Role of Research at Unity Health Toronto in the funding ecosystem
Research at Unity Health Toronto is the integrated research enterprise of Unity Health Toronto, anchored at St. Michael’s Hospital through the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute (LKSKI) and the Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science (KRCBS). Closely affiliated with the University of Toronto, it supports discovery science, translational and clinical research, health services and policy research, and knowledge translation, organized around four scientific pillars: Critical Care, Urban and Community Health, Organ Injury and Repair, and Brain Health and Wellness.
Beyond conducting research, the organization plays an active role in financing and supporting research activity for its scientists and trainees. It reports substantial annual research spending and maintains structures and services dedicated to attracting, managing and distributing research funding and awards within the institution.
Funding, grants, scholarships and awards
The Funding & Awards Team has a mandate to increase funding and resources to enable scientific excellence and enhance the recognition of Unity Health Toronto researchers. It provides strategic and developmental support for funding proposals and award nominations, and curates information on current funding and award opportunities for scientists. This includes internal opportunities administered by the institution as well as guidance on major external grant competitions.
The Research Training Centre (RTC) is a key mechanism for supporting graduate trainees and postdoctoral fellows across LKSKI and KRCBS. The RTC explicitly offers internal scholarships and awards that recognize outstanding research achievements and provides additional internal funding opportunities tailored to trainees. It also keeps trainees informed about external fellowships and studentships, and coordinates programming that enhances their competitiveness for funding.
Supported communities and impact
Research at Unity Health Toronto serves a broad community of hospital-based scientists, clinicians, research staff, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Through its research pillars, centres and programs, it supports work on critical illness, organ injury and repair, mental health and neurological conditions, and urban and community health, with a strong emphasis on health equity and underserved populations.
Its funding-related services, including peer-review guidance for grant applications, internal awards, support for Canada Research Chairs, and trainee scholarships, are designed to strengthen the overall research ecosystem, improve success in competitive funding environments, and translate research into improved patient care and population health.
Governance and partnerships
Strategic oversight is provided by the Research Leadership Committee, chaired by the Vice President, Research and Innovation and including the executive directors of LKSKI and KRCBS, scientific pillar directors, and leaders responsible for funding strategy and stewardship. The research enterprise is embedded within a large Catholic healthcare network and operates in close partnership with the University of Toronto and numerous specialized centres and programs, reinforcing its role as a major hospital-based research and funding hub in Canada.