Opened in 1986, Robarts Research Institute at The University of Western Ontario is a non-profit medical research facility in London, Ontario, with more than 600 people working to investigate some of the most debilitating diseases of our time, from heart disease and stroke to diabetes, Alzheimer’s and many forms of cancer.
We believe we’ve got a winning formula to accelerate medical discovery: Attract the brightest and best people. Give them the freedom to think big. And set the bar high.
From our roots under the scientific leadership of renowned neurologist Dr. Henry Barnett - whose work with Aspirin as a preventive therapy for heart attack and stroke remains one of the most important developments in 20th century medicine - the Institute has applied that formula and become a national leader in biological, clinical and imaging research.
The current Director, Dr. John MacDonald, joined Robarts July 1, 2008. Dr. MacDonald holds a PhD from the University of British Columbia and has conducted postdoctoral work at the University of St. Andrews, UK, McGill University, and the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. His research addresses neurotransmitter actions in central mammalian neurons and has attracted funding from CIHR, the Medical Research Council, Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Canadian Stroke Network, the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation, and National Centres of Excellence.
His administrative experience includes serving as Chair of the University of Toronto's Department of Physiology from 2000 to 2008, and he is a founding member of NoNO Inc., a biotechnology company dedicated to developing and commercializing therapeutic compounds for stroke and related neurological disorders. Dr. MacDonald is a member of the Royal Society of Canada and an active member of the Canadian Stroke Network.
Dr. MacDonald is a stellar researcher and is internationally recognized for his excellence as both a scholar and a leader. We are fortunate indeed that he is putting his energy and vision into building on the legacy of the Robarts Research Institute.
Some quick facts about Robarts:
• Key strengths in advanced medical imaging, cellular and molecular biology, genomics, immunology and stem cell biology.
• Interdisciplinary approach unique in Canada with physicians and physicists, biologists and biomedical engineers, all working under one roof with collaborations extending to 20 countries worldwide.
• State-of-the-art building expansion - officially opened in 2003 - doubling space available for research to nearly 200,000 sq. ft.
• Commercialization success with more than 80 patents filed, 15 licensing agreements, eight spinoff companies that have raised more than $45 million in investment capital.