Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

What Ottawa Hospital Research Institute does

The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) is a Canadian non-profit academic health research institute established in 1999 as the research engine of The Ottawa Hospital and a formal affiliated institute of the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine. The institute operates through six scientific programs (Acute Care, Cancer, Inflammation and Chronic Disease, Methodological and Implementation Research, Neuroscience, and Regenerative Medicine) staffed by 2,399 scientists, investigators, trainees, and support personnel, and serves primarily patients enrolled in clinical trials, clinician-researchers, and institutional research partners across 157 collaborating countries. It sustains 794 active clinical trials enrolling 11,871 patients annually and produces approximately 2,367 peer-reviewed scientific publications per year.

OHRI's core technology stack combines clinical research methodology infrastructure with translational biomanufacturing. The Ottawa Methods Centre provides internationally recognized clinical trial design, biostatistics, data management, health economics, knowledge synthesis, and implementation science services. The Biotherapeutics Manufacturing Centre manufactures clinical-grade virus-based and cell-based therapies and is being relocated into the University of Ottawa's new Advanced Medical Research Centre, which also supports biodefence research. Twenty-one core facilities and platforms, including an ICES-linked health-administrative-data hub, supply imaging, wet-lab, and methodology services. Specialized applied R&D includes Rehabilitation Intelligent Mobility Systems (wearable robotics, intelligent VR, smartphone-based gait and mobility assessment) and a published suite of mHealth apps for clinical rehabilitation measurement. The institute has produced 9 spinoff companies and holds 55 active patent families.

OHRI is funded predominantly by Canadian federal and provincial grants (CIHR, CFI, Ontario Ministry of Health, Canada's Biosciences Research Infrastructure Fund, Ontario Research Fund), supplemented by charitable donations through The Ottawa Hospital Foundation and industry-sponsored research revenue. Recent 2026 funding of over $78M for the Biotherapeutics Manufacturing Centre expansion, $5.7M from CFI for organoid research, $1.6M for AI cardiac arrest detection, and co-leadership of the $39M Accelerating Clinical Trials Consortium signal an expanding grant-funded revenue base. Stated annual research revenue is $154M CAD, and technology transfer to industry partners provides a secondary commercialization channel. The institute does not commercialize products directly to patients; research participation is free for eligible patients and there is no public product pricing.

Name

Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Legal name

Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Website

https://ohri.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute is a Canadian non-profit academic health research institute affiliated with The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, employing 2,399 researchers across six scientific programs and running 794 active clinical trials that enroll 11,871 patients annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Research

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Health Services (8000), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)

akta.pro primary industry

Health & Biomedical Research Universities (Academic Medical Center–Affiliated) (EDAHABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Academic Medical Centers & Teaching Hospitals (University-Affiliated) (EDAHAGAA), Biostatistics, Statistical Computing & Clinical Programming (SAS/R/Pipelines) (HLACAOAO), Clinical Operations & Monitoring FSP (CRA/CTM/Start-up) (HLAGAOAA)

Keywords

• Clinical trial research
• Biomedical research services
• Regenerative medicine research
• Biotherapeutics manufacturing
• Health methodology research

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Research Funding: Majority of research revenue comes from government sources including Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Ontario Ministry of Health, and other federal/provincial research funds
2. Foundation and Charitable Donations: The Ottawa Hospital Foundation supports research activities through community donations and fundraising campaigns
3. Industry Sponsored Research: Collaborative research with industry partners for drug development, clinical trials, and technology transfer

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) is a non-profit academic health research institute that conducts biomedical and clinical research across six scientific programs (Acute Care, Cancer, Inflammation and Chronic Disease, Methodological and Implementation Research, Neuroscience, and Regenerative Medicine). It designs and runs clinical trials, provides biostatistics and knowledge synthesis through the Ottawa Methods Centre, manufactures clinical-grade biologic therapies at the Biotherapeutics Manufacturing Centre, and delivers research training and methodology services to researchers and clinician-scientists.

