SCImago, a European company that develops scientific information analysis and evaluation tools, has issued the third edition of its Worldwide Ranking of Research Institutions. Using large, scientific databases, SCImago analyzes quantitative indicators including output of scientific papers (particularly in influential journals), international collaboration, how often research is cited by other scientists, and thematic concentration. In total, 3,042 institutions were ranked this year.

In SCImago’s “Normalized” Impact ranking, Hamilton Health Sciences is ranked #1 in Canada and #7 in the world, ahead of many famous international research institutions. The Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences was Canada’s second place institution at #17. Normalized Impact is useful because it indicates the scientific impact that institutions have over the scientific community. In order to obtain a fair measurement of such impact, its calculation removes the influence due to institutions’ size and research profile making it ideal for comparing research performance. Normalized Impact values show the ratio between the average scientific impact of an institution and the world average impact of publications of the same time frame, document type and subject area.

A Calgary-based research and development company called RE$EARCH Infosource Inc. recently produced a ranking of Canada’s top 40 research hospitals that was published in the Globe and Mail. It drew on the Canadian Research Hospitals Database and ranked hospitals on the level of research funding they received in 2010. Hamilton Health Sciences was #2 in this ranking, behind University Health Network.

Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) is a family of six hospitals, a cancer centre and an urgent care centre, serving more than 2.3 million residents of Hamilton and central west Ontario. HHS is affiliated with one of Canada’s leading research universities, McMaster University, also in Hamilton.

“These rankings are indicative of the strength of our researchers’ collaborations within the city, across Canada and around the world,” says Dr. Salim Yusuf, Vice President Research at Hamilton Health Sciences, Professor of Medicine at McMaster University and Executive Director of the Population Health Research Institute based at Hamilton General Hospital. “Our funding partners, our academic partners and our clinical partners have all contributed to our success in attracting resources to research at HHS - research that is impacting health care worldwide.”

“Hamilton Health Sciences is committed to advancing research and we are very proud of what our scientists and investigators have accomplished,” says Murray Martin, President and CEO of Hamilton Health Sciences. “We believe in the value and importance of linking our clinical and teaching roles with the advancement of research. It’s a vital contribution that hospitals should make to enhancing patient care for this generation, and generations to come.”

“We’re very pleased, but not at all surprised, by the high ranking of our largest academic hospital partner, Hamilton Health Sciences,” says Dr. Steve Collins, associate dean, research, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University. “Our faculty members appreciate the hospital system’s commitment to the best patient care by providing an excellent environment for high-impact research.”

“The recent rankings of Hamilton Health Sciences as one of the top national and international research hospitals recognizes its increasing pre-eminence,” says distinguished cardiology researcher, Dr. John Cairns, who is also Professor of Medicine and Past Dean of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. “The research studies and the outstanding researchers of Hamilton Health Sciences are increasingly acknowledged world-wide. Clinical research lies at the very core of HHS, improving outcomes for local patients, but also for patients everywhere. I congratulate the investigators, the research staff, the hospital personnel and leadership, and the patients who make this research possible.”

Research at Hamilton Health Sciences - Summary of Facts & Figures

* $180 million research revenue attracted in 2010

* more than 1,200 research staff

* 891 principal investigators

* 1,293 published articles in scholarly journals in 2010

* There are research groups and programs in all specialties across Hamilton Health Sciences including: Population Health Research Institute; Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute; Escarpment Cancer Research Institute; McMaster Child Health Research Institute

* The Population Health Research Institute collaborates on research initiatives with 1,500 hospital in 80 countries

Web links: www.HamiltonHealthSciences.ca

Population Health Research Institute - www.phri.ca

Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute - www.taari.ca

McMaster Child Health Research Institute - www.wholechildresearch.com

Escarpment Cancer Research Institute - http://www.hhsc.ca/body.cfm?id=2303

The Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, established with a generous donation of $25 million by the Li Ka Shing (Canada) Foundation, was opened today by Li Ka-shing.

The institute is the first in Toronto and among the first in the world specifically built to bring together researchers, educators and clinicians to create an incubator for new ideas. The goal is to enhance knowledge translation and focus specifically on accelerating new treatments and best practices from the laboratory bench to the patient bedside.

“In a time of cynicism and skepticism, this project is true testament to the fine medical skills and dedicated care everyone in St. Michael’s works so hard to deliver to its patients,” Li said at the opening ceremony. “Such skills and dedication are the foundations on which an institution of intellectual seriousness and extraordinary accomplishment in both research and education is built.”

“Throughout the ages, people have tried to fathom the meaning of life. I have always believed life is about how we live it. Humility and service are great forces. They are the beginning of all knowledge and the hallmark of a life well lived,” he told about 150 guests, including Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty.

The premier said Ontario was proud to be a partner with Li and St. Michael’s Hospital. “Together, we’re attracting leading international researchers who will help create good jobs here and improve lives around the world,” he said.

