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Ottawa to become Canada’s hub for medical devices commercialization
OTTAWA, August 25, 2014 — The Government of Canada has chosen Ottawa to become the country’s leading authority in medical devices commercialization with the announcement of a $14.9 million investment in the Medical Devices Commercialization Centre (MDCC). This new Centre stems from the University of Ottawa’s Medical Devices Innovation Institute and, in the initial phase, will be housed at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. This funding was awarded in the latest Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR) Program competition.
As a not‐for‐profit centre, the MDCC is dedicated to enhancing, encouraging, facilitating and accelerating the commercialization of safe, effective, reliable and economically viable medical devices for the Canadian and global markets. The Centre responds to the pressing need to commercialize medical devices by fostering a collaborative network focused on removing roadblocks to the commercialization of devices that have been designed and made in Canada.
“This Centre will foster the creation of an ecosystem that stimulates innovation and commercialization of medical devices in Canada,” said Dr. Tofy Mussivand, Director of the Medical Devices Innovation Institute and a professor of medicine and engineering at the University of Ottawa. “With this national centre, Canada is well positioned to reap the benefits of the $335‐billion worldwide market for medical devices.”
National in scope, the Centre will complement existing organizations in the field and will draw on innovative ideas generated across the country. It will assess clinical need and market demand in order to spur the development of new products that are safe, reliable and effective. The MDCC will improve health care while enhancing the country’s performance in a fast‐growing, multi‐billion‐dollar global market. It will also improve Canadians’ access to the latest medical technologies.
“The evolution of medicine has relied heavily on the use of medical devices, from prevention and rehabilitation to diagnosis and treatment. They have extended life, reduced suffering, and improved recovery from countless diseases,” said Dr. Thierry Mesana, President and CEO of the University of
Ottawa Heart Institute. “As patients come first, the Centre will result in greater access to cutting‐edge technology, which translates into speedier recovery and easier convalescence, and therefore improved quality of life.”
“Research is about creating knowledge but also about putting this knowledge at work for Canadians,” said Dr. Mona Nemer, Vice‐President, Research at the University of Ottawa. “By bringing together key stakeholders from universities, colleges, hospitals, industry and government agencies, we can create incentives and remove barriers to the commercialization of medical devices.”
About the University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is committed to research excellence and encourages an interdisciplinary approach to knowledge creation, which attracts the best academic talent from across Canada and around the world. The University is an important stakeholder in the National Capital Region’s economic development, with a total regional economic impact estimated at $4 billion annually.
About the University of Ottawa Heart Institute
The University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI) is Canada’s largest and foremost heart health centre dedicated to understanding, treating and preventing heart disease. UOHI delivers high‐tech care with a personal touch, shapes the way cardiovascular medicine is practiced and revolutionizes cardiac treatment and understanding. It builds knowledge through research and translates discoveries into advanced care. UOHI serves the local, national and international community and is pioneering a new era in heart health.
Information for media:
Vincent Lamontagne
Senior Manager, Public Affairs
University of Ottawa Heart Institute
Cell.: 613‐899‐6760
vlamontagne@ottawaheart.ca
Kina Leclair
Media Relations Officer
University of Ottawa
Office: 613-562-5800 (2529)
Cell.: 613-762-2908
kleclair@uOttawa.ca
