Research Events

ORIHI Research and Innovation Symposium: advancing research, innovation and health equity

November 20, 2026
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness

Join the Osler Research Institute for Health Innovation (ORIHI) for the 2026 ORIHI Research and Innovation Symposium, taking place during Celebrate Research Week.

The symposium will bring together researchers, health care professionals, learners, community partners, industry representatives and health system leaders to share emerging knowledge, build collaborations and explore opportunities to improve health and health care.

This year's program will highlight research and innovation across ORIHI's three research pillars: personalized health, health systems and population health. Attendees will also have opportunities to engage with poster presenters, visit innovator yables and connect with colleagues from across the health research and innovation community.

Registration is now open!

To submit a poster abstract, see details below.

*The program and speaker lineup are being finalized. Speakers, session topics and program details are subject to change.

Opening and keynote

Opening remarks: Dr. Hemant Shah, Vice President, Academics, William Osler Health System
Keynote address: Research and innovation in a community health system: turning ideas into impact

  • Dr. Samir C. Grover, MD, MEd, FRCPC
    Executive Vice-President, Academics, Scarborough Health Network
    Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto
    Pialis Family Chair in Education Research, Scarborough Health Network Research Institute

Precision medicine and advanced diagnostics (session 1)

Explore how advances in biomarkers, clinical trials, diagnostic imaging, artificial intelligence and image guided therapies are contributing to more personalized approaches to care.

  • Dr. Parneet Cheema, Head of Cancer Research, William Osler Health System
  • Dr. Marc Ossip, Chief, Diagnostic Imaging, William Osler Health System

From ideas to impact: building partnerships for health innovation (session 2)

A panel conversation examining how health systems, universities, industry and innovation partners can work together to move promising ideas forward.

  • Dr. Randy (Wenjun) Lin, Algoma University and Digital Innovation Lab
  • Zied Etleb, Brampton Venture Zone by Toronto Metropolitan University
  • Wilson Luo, PhD, Mitacs
  • Dr. Teresa Chan, School of Medicine, Toronto Metropolitan University

Co-creating healthier communities: research, partnership and equity (session 3)

A discussion about community led research, service innovation, health equity and regional collaboration.

  • Carolina Berinstein, WellFort Community Health Services
  • Rishika Thakur Malhi, William Osler Health System and Central West Ontario Health Team
  • Marcia Glasgow, William Osler Health System, Moderator

Research for a healthier Peel: population priorities across the lifespan (session 4)

ORIHI researchers will highlight opportunities to improve health across the lifespan in one of Canada's most diverse and rapidly growing communities.

  • Dr. Herbert Brill, Senior Scientist, ORIHI; Paediatric Gastroenterologist, William Osler Health System
  • Dr. Sergio Borgia, Infectious Diseases Consultant, William Osler Health System
  • Dr. Masud Khandaker, Division Head, Cardiology and Medical Director, Cardiovascular Health System, William Osler Health System

Transforming care from within: ethics, quality and health-system innovation (session 5)

Explore how frontline insights, quality improvement and ethics can drive meaningful improvements in care.

  • Amrutha Kumar, Professional Practice Leader, Nursing, William Osler Health System
  • Dr. Paula Chidwick, Director, Ethics, William Osler Health System

Posters, innovation and networking

Throughout the day, attendees can explore research posters, connect with colleagues and visit the innovator showcase featuring research, innovation and partnership initiatives.

We invite researchers, clinicians, health professionals, staff, learners, community partners and collaborators to submit an abstract for the symposium poster session.

Submissions may feature research, quality improvement, program evaluation, health system innovation or other work aligned with one or more of ORIHI's research pillars: personalized health, health systems, population health.

Abstracts may be up to 300 words.

Submission deadline: Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Outcome notification: Monday, October 26, 2026

Oxford Abstracts

New users will be prompted to create an Oxford Abstracts account. After registering or signing in, you will be directed to the symposium submission form.

Past events

Leading cancer experts and researchers joined together for a virtual briefing on a groundbreaking national study that highlights major gaps and opportunities in biomarker testing for non-small cell lung cancer across Canada.

The new study, published in JTO Clinical and Research Reports, was developed through the Canadian Pathology Quality Assurance end-to-end quality assurance program. Led by the Advanced Diagnostics team at Osler, the research reveals wide disparities in testing timelines and quality, with real consequences for patient care and equity.

Celebrate Research Week is a cornerstone annual event for the ORIHI. Held in November, the week-long celebration provides an opportunity to showcase and advance research and innovation in our region. Throughout Celebrate Research Week, the focus is on emphasizing excellence in innovation, recognizing local achievements in research and welcoming the community to engage with research in many different ways.

Watch the full video playlist of Celebrate Research Week talks and panel sessions from past years:

Host: Patchen Barss, Science Journalist
Researchers: Dr. Paula Chidwick, Dr. Jill Oliver, Dr. Angel Petropanagos, Theresa Nitti, RPN

Learn about the unique role of Osler's Ethics Research team.

 

 

Researcher: Dr. Brandon Sheffield

Learn about enhancing cancer care with improved biomarker proficiency testing.

 

 

Keynote: Dr. Alexandra Binnie

Learn about extending clinical research to benefit communities.

 

 

Contact Us

Brampton Civic Hospital
2100 Bovaird Drive East,
Brampton, ON L6R 3J7
Phone: 905-494-2120

Etobicoke General Hospital
101 Humber College Boulevard,
Etobicoke, ON M9V 1R8
Phone: 416-747-3400

Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness
20 Lynch Street,
Brampton, ON L6W 2Z8
Phone: 905-494-2120

Reactivation Care Centre
200 Church Street,
Etobicoke, ON M9N 1N8
Phone: 416-243-4390

Withdrawal Management Centre
135 McLaughlin Road South,
Brampton, ON L6Y 2C8
Phone: 905-456-3500

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