Twenty-five major conferences devoted to life sciences will be held in Ottawa between 2019 and 2022. Their delegates will feel right at home and in good company: Ottawa has emerged as a true leader in life sciences, with close to 4,000 people employed and 140 companies active in the sector–plus world-class research facilities and institutes that support innovation, discovery, development and commercialization.
As the country’s capital, Ottawa is home to Canada’s national government, including departments and agencies that employ leading life sciences experts and are directly responsible for health regulation, protection, promotion and research funding. Five of Canada’s top hospital research institutes are located in the city, along with Canada’s National Research Council and no fewer than 35 Canada Research Chairs. Two major national life science Networks of Excellence are also based in Ottawa: the Stem Cell Network, Canada’s premier research organization dedicated to enabling the transition of stem cell research into clinical applications, commercial products and public policy; and Biotherapeutics for Cancer Treatment, a pan-Canadian network of expertise and infrastructure for the development, manufacture and clinical testing of personal biotherapeutics.
The city has become a leader in cardiovascular and other related areas of health research, with an ecosystem of high calibre scientists and clinicians active in this area. Many conduct their research and trials at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Carleton University, the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and the National Research Council.
Big Data has entered the life sciences scene in Ottawa, with the recent launch of the Bruyère Centre for Individualized Health to improve the health of aging and vulnerable populations.
Health & Life Sciences in Ottawa:
- 3,900 Employed
- 140 companies: Abbott, Clearwater Clinical, DNA Genotek, Dynacare, Montfort, Nordion, Spartan, Thermo Fisher, Turnstone Biologics...
- 35 Canada Research Chairs
- 5 Major Research Hospitals
- Major conferences: Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, Society for the Study of Reproduction, International Society for Hip Arthroscopy, International Society of Pediatric Oncology, International Association of Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Societies, Canadian Cardiovascular Society...
Source: Business Events Canada, 2019
