Lawson Health Research Institute
Lawson Health Research Institute is the research arm of St. Joseph's Health Care London, affiliated with Western University, conducting clinical trials, medical imaging, and biomedical device research across aging, oncology, mental health, and mobility specialties for Canadian patients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersLondon, Canada
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Lawson Health Research Institute does
Lawson Health Research Institute (Lawson) is the research arm of St. Joseph's Health Care London, a hospital-based research institute affiliated with Western University and Fanshawe College and collaborating with London Health Sciences Centre. Founded in 1983 and headquartered in London, Ontario, Canada, Lawson conducts discovery-driven and patient-focused research across six specialty areas: aging, chronic diseases, imaging, mental health, mobility and activity, and surgical specialties. The institute employs 1,001-5,000 staff and operates a portfolio that includes Canada's first Siemens BIOGRAPH One PET/MRI scanner, an on-site fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) capsule production capability supporting the LUNA-2 Phase II clinical trial in non-small cell lung cancer, and a 3D-printed custom thumb splint program for arthritis patients using remote iPhone-based measurement.
Lawson's core technologies combine capital-intensive imaging infrastructure, clinical-stage biotherapeutics manufacturing, and digital health hardware. Key assets include the BIOGRAPH One PET/MRI (enabled by WSIB and WorkSafe Ontario Fund investment), FMT capsules produced in-house for combination immunotherapy trials, and a custom 3D hand-scanning workflow enabling fabrication of patient-specific splints without in-person visits. Active programs span the LUNA-2 trial with 160 enrolled patients across Canada, an Ambroxol repurposing study for Parkinson's-related dementia, Alzheimer's care research via the Cognitive Clinical Research Group, and remote arthritis care targeting underserved communities including the Arctic. The institute's 2025-2030 Strategic Plan outlines priorities for infrastructure development, talent acquisition, and integration of research into clinical care.
Lawson operates a non-profit, grant-funded business model rather than a commercial sales model. Revenue is sourced from a diversified mix of foundation grants (e.g., Canadian Cancer Society, Weston Family Foundation, Arthritis Society of Canada), government and institutional investment (WSIB, WorkSafe Ontario Fund), academic partnerships (Western University, Fanshawe College), and the parent hospital's operating budget. The institute's outputs — clinical trial results, medical imaging capabilities, and medical devices — are distributed through clinical trial networks, healthcare provider training, regional health system integration, and academic publications rather than commercial channels. Its competitive positioning rests on unique imaging infrastructure, embedded hospital-academic partnerships, and specialized research talent recognized through awards such as the Order of Canada and the Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists Gold Medal.
Lawson Health Research Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lawson Health Research Institute
- Legal name
- Lawson Research Institute
- Website
- https://lawsonresearch.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Lawson Health Research Institute is the research arm of St. Joseph's Health Care London, affiliated with Western University, conducting clinical trials, medical imaging, and biomedical device research across aging, oncology, mental health, and mobility specialties for Canadian patients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lawson Health Research Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Health Research Institute
- NAICS
- Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (62151), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Services-Health Services (8000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Clinical Trial Informatics (EDC/CTMS/eCOA/eTMF) (HLAGAJAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Remote Diagnostics & Point-of-Care (Connected Testing, Home Lab Devices) (HLACAPAK), Point-of-Care & Decentralized Trial Testing Services (HLAGAEAK), Microscopy, Imaging & Flow Cytometry Instruments (HLAGAIAE)
Keywords
Where Lawson Health Research Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Lawson Health Research Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Others
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Lawson Health Research Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lawson Health Research Institute is the research arm of St. Joseph's Health Care London, conducting discovery-driven, patient-focused health research across aging, chronic diseases, imaging, mental health, mobility and activity, and surgical specialties. It operates clinical trials (including the LUNA-2 trial using FMT capsules for lung cancer treatment), provides advanced imaging research through Canada's first Siemens BIOGRAPH One PET/MRI, and develops novel medical devices such as 3D-printed custom thumb splints. The institute translates research into patient care improvements through collaborations with Western University, London Health Sciences Centre, and national funding partners.
