Our Research
LTRI plays a critical part in bridging the gap between research and treatment. At its core, LTRI brings together the perfect storm of creativity, curiosity and observation for the investigation of medicine’s most important questions.
Our Research Pillars
Biomedical Discover Research
Discovery science is the ‘A-HA’ moment in the lab that gives hope for better treatments in the future. Scientists across Sinai Health make discoveries that reveal the mysteries of disease and nurture those discoveries to improve human health.
Daniel Durocher
Associate Director, Discovery Science
Clinical/Translational Research
The clinical or translational research being done at the LTRI is research rooted in the study of patients. It’s all about making connections between lab discoveries and patient care. Our clinical researchers carry out studies that improve treatments – and seek cures – for some of today’s most intractable diseases.
Ravi Retnakaran
Associate Director, Clinical Science
Population Health Research
Much can be learned about the nature of disease by studying lifestyle, environmental and molecular characteristics among large groups of people. Our population health researchers contribute to the development of better disease prevention and surveillance strategies.
Rayjean Hung
Associate Director, Population Health Data Science
Health Systems Research
LTRI’s scientists are constantly looking at the missing links in our health care system to improve the experience for patients and caregivers. Our goal is to re-design and test new models of care to improve people’s experiences and outcomes, and not just at Sinai Health – but at health care institutions around the world.
Our Defining Moments
A look back at how the LTRI became one of the world’s leading biomedical research institutes.
1982: Mount Sinai Auxilliary commits to raising $3 million to support the creation of Mount Sinai Hospital’s first official research institute.
1985: Philanthropic investments from Samuel Lunenfeld and the Kunin family established the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute.
2002: Dr. Renee Lyons founds the Bridgepoint Collaboratory for Research and Innovation, the only research enterprise in Canada – and one of only a few in the world – that is solely focused on pioneering new approaches to managing complexity.
2008: Dr. Tony Pawson awarded the Kyoto Prize, known as "Japan's Nobel," for his groundbreaking discovery in cell communication that laid the foundation to develop Gleevec and other important cancer drugs.
2013: Larry and Judy Tanenbaum pledge $35 million, renaming the SLRI the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute (LTRI).
2021: The LTRI is named as Canada’s first Nikon Center of Excellence, allowing the research institute to push the boundaries of cellular imaging and move human tissue biology into the high-resolution realm.
2021: Dr. Daniel Drucker receives 2021 Canada Gairdner International Award for his research on glucagon-like peptides that led to major advances in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, obesity and intestinal disorders.
