University Health Network marked the one-year anniversary of Canada Leads — a global recruitment program to bring 100 of the world’s leading scientists to Canada’s No. 1 hospital — with a celebratory event Monday evening.
UHN leaders, philanthropic and industry partners, and researchers gathered at the DeGasperis Conservatory at UHN’s Toronto General Hospital to meet some of the recruited scientists, and hear how the program is shaping the future of research and care while building talent to power Canada’s economy.
“Generation after generation of Canadian taxpayers have funded world-changing knowledge, and economic returns have been flowing somewhere else,” said Dr. Kevin Smith, President and CEO of UHN during his opening remarks.
“Canada Leads exists to break that pattern. It’s about remarkable science, it’s about recruitment, but it’s also a key to commercialization.”
Launched as a bold initiative to position Canada as the ultimate destination for the brightest minds in medical research, Canada Leads has recruited more than 70 researchers since launching last year.
“Tonight’s celebration isn’t just about the success of Canada Leads one year later. It’s truly about our future, the research legacy we’re building, why each brilliant scientist chose Canada and how what they’re building here will matter for patients everywhere,” said Dr. Brad Wouters, UHN’s Executive Vice-President of Science & Research.
During a fireside chat moderated by Dr. Wouters, event attendees heard from three scientists whose research represents only a fraction of what is underway.
“As soon as I arrived at UHN in person, I really did feel a buzz,” said Dr. Ariel Levine, a senior scientist joining UHN from the United States. Her research into spinal cord injury aims to better understand how the nervous system controls movement.
“I think there’s a lot of opportunity, growth, even a little swagger here. There are a lot of places that have resources and wonderful scientists, but at UHN there’s direction to the opportunity and a sense of vision.”
Two additional scientists joined the conversation to share their insights. Dr. Sophie Twigger, a postdoctoral researcher from the United Kingdom now working at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, is examining how an already approved medication could be used to better target cancer cells.
From Brazil, Dr. Wagner Souza, a scientific associate at the TIER Research Institute, is using artificial intelligence to better visualize and localize breast cancer tumours, with the goal of improving outcomes for patients.
“These scientists are part of UHN and Canada’s winning edge in the global competition for health innovation talent,” said Dr. Wouters.
That sentiment was echoed by Cornell Wright, who described this talent influx as part of a larger global move.
“They point to a shift in where talent chooses to locate and how discovery ecosystems are evaluated,” said Wright, Deputy Chair of UHN’s Board of Trustees.
Dr. Wouters highlighted UHN’s trailblazing leadership and the program’s ripple effect, pointing to similar initiatives launched in the months following Canada Leads’ debut, including a program in Quebec and the federal Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative.
This growing alignment signals a broader recognition that recruitment for health innovation talent is not just a priority at UHN, but a national economic strategy.
“We are trying to build the next chapter of this country’s economy proudly on its science and on the back of the AI revolution we helped invent,” said Dr. Smith.
“We are working to ensure that the next science breakthrough, whatever it turns out to be, is discovered here, made here, sold from here, and reaches Canadian patients first.”
No one ever changed the world on their own but when the bright minds at UHN work together with donors we can redefine the world of health care together.