Product overview
Lawson Research Institute operates as a health research institute under St. Joseph's Health Care London, conducting discovery-driven and patient-focused research across multiple specialty areas including aging, chronic diseases, imaging, mental health, mobility and activity, and surgical specialties. The institute's portfolio includes medical imaging technology (Canada's first Siemens BIOGRAPH One PET/MRI scanner), clinical trials such as LUNA-2 using FMT capsules for cancer treatment, and 3D-printed medical devices for remote patient care. Researchers work in partnership with Western University, London Health Sciences Centre, and various funding organizations to translate research into patient care improvements.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Siemens BIOGRAPH One PET/MRI Imaging Service
- LUNA-2 FMT Capsules
- 3D-Printed Custom Thumb Splints
Quantifiable outcome
- 160 lung cancer patients enrolled in Canada's largest FMT clinical trial
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Lawson Health Research Institute
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Lawson Health Research Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Lawson Health Research Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG)coreLeads the LUNA-2 clinical trial involving 160 lung cancer patients across Canada, evaluating safety, immune response, and preliminary efficacy of FMT combined with immunotherapy
- London Health Sciences Centre Research InstitutecoreCollaborates with Lawson on LUNA-2 clinical trial research alongside Canadian Cancer Trials Group researchers
- Western UniversitycoreProudly affiliated with Western University. Researchers from Western collaborate on Lawson research projects including arthritis care innovation and animal research review
- Fanshawe CollegeminorProudly affiliated with Fanshawe College as part of the broader academic and healthcare community
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Lawson Health Research Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute (UHN): Large Canadian hospital-affiliated research enterprise focused on translational medicine and advanced imaging, with similar grant-funded structure and multi-specialty clinical trial portfolio.
- London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute: Co-located academic hospital research institute in London, Ontario that collaborates with Lawson on the LUNA-2 trial and shares patient populations across oncology, imaging, and surgical specialties.
- BC Cancer Research Centre: Cancer-focused research institute running large-scale clinical trials and translational research; peer because Lawson competes for similar cancer trial sponsorships and translational grants in Canada.
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (Research Institute): Canada's largest dedicated cancer research and treatment centre, comparable to Lawson's LUNA-2 program in NSCLC and other oncology trial capabilities.
- McGill University Health Centre Research Institute: Quebec-based hospital research institute combining clinical care and academic research across multiple specialties, with comparable headcount and grant-driven funding profile.
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute: Major Canadian hospital-affiliated research institute running multi-specialty clinical trials and translational programs, directly comparable to Lawson in scale, governance, and funding model.
- Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG): Leads the LUNA-2 trial and coordinates Canada's largest cancer clinical trial network, operating in adjacent space to Lawson as a multi-site clinical trial sponsor.
Broad incumbents
- Western University (Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry): Lawson's primary academic affiliate and co-located research partner; comparable in translational research output but broader in scope, including non-clinical science and education.
- Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR): Provincial translational cancer research funder and collaborator running multi-site Ontario trials; comparable in cancer trial oversight and translational research funding.
Regional players
- Alberta Health Services - Research, Innovation and Analytics: Provincial health system research program with comparable multi-specialty clinical trial operations in Western Canada; comparable structure but operates in a different region than Lawson.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Lawson Health Research Institute social profiles
Digital presenceLawson Health Research Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lawson Health Research Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Lawson Health Research Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lawson Health Research Institute M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lawson Health Research Institute
What does Lawson Health Research Institute do?
Lawson Health Research Institute is the research arm of St. Joseph's Health Care London, conducting discovery-driven, patient-focused health research across aging, chronic diseases, imaging, mental health, mobility and activity, and surgical specialties. It operates clinical trials (including the LUNA-2 trial using FMT capsules for lung cancer treatment), provides advanced imaging research through Canada's first Siemens BIOGRAPH One PET/MRI, and develops novel medical devices such as 3D-printed custom thumb splints. The institute translates research into patient care improvements through collaborations with Western University, London Health Sciences Centre, and national funding partners.
Is Lawson Health Research Institute a public or private company?
Lawson Health Research Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Lawson Health Research Institute founded?
Lawson Health Research Institute was founded in 1983. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Lawson Health Research Institute based?
Lawson Health Research Institute is headquartered in London, Canada, in the North America region.
Who are Lawson Health Research Institute's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Toronto General Hospital Research Institute (UHN), London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute, BC Cancer Research Centre, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (Research Institute), McGill University Health Centre Research Institute, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG). Broad incumbents are Western University (Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry) and Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR). Alberta Health Services - Research, Innovation and Analytics is listed as a regional player.
Does Lawson Health Research Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lawson Health Research Institute.
What industry is Lawson Health Research Institute in?
Lawson Health Research Institute's product category is Health Research Institute. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGAJAM, Clinical Trial Informatics (EDC/CTMS/eCOA/eTMF), with a secondary code of HLACAPAK, Remote Diagnostics & Point-of-Care (Connected Testing, Home Lab Devices). Its NAICS code is 5417 and its SIC code is 8731.