Toronto's University Health Network launches scientist recruitment campaign amid U.S. health cuts, layoffs

Toronto's University Health Network says it has a new plan to recruit the best and brightest medical scientists from around the world, including the United States, where the government is laying off thousands of health researchers.

At a news conference Monday morning, UHN executives outlined their "Canada Leads" strategy to recruit 100 of the world's leading early-career health scientists to Canada's largest hospital network, to support Canadian medical research and innovation, and drive economic growth.

The Canada Leads program will offer selected scientists a two-year research funding commitment, as well as mentorship from leading entrepreneurs and help from a team dedicated to transitioning scientists to their new home.

UHN president and CEO Kevin Smith says the goal of the recruitment effort is to generate world-leading discoveries and economic spin-off in manufacturing, biotech and commercialization.

"We know there is an incredible opportunity to supercharge our Canadian economy through bold investment in science and technology," Connor said.

"And when you look around the world, the evidence is absolutely clear: nations that invest in science don't just lead in innovation, they lead in prosperity."

Smith says supporting more homegrown discoveries can also boost a made-in-Canada supply chain of advanced medical products and services. Although Canada spends over $400 billion on health care annually, a significant portion of that is spent on technologies, pharmaceuticals and supplies that are not manufactured in the country, he says.

"We have to ask ourselves, why not? Why are we not reaping the full economic benefits of our own discoveries?" Smith said.

"That's the opportunity in front of us today, to ensure the next global breakthroughs not only start here in Ontario, but also benefit Canadians first, also that they can create wonderful jobs, prosperity, a stronger tax base and protect our most cherished program, our universal health-care system."

UHN will spend $15 million to recruit the first 50 researchers, Smith said, with funding secured through philanthropic investments. The UHN Foundation and the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation are now setting about finding matching funds.

The campaign will look to take advantage of large cuts and layoffs at federal health agencies in the U.S., including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health.

Scientists overseeing cancer research, vaccine and drug approvals, public health and tobacco regulations are among 10,000 already laid off.

"As others pull back, Canada must step up," Smith said Monday.

Manitoba and B.C. have launched their own campaigns recently to attract more U.S. health-care professionals.

"Some of the top scientists are looking for a new home right now, and we want UHN and Canada to seize this opportunity," Julie Quenneville, president and CEO of the UHN Foundation, said at Monday's news conference.

UHN's Toronto General Hospital was recently ranked by Newsweek as the third best hospital in the world, making UHN an attractive place for top scientists to relocate, Quenneville said.

"It's actually the number one best hospital outside of the United States," she noted, with only the Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic ranked higher by Newsweek.

UHN is Canada's top research hospital, consisting of 10 sites in Ontario and more than 20,000 members, including roughly 6,000 researchers.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who was also on hand at Monday's news conference, suggested the province has another ad campaign in the works to complement UHN's recruitment strategy. The ads would run in the U.S., he said, similar to when the province recently ran ads south of the border before U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs, telling Americans that the two countries are stronger together.

"We're going to go on many fronts to fight these tariffs, but one way to win big time is to get the brightest minds in the United States to come to the greatest sub-sovereign nation in the world, and that's Ontario, and we'll be running those ads," Ford said in his remarks at the UHN event.

"The research done by these recruits will attract investment, grow the economy ... and position right here at UHN as the place where innovation and breakthroughs happen," he said.

Ontario is also in the midst of implementing a life sciences strategy, to attract biomanufacturers such as OmniaBio and AstraZeneca.