Lawson ranks in top ten of Canada’s research hospitals

Lawson Health Research Institute (Lawson) is ranked eighth in the country according to the 2017 edition of “Canada’s Top 40 Research Hospitals List” by Research Infosource. This strong position has been maintained by Lawson for the past four years.

The research institute of London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health Care London, Lawson also posted the highest research intensity (spending per researcher) among large institutions ($562,500 per researcher).

“In a challenging funding environment, Lawson and our two hospital partners continue to enable our researchers in their pursuit of scientific knowledge that can be applied directly to patient care,” says Dr. David Hill, Scientific Director, Lawson.

The top 40 list analyzes hospital-based research institutes from across the country on several metrics, including total research income from the previous fiscal year. The ranking looks at funds received from all sources, including both internal and external, to support research at the organization. According to the report, Lawson received $124,304 million in research income in 2016, a 7.3 per cent increase from the previous fiscal year.

Dr. David Hill advocates for increased scientific funding nationally. “Despite our own modest increase in funding in 2016, Canada as a whole requires significant investment in scientific discovery to increase the well-being of Canadians and build a robust economy. Support for health research makes Canada healthier, wealthier and smarter.”

Lawson is a key part of London’s life sciences sector which has a rich history of medical firsts and generates significant economic benefits. At the institute there are over 1,700 people including researchers, support staff, and trainees who work at hospital sites across London. Lawson partners on over 600 research projects annually with approximately 8,000 clinical subjects enrolled in over 2,500 active clinical trials.

In the past year alone, research teams at Lawson have identified a protein that could be used to treat glaucoma; launched a second clinical trial to put type 2 diabetes into remission; demonstrated that walking and talking can be an effective predictor of dementia; and used smart technology to help patients with mental health issues.

“One of Lawson’s strengths is the diversity of our research. Our research expands the continuum of life – from birth to death – and people in this region are among the first to benefit from the advances we are making across the health spectrum,” asserts Dr. Hill.

Research Infosource Inc., a division of The Impact Group, is Canada’s source of R&D Intelligence.