What CHEO Research Institute does

CHEO Research Institute is a not-for-profit pediatric research organization affiliated with the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa, Canada, founded in 1974 and operating with over 250 researchers and scientists across more than 55 research areas spanning oncology, neuroscience, genetics, mental health, rare diseases, respirology, and digital health. Its core platforms include REDCap (a locally hosted instance of Vanderbilt University's research electronic data capture system) and ROMEO, an internal portal for ethics and grants submissions. Clinical research services are delivered through the Clinical Investigation Unit (CIU), Clinical Research Unit (CRU), Clinical Trial Access Core, SUPPORT Ambassador Program, and a multi-jurisdictional Research Ethics Board holding CTO Qualified REB designation, OCREB partnership, and harmonization agreements with University of Ottawa and Ottawa Hospital Scientific Network.

CHEO RI operates multiple AI/ML research programs including the Data-Driven Discovery Team (machine learning on large health datasets), Mind Matters Team (computer vision for movement disorders), generative AI and digital twin work for clinical trials, and a synthetic data program, with AI modalities spanning structured data, imaging, video, text, and code. Innovation and commercialization activities are run through Core Innovation, which hosts the annual Bears' Den pitch competition (CAD $25,000 investment to the winner), the National Health-Tech Innovation Conference, and the Commercialization Stream providing two-phase clinical validation and regulatory navigation for early-stage health-tech companies.

Revenue is generated through a diversified non-profit model: government research grants (notably a CAD $4M+ Government of Canada investment for the 8-80 Collaborative), industry-sponsored clinical trials (pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies), CHEO Foundation donations, and technology licensing and royalties (such as the SHOEBOX audiometer). Pricing for research ethics review is publicly disclosed (CAD $3,000 for full board initial application, CAD $500 for amendments, renewals, and delegated reviews). The 8-80 Collaborative partnership with Bruyère Health extends the institute's reach across pediatric and geriatric populations, while the Research Connection program auto-enrolls CHEO patients aged 21 and under for study matching via MyChart notifications, phone calls, and in-clinic outreach.

Name

CHEO Research Institute

Legal name

CHEO Research Institute

Website

https://cheoresearch.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

CHEO Research Institute is a not-for-profit pediatric research organization in Ottawa, Canada, affiliated with the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. It conducts clinical and translational research with 250+ scientists across 55+ areas and provides clinical trial services, ethics review, and health-tech commercialization support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pediatric Clinical Research Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Clinical Trial Site Operations & Study Coordination (HLAGACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Clinical Research Ethics & Human Subjects Protection Authorities (IRB/REC Oversight) (HLAJACAG), Research Administration & Compliance (Sponsored Programs, IRB/REB) (EDADAKAH), Investigator & Site Training / GCP Support (HLAGACAF)

Keywords

• Pediatric clinical trials
• Clinical research services
• Health technology commercialization
• Research ethics review
• Medical research support

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Research Grants: Funding from federal and provincial government agencies (e.g., Government of Canada's $4M+ investment for 8-80 Collaborative) supporting research programs and innovation initiatives.
2. Industry-Sponsored Clinical Trials: Revenue from pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies sponsoring clinical trials at CHEO, including both investigator-initiated and industry-sponsored studies.
3. CHEO Foundation Donations: Charitable donations through CHEO Foundation supporting pediatric research initiatives.
4. Technology Licensing & Commercialization: Revenue from commercialization of health technologies invented at CHEO, such as SHOEBOX portable audiometer, and support services for health-tech startups.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CHEO Research Institute is a not-for-profit pediatric research organization that conducts clinical and basic science research for children, youth, and families. It operates dedicated pediatric clinical trial infrastructure (Clinical Investigation Unit), provides research support services (Clinical Research Unit, REDCap, ROMEO submission portal), conducts independent ethics review (Research Ethics Board), and supports health-tech commercialization through the Core Innovation program and the 8-80 Collaborative partnership.

