New research facility coming to Hamilton General Hospital

Hamilton, ON – Preparations are underway for a new research facility at the Hamilton General Hospital site of Hamilton Health Sciences. The building will be named after businessman, David Braley, who has contributed $10 million to the project. The state-of-the-art facility will house two of Hamilton Health Sciences’ world-renowned research teams as well as provide space for growth in related fields.

The David Braley Cardiac, Vascular and Stroke Research Institute will house two world-renowned research teams; the Population Health Research Institute led by direct Dr Salim Yusuf, and the Jack Hirsh, Fraser Mustard Thrombosis Research Institute founded by Dr Jack Hirsh and now led by director Dr Jeffrey Weitz.

This six-storey building will provide 165,000 sq ft of research space. Its sweeping lines and massive windows will help to infuse natural light into the workspaces within. The laboratories, meeting rooms, offices and breakout spaces have all been placed and shaped to maximize efficiency and encourage the exchange of ideas among the 400 staff who will work in this building. the total project, including state-of-the-art equipment, will cost close to $90 million and it is anticipated that construction will be complete by 2010.

Both the Population Health Research Institute (PHRI) and the Jack Hirsh, Fraser Mustard Thrombosis Institute (JHFMTRI) have international reputations for innovation and excellence. The PHRI conducts clinical trials in 66 countries focusing on cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and the societal influences on health such as ethnicity and geography. The Jack Hirsh, Fraser Mustard Thrombosis Research Institute made history almost 30 years ago with the world’s first clinical trial demonstrating the effectiveness of using aspirin to prevent stroke. since then, the JHFMTRI has become an international leader in research on vascular disease, specifically blood clots.

Currently, the Population Health Research Institute staff members work in several building at around Hamilton General, while the Jack Hirsh, Fraser Mustard Thrombosis Research Institute staff is based at the Henderson General Hospital. Both programs are expanding rapidly and together they attract more than $150 million in research funding every year.