Strategic Themes 

Northeastern Ontario has significantly higher rates of cancer incidents and mortality than the rest of Ontario. Recognizing this is a health priority for the region, HSNRI is supporting cancer patients through clinical trials , promoting tumour biology cancer research that looks at treatment efficacy and drug discovery, and providing personalized treatment solutions for patients. The Northeast Cancer Centre and its Clinical Trials arm welcome academic and industry-sponsored trials to help Northerners gain access to important treatments. Dr. Lacey Pitre and Dr. Debbie Saunders are clinical researchers in the Northeast Cancer Center that are Co-Leads for the Cancer Solutions program at HSNRI/HSN.

Healthy Aging research is an important consideration for Northeastern Ontario, as the region has an increasingly aging population. The research priority is designed to promote healthy aging and vitality across the lifespan. The priority also focuses on the discovery of therapies and solutions for multiple conditions associated with aging. This focus on healthy aging will move toward a lifespan approach and intersects with HSN’s significant commitment to health care redesign through social accountability. This area of research is being led by scientist Dr. Chris Verschoor.

Cardiovascular health is an important clinical and research area given the complications Northerners face with the multiple disease challenges within this area. Once more, the region is faced with higher rates of coronary artery disease, heart failure, heart valve disease, congenital heart disease are other cardiovascular-related diseases. Our researchers are evaluating treatments and approaches at a population health level using administrative databases to help measure and improve cardiovascular care in the region. Dr. Mohammed Shurrab, Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist at HSN, leads the HSNRI Cardiovascular Health program with a research focus on evaluating treatments and approaches at a population health level using ICES North administrative databases to help measure and improve cardiovascular care in the region.

Indigenous peoples face unique health challenges given the vast expanse of the region and issues with access to health care services and providers. As a result, people in this region have poorer health status and face unique challenges due to culture and geography. HSNRI’s commitment to population health is to improve the quality of care and promote better health outcomes and community-based partnerships to support healthy communities. Our population health research focuses on the specialized needs of populations such as Indigenous peoples; those with chronic health conditions; and those in rural and remote areas.

Research at HSNRI happens across many programs and services, varying in magnitudes. While most of our research is led by our teams in the previous strategic research themes, HSNRI supports researchers with various backgrounds. Leading our "other" research team, Dr. Robert Ohle, promotes HSNRI's vision of conducting research that advances patient care by bringing evidence into practice. Whether it's a focus on emergency medicine, anesthesiology or mental health and addictions, our research programs aim to provide innovative health solutions, all while keeping our industry partners competitive. In recent years, HSNRI has welcomed a number of strategic partnerships with new Biomedical Start-Up companies from the Greater City of Sudbury, some of which are advancing their innovations in clinical research with HSNRI.

In recent years, HSNRI has welcomed a number of strategic partnerships with new Biomedical Start-Up companies from the Greater City of Sudbury, some of which are advancing their innovations in clinical research with HSNRI. 

Please see the list of start-up companies below: 

• Flosonics Medical 

• Verv Technologies 

• RNA Diagnostics