Product overview

Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) operates as a research institute with multiple interconnected scientific programs and core facilities rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include: six Scientific Programs (Acute Care, Cancer, Inflammation and Chronic Disease, Methodological and Implementation Research, Neuroscience, and Regenerative Medicine); the Ottawa Methods Centre providing clinical trial design, biostatistics, and knowledge synthesis services; the REaCT program for pragmatic cancer clinical trials; and the Patient Decision Aids Research Group. Infrastructure includes the Biotherapeutics Manufacturing Centre for virus-based therapies and 21 Core Facilities. Technology offerings include Rehabilitation Intelligent Mobility Systems (RIMS) with wearable robotics and intelligent VR systems, plus a suite of mHealth mobile applications for rehabilitation assessments. The institute manages 794 active clinical trials and publishes approximately 2,367 scientific papers annually with $154 million annual research revenue.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ottawa Methods Centre: One of Canada's leading hubs for methods support including clinical trial design, biostatistics, data management, health economics, knowledge synthesis and implementation science
• REthinking Clinical Trials (REaCT) Program
• Aging Innovation In Perioperative Medicine & Surgery (AIMS) Research Group

Products and services

• Ottawa Methods Centre (OMC) Hub providing clinical trial design, biostatistics, data management, health economics, knowledge synthesis, and implementation science services to researchers and clinical disciplines.
• REthinking Clinical Trials (REaCT) Program Pragmatic clinical trial program comparing existing standard cancer treatments and dosages to identify optimal approaches for cancer patients.
• Patient Decision Aids Research Group Research group developing and evaluating evidence-based patient decision aids, principal investigator for the Cochrane Review of Patient Decision Aids, and co-chair of the International Patient Decision Aid Standards Collaboration (IPDAS).
• Biotherapeutics Manufacturing Centre Manufacturing facility for clinical-grade biologic or 'living' drugs, specifically virus-based therapies and cell-based therapies, supporting clinical trials, biotherapeutics manufacturing, and biodefence research.
• Rehabilitation Intelligent Mobility Systems (RIMS) Technology platform developing intelligent assistive devices, wearable robotics (exoskeletons), intelligent VR systems, and mobility research solutions using sensors and mobile technologies for physical rehabilitation.
• mHealth Mobile Applications Suite Suite of rehabilitation apps including Biomechanics Augmented Reality, TOHRC Walk Test, TOHRC Walk Timer, TOHRC Timed Up and Go (TUG), Motion Analysis Tools, and TOHRC Data Logger published to Google Play and BlackBerry World for mobility and rehabilitation assessments.
• Core Facilities and Platforms 21 core facilities and platforms providing specialized research infrastructure including the Ottawa Methods Centre, ICES partnership, and specialized laboratory and imaging services.
• Clinical Trial Services Full-service clinical trial operations including trial design, patient recruitment, data management, and regulatory support, with 794 active clinical trials and 11,871 patients enrolled.
• Acute Care Research Program Research program transforming care in emergency medicine, critical care, surgery, anesthesiology, obstetrics and gynecology, and otolaryngology.
• Cancer Research Program Research program understanding cancer cells at the molecular level, developing and testing new treatment approaches, and moving evidence into clinical practice.
• Inflammation and Chronic Disease Program Research program studying chronic diseases, understanding disease mechanisms, developing and testing new treatments, and implementing more effective care.
• Methodological and Implementation Research Program Research program developing and applying innovative research methods and implementing research results to support changes in clinical practice that benefit patients.
• Neuroscience Program Research program dedicated to making a difference in the lives of people with brain and neuromuscular conditions, spanning basic discovery, translational research, clinical studies, and knowledge translation.
• Regenerative Medicine Program Research program unlocking the secrets of stem cells, development, and regeneration while making progress in developing new therapies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 794 active clinical trials enrolling 11,871 patients annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability13 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• University of Ottawa - Advanced Medical Research CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 January 2026Strategic partnership to locate The Ottawa Hospital's Biotherapeutics Manufacturing Centre at uOttawa's new Advanced Medical Research Centre, creating a hub for clinical trials, biotherapeutics manufacturing, and biodefence research as part of Canada's Biomanufacturing Life Sciences Strategy.
