(OTTAWA, ONTARIO) – The 2009 Ottawa Hospital Gala was a tremendous success raising $120,000 for The Ottawa Hospital. More than 500 people attended the event which applauded the achievements of local researchers, in addition to raising funds for the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.

“Tonight, we celebrate medical research and recognize its importance in our community,” said Dr. Jack Kitts, President and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital. “The incredible work being done by our team at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute ensures that the people of Ottawa will be among the first to benefit from advances in health research.”

The following three researchers were honoured for their outstanding achievements in health science at tonight’s Gala:

• Dr. Jeremy Grimshaw – Dr. J. David Grimes Research Career Achievement Award
• Dr. X. Johné Liu – Dr. Michel Chrétien Researcher of the Year Award
• Dr. R Mitchell Baldwin – Dr. Ronald G. Worton Researcher in Training Award

All proceeds raised through The Ottawa Hospital Gala support the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) – the research arm of The Ottawa Hospital and an affiliated institute of the University of Ottawa.

“The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and MDS Nordion have embraced innovation, as we continue to work together to advance the frontiers of health science,” says Steve West, Chief Operating Officer, MDS Inc. “It is scientists, researchers and doctors, like those we honour here this evening, who are changing the way we approach medicine in the 21st century.”

In the past six years, The Ottawa Hospital Gala presented by MDS Nordion has raised more than $730,000 for the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.

The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre at the General Campus is undergoing the largest expansion in its history. The Ottawa Hospital Foundation’s 20-20 Campaign aims to raise $20 million in 20 months for the project, which will double the current size of the Centre.The expansion of The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre is critical. The Ottawa Hospital is the hub of cancer care in our region and this year alone, more than 21,000 patients will rely on its fully integrated outpatient centre for treatment. This represents more than 190,000 patient visits.

The Ottawa Hospital is a multi-campus, academic health sciences centre, serving 1.5 million residents of Ottawa and Eastern Ontario, both in English and French. It provides care for more patients than any other hospital in Canada, and boasts specialty centres in cancer, heart, kidney and vision care, as well as rehabilitation services. For more information, visit The Ottawa Hospital Web site at www.ottawahospital.on.ca.

The Ottawa Hospital Foundation’s mission is to inspire and enable people to support the highest quality health care at The Ottawa Hospital and lifesaving research at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. For more information, visit The Ottawa Hospital Foundation Web site at www.ohfoundation.ca.

The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) is the research arm of The Ottawa Hospital and is an affiliated institute of the University of Ottawa, closely associated with the University’s Faculties of Medicine and Health Sciences. The OHRI includes more than 1,500 scientists, clinical investigators, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and staff conducting research to improve the understanding, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human disease. www.ohri.ca

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