RI-MUHC ANNUAL REPORT 2022
EXECUTIVE MESSAGES
MESSAGE FROM RHIAN TOUYZ
The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unparalleled crisis in modern global health. To combat this new disease, researchers and health professionals at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) and around the world have accelerated biomedical research through their dedication, innovation and collaboration.
The RI-MUHC has the intellectual capacity, scientific resources, and outstanding talent and infrastructure to be a world-leading research institute, and it is in this spirit that we are developing a new strategic plan to be rolled out in 2023. The recent appointments of Drs. Indra Gupta and Louise Pilote as deputy directors, and Mr. Gilbert Tordjman as chief operating and development officer, complete our new RI-MUHC executive leadership team. We engaged with many researchers, trainees and fellows across the RI-MUHC this year through consultations, meetings and surveys, and we held an offsite retreat for senior researchers and administrators. The visionary international researchers who are part of our new External Scientific Advisory Board, chaired by Dr. Victor Dzau, will also guide our future directions. The MUHC and McGill University remain essential pillars in aligning our shared priorities.
Additionally this year, we restructured our administration to create a Pre-Awards Office that will assist our outstanding researchers in their applications for bold and ambitious research projects. One newly created task force aims to enhance our clinical research capabilities and another will review processes within the Research Ethics Board. Numerous new initiatives to support our exceptional research trainees include a postdoctoral needs survey and action plan, as well as new funding secured to support graduate students and postdoctoral fellows through competitive awards. Aligning with McGill University, we have committed to providing research space and resources for researchers and trainees from Ukraine.
With the support of our Board of Directors, we have renewed our commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) with the creation of the HR/EDI Committee and a new full-time EDI specialist position. As the pandemic continues to evolve, we can begin to feel hope for a healthier and more compassionate world, thanks to the far-reaching impact of new scientific discoveries. It is a privilege to be part of an organization contributing on so many levels to achieve this goal.
Clinically relevant discovery science is at my very core as a clinician scientist, and I am particularly excited by the opportunity to drive and advance the translational portfolio of an academic research institute embedded within a hospital. I believe that the most impactful clinical research is executed when scientists are in close proximity to patients and clinicians. What better place could there be for this than the RI‑MUHC?
MESSAGE FROM THE MCGILL UNIVERSITY HEALTH CENTRE
We are delighted to recognize the activities of the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and vis-à-vis its compelling contributions to knowledge and change in clinical practices.
Never idle, the institute had a big year. Researchers, trainees, management and support staff impressed us with their responsiveness and discoveries, such as Dr. Jean-Jacques Lebrun and his team’s Québec Science Discovery of the Year. On August 31, 2021, Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Rhian Touyz marked her first day, and she has been busy ever since laying the groundwork of the RI-MUHC’s future. Two associate directors, Drs. Indra Gupta and Louise Pilote, as well as a chief operating and development officer, Mr. Gilbert Tordjman, were appointed. A strategic planning exercise was initiated and a policy for equity, diversity and inclusion was developed and adopted. The Board also strengthened its operations with Governance, Human Resources and Investment committees, while Dr. Touyz attracted a stellar External Scientific Advisory Board. All of these things are instrumental to the institute’s growth.
We also wish to celebrate the achievement of ranking third in Canada and first in Quebec on Re$earch Infosource’s Top 40 Research Hospitals list. This highlights the drive of the institute’s team to change people’s lives. We are proud of the RI-MUHC’s accomplishments, grateful for the governments, granting bodies and foundations that support its success, and excited to see what the future holds because without research, the MUHC would be neither an academic health centre, nor an organization capable of providing exceptional care to its patients and their families.
MESSAGE FROM MCGILL UNIVERSITY
McGill’s longstanding and fruitful collaboration with the RI-MUHC took on an even greater urgency during the pandemic. Many of our researchers are dedicated to understanding SARS-CoV-2 and to mitigating its devastating impact, using their expertise in mental health, biobanking, modelling, infection, immunity, tracking emerging strains and fighting inequities. Two years into the pandemic, their contributions have significantly enhanced our knowledge of the virus, improving patient care and sustaining our health care systems. At the same time, our researchers have continued to combat other debilitating and fatal diseases, advancing their critical research in other important areas.
More than ever before, our scientists are part of a worldwide effort to share vast datasets to create new tools, therapeutics and treatments to solve global health challenges. We are immeasurably proud of the talented teams of teachers, learners, investigators and clinicians at McGill and the RI-MUHC whose tireless efforts to fulfil our teaching and research missions ensure our communities stay healthy and well. We look forward to the coming year’s innovations and collaborations between our institutions.
OVERSIGHT
- BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- CENTRE DIRECTORS
- GOVERNANCE AND ETHICS COMMITTEE
- AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
- INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
- SCIENTIFIC LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE
- MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
- RESEARCH PROGRAM COUNCIL
- HR/EDI COMMITTEE
—Reporting period: April 2021 – March 2022
Spotlight: A focus on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
The past year marks important efforts to promote Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) at all levels of the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC). The completion of our stakeholder-informed EDI Policy was a true milestone for the organization. The development of an EDI Framework and new process for creation of an EDI Strategic Plan incorporated invaluable contributions from many members of our community, including the EDI Policy Writing Committee, which showed true dedication and commitment. Additionally, the RI-MUHC Board of Directors struck a new HR-EDI Committee. In 2021-2022 we also formed partnerships with the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI) and Indigenous Works, whose training and expertise have allowed us to raise awareness on a variety of topics across our community.
EDI is at the very core of everything we strive for at the RI-MUHC. We will continue to build a more equitable, diverse and inclusive workplace that is sustainable and that will allow everyone in the RI-MUHC to achieve their career goals and ambitions.
