Kingston’s General Hospital’s $4.2M research facility opens doors, aims to improve patient care

A new research centre opened its doors at Kingston General Hospital Monday and many hope the facility will lead to breakthroughs in health care and strengthen the hospital’s reputation as a research hospital.

The W.J. Henderson Centre for patient oriented research has been 10 years in the making.

The Dr. Roger Deeley, the head of Kingston General Hospital’s Research Institute, says a facility focused on patients has been a long-term need in South Eastern Ontario.

“We really didn’t have any space that was dedicated for patient oriented research, clinical research, research that aims directly at improving the health and wellness of our patients.”

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The 10,000 square-foot centre is reclaimed office space within the hospital and boasts research labs, exam rooms, space for clinical drug trials and even a bio-hazard preparation area.

The ‘Kinarm’ uses robotics to research neurological disorders like strokes or Alzheimer’s.

Andra Fawcett is recovering from two strokes and is participating in the Kinarm research.

“It’s very comforting, as a patient, to walk into a research facility like this and be able to sit and be comfortable.”

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Researcher Stephen Scott developed the ‘Kinarm’ and says having so many medical disciplines in one area has allowed them to expand research into new fields such as people with kidney failure.

“Depending on whether they have had dialysis, you can see whether they have impairments in brain functions and then it can actually get better after those conditions.”

The head of the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, Dr. Rosann Runte says they decided to support the centre because it fits their mandate of retention and attracting leading research.

“Twenty years ago it was about the brain drain and now it’s about training the next generation. Making sure they have a place to work and study in Canada.”

The $4.2 million centre — named in honour of a $1 million donation from the W.J. Henderson foundation — expands the research space of KGH by 25 per cent.