we are guided by our vision to provide the world-class and compassionate care we would all want for our loved ones. Our multi-campus hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, is home to the Regional Trauma Centre and Cancer Centre, and to discoveries that are adopted globally. Backed by generous support from the community, we are focused on reshaping the future of health care to improve the health of our diverse population of patients from Eastern Ontario, Western Quebec, and Nunavut.
About the University of Ottawa Heart Institute
Recognized as one of Canada’s most distinguished heart health centres, the University of Ottawa Heart Institute delivers specialized cardiac services to 16 regional hospitals, reaching nearly two million people, and performing among the highest volumes of cardiac procedures in Canada. It leads globally recognized research from bench to bedside and plays a national leadership role in heart disease prevention. Serving communities from Eastern Ontario, Western Quebec, Nunavut and Newfoundland and Labrador, it strives to ensure care, research and education support heart health for all. The Heart Institute promise lives on: Always putting people first.
Media contacts
University of Ottawa Heart Institute
Leigh Morris
lmorris@ottawaheart.ca
613-316-6409
The Ottawa Hospital
Jenn Ganton
jganton@ohri.ca
613-614-5253