$100‑million in federal support invested in health data initiative led by Unity Health, U of T researchers
A hospital data-sharing platform founded by researchers at Unity Health Toronto and the University of Toronto will receive $100 million in new federal investment to expand across Canada.
A “cornerstone” of Canada’s national AI strategy, the secure VITAL platform will enable the flow of real-time clinical data – starting with 160 hospitals across Ontario, Quebec and Alberta – so it can be more easily used by clinicians and researchers to improve care, strengthen health services and accelerate medical innovation.
VITAL is built on advances made by GEMINI, an Ontario-focused hospital data-sharing platform created and co-led by Fahad Razak and Amol Verma, both clinician-scientists at Unity Health and U of T faculty members.
Evan Solomon, Canada’s minister of artificial intelligence and digital innovation and minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, said the investment marks “a turning point” in Canadian health data infrastructure.
“When we met [Razak and Verma], we knew instantly that this was a project we need to be part of – because it affects people,” Solomon said at a launch event this week at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at St. Michael’s Hospital. “Their vision… was phenomenal. We walked out of that and said: ‘This will be a cornerstone of the [federal government’s] AI for All strategy.’”
Solomon added the national AI strategy is “informed foundationally, philosophically and strategically by health care – by the idea that we must serve all, that AI is here to serve Canadians – not the other way around.”
Hosted by Unity Health, the launch event was attended by senior leaders from U of T and other academic institutions, affiliated hospitals in the Toronto Academic Health Science Network (TAHSN), leaders of Indigenous health organizations and representatives of industry and philanthropy groups – a reflection of the broad collaboration behind the initiative.
“I have no doubt that what we’ve started will produce health-care breakthroughs that are going to benefit Canadians for generations to come,” said U of T President Melanie Woodin. “And we’re doing so at a time when our country needs, more than ever, to see that we can tackle the big challenges in front of us – that we can meet this moment with confidence according to the values that unite us all.”
(Story by Rahul Kalvapalle, photos by Johnny Guatto)