Li toured the new institute, which is made up of the Keenan Research Centre and the Li Ka Shing International Healthcare Education Centre, and met researchers, educators, hospital officials and donors.

St. Michael’s President and CEO Dr. Robert J. Howard thanked Li for his donation, his visit and his vision. “St. Michael’s has always been involved in research and education. With Mr. Li’s spectacular gift, we have been able to create new opportunities we just didn’t have before,” Dr. Howard said. “This building has been designed to bring researchers and educators together to create new possibilities that will advance patient care.”

Dr. Howard referred specifically to Li’s gift for “knowledge translation” programs—finding ways to close the gap between the evidence and information obtained through research and what is done or is standard practice or policy in health care. About $100 billion is spent around on research around the world every year, but only a small per cent of that evidence is used in decision-making.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper sent a message saying the work done at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute will be “an invaluable gift to those patients facing life-changing diagnoses.”

Li, through his Li Ka Shing Foundation and his company Husky Energy, has donated more than $75 million to support educational, medical and community welfare institutions in Canada over the past 18 years. These donations have made possible a wide range of co-operative projects between China and peer institutions in Canada, fostering academic collaborations and cultural exchanges.

These projects include the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St Michael’s Hospital, the Global Leadership and Innovation Program at the University of Calgary, the Sino-Canadian Exchange Program at the University of Alberta, the Academic Exchange Program in Medicine at the University of Manitoba and the Shantou /McGill Summer Law Program at McGill University.

The Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute was designed by famed Canadian architect Jack Diamond. The Keenan Research Centre, named for long-time hospital donors Barbara and Patrick Keenan, and the Li Ka Shing International Healthcare Education Centre, are physically linked by walkways at several levels and connected to the hospital by a pedestrian bridge over Shuter Street in downtown Toronto.

The Li Ka Shing International Healthcare Education Centre includes a new health sciences library and patient education programs incorporating leading-edge practices and information that will lead to improved patient outcomes. It is home to the FitzGerald Academy, a top choice for University of Toronto medical students, and the Centre for Faculty Development, which teaches the teachers how to teach. It also includes the Allan Waters’ Family Patient Simulation Centre, an innovative facility that prepares health-care teams for the real-life dramas that happen in the hospital every day.

Each year, St. Michael’s helps to educate the next generation of health-care professionals by placing more than 3,000 students, ranging from medical, nursing and other health-care students, to future planners, administrators and engineers. All of these learners will come together in a new student centre to register, seek advice, address administrative issues and interact with one another. St. Michael’s is a leader in interprofessional education, which promotes collaboration of professions and team training.

In the Keenan Research Centre, about half the researchers work on basic and clinical science, such as how cells get injured and how they repair themselves, as well as the molecular and physiological causes of disease such as kidney disease, heart disease and lung failure.

The other half focus on clinical, epidemiological and policy issues. Those in the Centre for Research on Inner City Health conduct research to better understand the linkages between poverty, social exclusion, and poor health. The Centre for Global Health Research focuses on the epidemiology and prevention of premature death in developing countries, specifically on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and chronic diseases.

“In this economy, everyone is worried about getting a good job,” said Linda Franklin, president and CEO of Colleges Ontario. “Greater numbers of students are choosing Ontario college programs that prepare them for their career goals.”

Even in the height of the recession, more than 83 per cent of college graduates were hired within six months of graduation, according to the most recent Key Performance Indicators collected by the province. And 93 per cent of employers are satisfied or very satisfied with the performance of college graduates.

Ontario’s colleges have been actively promoting the value of a college education for people entering the new knowledge economy.

The promotion has included the launch this week of a new advertising campaign that promotes the leading-edge careers available to college graduates in areas such as game development, biotechnology, and forensics. The new campaign includes TV, radio, Internet, newspaper and transit shelter ads.

Franklin said it is clear that perceptions are changing and increasing numbers of parents and students are taking a new look at college. For example, the number of university graduates applying to college has increased more than 40 per cent since 2007.

“There is growing awareness that college programs provide an excellent combination of theoretical knowledge and specific career training,” Franklin said. “We are pleased to see record numbers of students pursuing college education this year.”

The program was very intensive, with many reviews and critical analysis of recently published CR projects.  The low student to teacher ratios (12:1) was an essential advantage, each student receiving a unique level of personal attention.  All students, under coordination of Program Director, Dr. Nicholas, worked and felt like a family during nine month of in-class teaching.  The most important thing was that Dr. Nicholas helped ensure that students completing the program are fully prepared to take their place in Toronto hospitals or dedicated research centres for their clinical placement.

For me, Dr. Nicholas was a teacher and friend who helped me to understand many aspects and details of Canadian research environment, health care system and society of my new country.  He delivered to us not only knowledge, but also gave us professional advice, suggestions, and orientation in our new country, based on his long medical and clinical research experience.