Product overview

CHEO Research Institute is a not-for-profit pediatric research organization offering a comprehensive suite of research support services rather than a commercial product portfolio. Core platforms include REDCap (Vanderbilt University-licensed electronic data capture system locally hosted at CHEO) and ROMEO (internal ethics/grants submission portal). Research services encompass the Clinical Investigation Unit providing dedicated pediatric clinical trial space with specialized nursing and phlebotomy, the SUPPORT Ambassador Program for patient recruitment, and Research Connection for connecting families to studies. The Core Innovation division runs the Bears' Den pitch competition and Commercialization Stream supporting early-stage health-tech companies. The 8-80 Collaborative partnership with Bruyère Health, backed by Government of Canada funding, supports pediatric and geriatric health technology innovators.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bears' Den: Innovation pitch event hosted by Core Innovation where health-tech startups pitch to potential investors
• Core Innovation
• 8-80 Collaborative
• Clinical Investigation Unit (CIU)
• Clinical Trial Access Core
• Research Ethics Board (REB)
• Research Connection
• SUPPORT Program

Products and services

• Clinical Investigation Unit (CIU) A dedicated clinical space within the Research Institute designed specifically for pediatric clinical trials. Provides pediatric clinical trial nursing, dedicated research phlebotomy, and private single-bed research space with pediatric-appropriate equipment. Supports both simple and complex trial procedures for industry sponsors and investigator-initiated studies.
• Research Ethics Board (REB) Review Services Standing committee providing independent, multidisciplinary ethics review of human subjects research conducted by CHEO staff or involving CHEO patients. CTO Qualified REB with harmonization agreements with University of Ottawa, OHSN, and OCREB. Has authority to approve, reject, request modifications, or terminate research.
• Clinical Research Unit (CRU) Services Team of experienced research professionals offering study design and methodology, statistical analysis, sample size calculation, data management, budget preparation, study logistics, REDCap guidance, and educational opportunities for CHEO investigators.
• Office of Research Services Multidisciplinary team providing grants support, finance management, contracts, research education, and HR services for research projects at CHEO Research Institute.
• Commercialization Stream Supports early-stage health-tech companies with working prototypes seeking to refine and validate products within pediatric/aging clinical settings. Provides two-phase engagement: Scoping/Project Definition followed by Project Execution including expert navigation, clinical validation studies, and regulatory milestone support.
• 8-80 Collaborative Partnership between CHEO Research Institute and Bruyère Health, supported by Government of Canada investment of over $4 million. Connects early-stage health technology innovators with companies delivering solutions for pediatric and geriatric populations over four years.
• Research Connection Program Program connecting families to research opportunities at CHEO. Allows approved researchers to contact CHEO families directly to ask if they would like to learn about specific studies matched to eligibility criteria, using MyChart notifications, phone calls, or in-clinic approaches. Auto-includes children aged 21 and under.
• SUPPORT Ambassador Program Students Undertaking a Pediatric Program of Research Training - facilitates clinical research activities at CHEO by providing trained volunteers to screen and enroll eligible patients into clinical research studies in the Emergency Department and outpatient/inpatient settings.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ scientific publications per year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability11 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bruyère HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 August 2023The CHEO Research Institute and Bruyère Health partnership established the 8-80 Collaborative with $4M+ Government of Canada investment. The collaboration connects early-stage health innovations from Eastern Ontario health professionals with companies delivering solutions spanning from youth (8 years) to older adults (80+ years).
• PolyUnitycoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021CHEO has been working with 3D printing company PolyUnity since 2021 to provide in-house 3D printed parts at zero user cost. Over 600 PolyUnity 3D printed parts are already in use across CHEO, including test tube racks, emergency stretcher components, and other healthcare equipment. The technology reduces costs and complexity of traditional healthcare procurement.
• Ottawa Hospital Scientific Network (OHSN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019CHEO and OHSN REBs entered into an institutional harmonization agreement in 2019 to streamline ethics review of studies happening at both sites using a single Board of record.
