04/12/2025
Ottawa, Ontario — Thursday December 4, 2025
The 2025 Research Infosource rankings highlight CHEO’s continued rise as a leader in pediatric health research. CHEO placed 2nd among small-tier research hospitals in Canada, up from 7th last year, thanks to a 16.5% increase in research spending (FY2023-24) – a significant jump from the previous year’s 11.6% growth.
This achievement reflects CHEO’s commitment to research excellence and innovation that improves the lives of children, youth and families locally, nationally, and globally.
“CHEO is proud to be a leader in pediatric health research in Canada. By making strategic investments in areas such as artificial intelligence and precision health research, with a focus on mental health, and expanding the integration of research across CHEO we are shaping a healthier tomorrow for the children, youth and families we serve at CHEO and beyond,” said Dr. Jason Berman, CEO and Scientific Director, CHEO Research Institute, and Vice-President of Research, CHEO.
CHEO also maintained its strong position in the overall national rankings, placing in the Top 25 research hospitals in Canada.
CHEO is part of a thriving academic health network in Ottawa
The CHEO Research Institute is affiliated with the University of Ottawa, which ranked among the top 10 research universities in Canada, with $495 million in sponsored research income (FY2023–24), up from $432 million the previous year. This includes research income administered through affiliated research hospitals such as CHEO.
Together, uOttawa and affiliated research hospitals and institutes form the Ottawa Academic Health Network (OAHN), which is the second largest life science research ecosystem in Ontario.
The CHEO Research Institute, as a member of the OAHN, is part of a research community that continues to demonstrate national leadership. In 2025, all OAHN institutions were once again ranked among Canada’s Top 40 Research Hospitals, marking the eleventh consecutive year the network has achieved this distinction. This collective performance highlights the strength of Ottawa’s integrated academic health ecosystem and the enduring partnership between the University of Ottawa and its affiliated research hospitals. Together, OAHN institutions increased their overall research spending by $12.5 million reaching $258.3 million and reinforcing Ottawa’s position as one of Canada’s most dynamic centres for life sciences research and innovation.
OAHN members are embarking on a number of exciting projects that will further strengthen Ottawa’s life science research ecosystem, including the construction of CHEO’s new Integrated Treatment Centre, the CHEO Research Institute’s Core Innovation program, and enhancing clinical trial access and capacity at CHEO, alongside the uOttawa’s Advanced Medical Research Centre and the Brain-Heart lnterconnectome program, of which the CHEO Research Institute is proud to be a part of.