Conference & Meetings World Supplements Canada Supplement | Page 14

Ottawa
Ottawa: capital hub of discovery
The capital’s Life Sciences sector has emerged into the global market
as a centre of discovery, development and commercialisation.
O
ttawa is a hub for
discovery, development
and commercialisation in
the Life Sciences sector,
Ottawa’s proximity to federal government
and world-class research partners make
the city an ideal location for innovation.
The city is home to government
departments directly responsible for
health regulation, protection, promotion
and research funding.
According to Invest Ottawa, the city’s
life sciences sector comprises:
implemented the 2013-17 Ottawa
Region for Advanced Cardiovascular
Research Excellence (ORACLE) Strategic
Plan. ORACLE aimed to maximises
regional and interdisciplinary research to
solve major questions in cardiovascular
disease prevention and treatment and
has accelerated Canada’s global
leadership in cardiovascular health
35 Canada research chairs
5 major research hospitals
3,900 employed in sector
140 companies
Ottawa research hospitals provide a
strong base for R&D in the region. In fact,
out of 40 top Canadian hospital research
institutions, five are in Ottawa.
Aditionally, the University of Ottawa
Heart Institute (UOHI) is Canada’s largest
cardiovascular research centre and
ranks in the top 3% of worldwide research
institutions based on the quality and
impact of its scientific publications. The
Ottawa Hospital has produced seven
spin-off companies and six world leading
clinical trials from 2015-16.
At UOHI, research is closely integrated
with clinical care. Affiliated with the
University of Ottawa, UOHI aligns research
with clinical needs to establish a seamless
linkage, effectively translating research
from “bench to bedside”.
With regional partners, UOHI has
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innovation.
“In disease areas with the greatest
patient burden, we are creating and
supporting unique Innovation Hubs of
interdisciplinary research groups who will
work with our Heart Teams in addressing
key clinical care gaps,” the University says.
“The Innovation Hubs foster collaboration
and leverage Ottawa’s unique regional
advantage, and generate lateral
connectivity to harness talent, expertise,
resources and opportunities. In turn,
Ottawa is defining the next cutting edge
and becoming a magnet for the global
talent of trainees, rising research stars,
and established investigators alike.”
An Ottawa-wide CVD-research
enterprise has also been set up to
maximise the efficient use of resources
and is leading the effort to capitalise on
multidisciplinary expertise.
Other Ottawa-based institutions
engaged in exemplary work in the study
of cardiovascular disease include the
University of Ottawa, Ottawa Hospital
Research Institute, Carleton University,
Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario,
National Research Council.
Canadian Cardiovasular
Congress win
Ottawa has been selected to host the
75th Canadian Cardiovascular Congress
in 2022 (CCC). Previously named
Canadian Cardiovascular Society
Annual Meeting, CCC has grown by
bringing returning and new delegates
to different locations across the country.
The three-day congress will bring 2,500
cardiovascular and healthcare specialists
and delegates from around the world to
the 17,837sqm Shaw Centre.
The congress is co-hosted by the
Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS)
and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of
Canada (HSFC). It will be the first time the
Ottawa-based organisations will have
co-hosted this annual Congress in their
hometown.