By this way, I want to bring my thanks to Dr. Nicholas for his educational support, and my admiration and respect for his effort to give a new professional direction to many IMGs established in Canada.

I hope Dr. Nicholas will remain our clinical research colleague and friend for life.

I also feel proud to have been part of the research team at SickKids Hospital during my placement.

Dr. Nicholas has really been one of my favourite professors. He taught me not only all of the aspects of Clinical Research but also about Canadian culture and about the labour environment, about job interviews, writing resumes and about behaviours, norms and professionalism here in Canada. It has been very useful for me, he has prepared me not only for working in clinical research but also in how to find a job which is the main goal, I feel lucky that I found this course and that I learned this material from him.

I enjoyed the small, personalized size of the class and the discussions; it was a hard year especially to study for all Dr. Nicholas’ exams, however it was useful because to pass you have to study and understand almost 100% of the subject. It taught me and helped me to know most aspects of clinical research. The program is really complete and it was a refreshing change to hear his British accent. After going through the program I feel very prepared for my future research career.

I am truly grateful for the opportunity to be exposed to a new discipline and a great teacher!

]]> http://learnclinicalresearch.ca/2010/12/07/graduate-testimonial-patrizia/feed/ http://learnclinicalresearch.ca/2010/12/07/graduate-testimonial-adriana/ http://learnclinicalresearch.ca/2010/12/07/graduate-testimonial-adriana/#comments Tue, 07 Dec 2010 19:39:50 +0000 admin http://learnclinicalresearch.ca/?p=439 I want to thank Oxford College and especially Dr Nicholas who worked arduously with us during the clinical research program. I want to praise the superior design of the program; it is showing great results as many foreign health professionals can testify having been accepted to good job positions in Ontario.

The didactic and clinical content of the program and the quality of the presentations are all excellent; the delivery of the topics is really clear and effective. The material contains exactly what we need to know to work as a Clinical Research Associate or as a Coordinator.

My goal as an International Medical Graduate was to find some activity that allowed me to work close to, or within a medical environment where I could make use of my medical knowledge. My dream came true and I can say that you made an important contribution to my achievements; without you assistance I do not think I would have succeeded in finding my excellent job position at the WCRI, working as I am with experts in the Genetics of Breast Cancer.

I would like to offer my availability to the College if you should consider that my experience may be of value to others.

The program also explores different aspects of research including community research programs and translation to primary care issues; it helped me to acquire a solid knowledge and a broad education, essential for success in this field. One important component of the program was that it gave me back confidence and hope.

During my daily classes there was always time for discussions and interaction with classmates and the professor, in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The friendly settings were a clear asset of the program. As a result my academic performance was excellent and my self-confidence improved steadily along with the many opportunities I was given to present diverse topics; presentations were always held to the highest professional standards.

The placement component of the program gave me the opportunity to be assigned to a prestigious academic environment. I had the fortune of doing my placement at the Women College Research Institute, affiliated with the University of Toronto. During my placement I attended research and medical rounds, conferences and discussions all while working and gaining practical experience toward my goal of becoming a research coordinator. I am excited and grateful for the chance that the Oxford program has given me and I would strongly recommend it.

I have always liked research and I made the decision to go ahead and take a good program after realizing that it was extremely difficult to get a good research job without proper training. I really liked the idea of the carefully chosen placement that the program offers. I had the wonderful opportunity to study at Oxford, the course is very well designed and I really learned a lot. During my placement I continued to learn, my confidence improved a lot and I soon got a job offer. I am very happy now and I feel very comfortable at the hospital; I have the best coordinators and PI to work with!

The Oxford Program is an excellent program and I feel well prepared for a future in clinical research. A special thank you to Dr. Nicholas for EVERYTHING…

In the beginning of the program everything looked easy and I thought I wouldn’t have to study hard, but once past the introductory courses it just kept getting more demanding and I found myself every day either in the college or the library. Sometimes I thought he is giving us too much material, more than what we needed, but now I understand that this field is much broader than I thought and actually that makes it more exciting.

Since the very first day of my placement I found my self knowledgeable enough to face any challenge without being afraid, although I wasn’t familiar with many processes that a data manager needs to know in order to take on a study on his own. I don’t mean that I could do it now but that’s beside the point; I have this courage to say that I learn something every day and I owe this to Dr. Nicholas for giving me a good background so I can now absorb every piece of research knowledge.

As a matter of fact clinical research is not like many other fields, which after graduation the student is required to repeat what he/she has learned. This field is totally different: it has a vast variety and no matter how much knowledge you grasp through the program, you will need to be geared in one direction, and experience after graduation has a big role to play.

I really appreciate Dr. Nicholas and Oxford College for all the effort they put up for me and for the others.