Robarts Research Institute

About Robarts Research Institute

Robarts Research Institute is a medical research facility located in the Old North neighbourhood on Richmond St. N. in London, Ontario. Serving the broader medical and scientific community, it functions as the research institute of the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University. The facility employs more than 600 people who work to investigate debilitating diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer's, and various forms of cancer. The institute offers an interdisciplinary approach to research, bringing together physicians, physicists, biologists, and biomedical engineers to work under one roof. Its core strengths include advanced medical imaging, cellular and molecular biology, genomics, immunology, and stem cell biology. Specific research areas include translational neuroscience, molecular medicine, and imaging. The facility houses Canada’s most powerful MRI system, a 15.2 Tesla pre-clinical scanner used to study the brain with high resolution. Established in 1986, the institute was founded under the scientific leadership of renowned neurologist Dr. Henry Barnett. The organization describes its approach as a formula of attracting top talent and providing the freedom to think big. Its work has led to significant commercialization success, including more than 80 patents filed, 15 licensing agreements, and eight spinoff companies. The institute maintains collaborations extending to 20 countries worldwide.