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The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute |
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Biomedical research attracting top scientists
For the Chief of Research at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, collaboration is the key to the future.
That's why Dr. Janet Rossant is so enthusiastic about the work being done in the MaRS Discovery District - a unique zone in the city where innovations in science and technology are commercialized through partnerships between researchers and private enterprise.
"The MaRS Centre and biomedical community have seen tremendous growth over the past few years," says Dr. Janet Rossant. "And it continues to grow."
"This growth is attracting the world's best scientists to come work here, which is very exciting."
Dr. Rossant herself came to Canada from the U.K. in 1977 and moved to Toronto seven years later to work at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital. In 2005, she accepted an offer to head up the Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute.
She says the main reason she has chosen to stay in Toronto is "the great science in this city."
"Toronto has grown in leaps and bounds to become one of the most exciting scientific centres," says Dr. Rossant. "It's also a great place to live, with its vibrant, multicultural neighbourhoods and dynamic cultural life."
A key strategic focus of the SickKids Research Institute is the commercialization of research findings-translating discoveries into new technologies and treatments to improve the understanding and treatment of diseases that affect children.
Being situated in Toronto helps achieve this goal, says Dr. Rossant.
"An environment like the Discovery District allows research institutes and the University of Toronto and its affiliated hospitals to work together to promote research and its application," she explains.
"One of the unique aspects of Toronto is its open, collaborative environment. Individual institutes are not fighting each other for funding resources. This collaborative nature is what people comment on when they come here."
A Toronto location provides other advantages too, she says.
"There is a strong university and college environment, which provides a great pool from which to draw talent. There is strong support from all three levels of government. And there is strong philanthropic support, which is important."
Dr. Rossant says working for the Hospital for Sick Children has been very gratifying.
"SickKids is unique," she says. "Everything we do is about the children, about working toward healthier children and a better world. And this drives people in a special way."
"But the mission goes beyond healing individual kids. We are also focussed on the future. We see healthier children as a foundation of the future."
Dr. Rossant is also looking forward to the opening of the new research and education building going up in the Discovery District.
"The Research Institute currently has 2,000 people spread across the Discovery District and the new building will bring us all together and allow us to interact in new ways."
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