Ontario Tech University professor’s “big data for little people” work profiled at Prime Minister’s research funding announcement

A professor from the Ontario Tech University played a key role in a recent Government of Canada announcement. Prime Minister Stephen Harper highlighted the innovative research of Ontario Tech University's Dr. Carolyn McGregor, Canada Research Chair in Health Informatics, at the announcement of the Canada First Research Excellence Fund on December 4 in Markham, Ontario. At the event the Prime Minister dubbed Dr. McGregor’s research “big data for little people”.

“Dr. McGregor’s research shows the real-world benefits of science and innovation,” said Tim McTiernan, Ph.D., President, Ontario Tech University. “Thanks to Dr. McGregor, physicians around the globe now have additional tools and new ways to help save young lives.”

In the past, physicians recorded basic patient data like pulse and blood pressure on a paper chart at various time intervals. But the explosion of available information and data has outpaced the capacity of humans and medical equipment to aggregate and interpret crucial data in a clinically meaningful way.

Dr. McGregor is one of Ontario Tech University's six Canada Research Chairs, a select group of the country’s most accomplished and promising scholars. Since arriving at Ontario Tech University in 2007, Dr. McGregor has been the lead researcher in the international Artemis initiative, which helps physicians make sense of the constant stream of vital organ data collected from critically ill premature babies in neonatal intensive care units. Subtle changes in a patient's condition become more recognizable. With this information, physicians can intervene more quickly. This, in turn, may reduce mortality rates in premature babies here in Canada and around the world.

Dr. McGregor’s research is being conducted in collaboration with the IBM Canada Research and Development Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, Ontario, and an expanding group of international partners.

“Dr. McGregor’s work shows the University of Ontario Institute of Technology’s reputation for research excellence and innovation,” said Dr. Michael Owen, Vice-President, Research, Innovation and International. “Ontario Tech University is excited about the Canada First Research Excellence Fund, which will offer funding that allows even more Ontario Tech University professors and researchers to take on challenges like Dr. McGregor’s.”

Media contact
Bryan Oliver
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Ontario Tech University
905.721.8668, ext 6709
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bryan.oliver@ontariotechu.ca