The Government of Ontario has announced new investments in the province’s thriving life sciences sector, including funding that will strengthen Ontario’s clinical trials environment. Unveiled today, the next phase of Ontario’s life sciences strategy commits an additional $146 million in support of tools and programs that will help establish Ontario as a global biomanufacturing and life sciences hub. This investment includes $5 million for Clinical Trials Ontario and the innovative QuickSTART program, which reduces barriers and helps speed up clinical trial start-up times.
The announcement was made at the 2024 MedTech Conference in downtown Toronto. It is the first time the global conference has been held in Canada, and conference organizers say it has the largest attendance to date. Premier Doug Ford, Victor Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, and Nina Tangri, Associate Minister of Small Business, were there to show strong, cross-ministerial support for Ontario’s life sciences sector.
“As we rebuild Ontario’s economy, the life sciences sector will play a critical role in driving growth and creating good-paying jobs for people right across the province,” said Premier Doug Ford, who shared remarks with MedTech delegates this morning. “The significant investments we’re making in the sector are unlocking new opportunities, accelerating the development of life-changing medicines and technologies and helping to keep people healthy. We want Ontario to be a place where medical breakthroughs are discovered and developed into innovative products and services for the benefit of everyone.”
“The next phase of this strategy will truly take the life sciences industry in our province to the next level, making sure medical breakthroughs of the future are always possible here in Ontario,” said Minister Fedeli, who described the details of Phase II of Ontario’s life sciences strategy.
“Clinical trials play a critical role in building a globally competitive life sciences sector, while driving discovery and advancing healthcare for patients and families. This investment from the Government of Ontario will help strengthen our clinical trials ecosystem by supporting the expansion of key initiatives, including Clinical Trials Ontario’s QuickSTART program, which removes red tape and improves trial start-up processes so that we remain competitive and continue to create more accessible and beneficial clinical trials opportunities for Ontarians,” said Susan Marlin, President and CEO, Clinical Trials Ontario.
Clinical Trials Ontario thanks the Government of Ontario for its continued support in fueling a thriving clinical trials sector that will bring more talent and trial opportunities to the province, advance healthcare for patients and drive innovation in medicine.
Read the full news release from the Ontario Government here, and watch the announcement here:
If you are at the MedTech Conference, stop by CTO’s table in the Ontario Pavillion and learn about QuickSTART, CTO Stream, and other programs that are helping to advance clinical trials in Ontario.