• SHOEBOX LtdcoreTechnology or IntegrationOttawa-based startup SHOEBOX was founded by CHEO otolaryngologist Dr. Matthew Bromwich. The company developed a tablet-based audiometer enabling hearing testing for more people in more locations. SHOEBOX has been implemented at CHEO and Bruyère Research Institute for pediatric and geriatric patients.
• EcoEquitableminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOttawa-based not-for-profit providing women with sewing employment opportunities with focus on recycling and sustainability. Partnered with CHEO on the Ottawa Mask project, providing manufacturing capacity for reusable masks.
• DessiusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTextile consultancy based in Calgary that collaborated with CHEO on the Ottawa Mask project, providing textile expertise for design and testing of reusable masks.
• Algonquin CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlgonquin College Interactive Media Management program collaborated on production of educational videos explaining roles in clinical research for families.
• University of OttawacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHEO has an affiliation agreement with University of Ottawa for ethical review of research. University research conducted at or through CHEO requiring human participant recruitment must be reviewed by both CHEO REB and University REB.
• Ontario Cancer Research Ethics Board (OCREB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHEO has an agreement with OCREB to act as external REB of record for non-phase 1, multi-centre Children's Oncology Group (COG) pediatric clinical trials.
• Clinical Trials Ontario (CTO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHEO REB was designated a CTO Qualified REB in January 2017. CTO review process is available for full board and minimal risk studies with minimum two CTO participating sites.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bruyère Research Institute: Ottawa-based non-profit research institute and CHEO's explicit 8-80 Collaborative partner. Directly comparable mission (clinical research, REB, industry-sponsored studies) with adult/geriatric focus that complements CHEO's pediatric identity.
• SickKids Research Institute: Hospital for Sick Children's research arm in Toronto — Canada's largest pediatric research hospital. Directly comparable as a non-profit pediatric research institute with industry-sponsored trials, REB oversight, and commercialization programs serving similar patient and sponsor segments.
• IWK Health Centre: Maritime pediatric and women's health research center in Halifax. Comparable as a regional Canadian non-profit pediatric research institute with similar clinical trial operations, REB functions, and academic partnerships.
• Montreal Children's Hospital Research Institute (RI-MUHC): Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre covering the Montreal Children's Hospital. Comparable non-profit pediatric research mandate with similar clinical trial, REB, and academic-affiliation structures across Eastern Canada.
• Stollery Children's Hospital: Edmonton-based pediatric hospital and research hub. Comparable as a Western Canadian pediatric research site competing for the same industry-sponsored trial and federal grant pools as CHEO.
• BC Children's Hospital Research Institute: Vancouver-based pediatric research institute within BC Children's Hospital. Directly comparable structure: non-profit, university-affiliated, multi-theme research programs, pediatric clinical trial infrastructure, and similar government/foundation funding mix.

Broad incumbents

• Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center: Top-ranked U.S. pediatric research hospital, consistently #1 or #2 in NIH pediatric funding. Comparable as a non-profit pediatric research and clinical trial institution but with materially larger research budget and sponsor relationships.
• Boston Children's Hospital: Largest U.S. pediatric research hospital, affiliated with Harvard. Comparable pediatric research portfolio but at significantly greater scale, with broader international trial sponsorship and a deeper commercialization/tech-transfer operation.
• Children's Healthcare of Atlanta: Large U.S. pediatric health system with affiliated pediatric research institute. Comparable pediatric clinical trial infrastructure and academic affiliations but operates at broader U.S. scale with multiple hospital campuses.

Regional players

• Ottawa Hospital Research Institute: Adjacent Ottawa-based adult research institute with OHSN REB harmonization agreement. Not a direct pediatric competitor but operates in the same geography with comparable REB, clinical trial, and industry-sponsored research services for adult populations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/CHEO
• Facebookfacebook.com/CHEOkids
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cheo-research

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CHEO Research Institute