• University of OttawacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal academic affiliation with the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine. OHRI is an affiliated institute providing research integration with university academic programs, joint training of researchers and trainees, and collaborative research projects across all six scientific programs.
• The Ottawa HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOHRI is the research engine of The Ottawa Hospital, one of Canada's top learning and research hospitals. Integration enables seamless translation of research discoveries into clinical care at the hospital's multi-campus facilities serving Eastern Ontario, Western Quebec, and Nunavut.
• Ottawa Paramedic ServicemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in cardiac arrest AI detection research to develop and test AI tools that help 9-1-1 telecommunicators recognize cardiac arrest faster and initiate CPR instructions.
• ICES (Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences)majorTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for access to Ontario health administrative databases and population health research data capabilities supporting clinical and health services research.
• Accelerating Clinical Trials (ACT) ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOHRI researchers co-lead the $39 million ACT Consortium, a pan-Canadian initiative to accelerate clinical trials and improve clinical research methodology.
• University of ManitobamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-lead institution for the landmark TRACTION trial on tranexamic acid, sponsored and coordinated by University of Manitoba with OHRI as co-lead.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lawson Health Research Institute: Lawson is the research arm of London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph's Health Care London, with a comparable structure of multi-program biomedical and clinical research, public funding reliance, and hospital-based operations similar to OHRI.
• Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM): IRCM is a Quebec-based biomedical research institute affiliated with Université de Montréal. It shares OHRI's non-profit, hospital/university-linked research model with strong biotherapeutics and clinical research programs.
• University Health Network (UHN): Toronto-based University Health Network is a Canadian academic health science centre with a large research arm (Toronto General, Toronto Western, Princess Margaret). Like OHRI, it combines a major teaching hospital with an affiliated research institute running hundreds of clinical trials, and it is a primary competitor for federal grants and clinical talent in Canada.
• McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) Research Institute: MUHC's Research Institute is one of Canada's largest hospital-affiliated biomedical research centres, with multi-program structure, clinical trials operations, and significant federal/provincial funding — closely comparable to OHRI in scope, governance, and translational research model.
• Population Health Research Institute (PHRI) – McMaster University: PHRI is a hospital- and university-affiliated Canadian research institute renowned for large international clinical trials and pragmatic methodology. Its strengths in biostatistics, health services research, and global trial coordination closely mirror OHRI's Ottawa Methods Centre and REaCT programs.
• Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI): VCHRI is the research arm of Vancouver Coastal Health and a major teaching-hospital-affiliated research institute on Canada's west coast. It operates multi-disciplinary research programs and clinical trials with similar funding and translational models to OHRI.
• Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) Research Institute: SickKids Research Institute is a Canadian hospital-affiliated paediatric research institute running extensive clinical trials, with strong IP and commercialization output. It is a direct comparable to OHRI in operating model, public funding mix, and translational pipeline.

Broad incumbents

• Mass General Brigham (MGB) Research Institute: Mass General Brigham is one of the largest U.S. hospital-affiliated research enterprises, with multi-billion dollar research revenue, large clinical trial operations, and a translational model that is the global scale benchmark against which Canadian AMRI-affiliated institutes like OHRI are positioned.
• Mayo Clinic Research: Mayo Clinic is a U.S. integrated clinical and research enterprise with a large hospital-affiliated research institute, extensive clinical trials portfolio, and deep industry partnerships. It is a useful scale/commercial benchmark for OHRI's translational and biotherapeutics ambitions.

Regional players

• Alberta Health Services – University of Calgary / University of Alberta research institutes: Alberta's academic health science centres operate hospital-affiliated research institutes that compete with OHRI for federal funding and industry-sponsored trials, with a different geographic focus (Western Canada) but a similar translational research mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OttawaHospital
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCZ8e2kpIuBYDdPDgLwDqCJQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ottawa-hospital-research-institute
• Instagraminstagram.com/theottawahospital

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Ottawa Hospital Research Institute