New partnership focuses on global capacity-building in pediatric rehabilitation
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital (Holland Bloorview) and IWK Health have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate through MicroResearch, a global program that empowers community-driven research in underserved settings.
Signed in December 2025, the agreement outlines a shared commitment to interdisciplinary research, mentorship and knowledge mobilization in the fields of pediatric rehabilitation and global health. Holland Bloorview and IWK share a focus on advancing global research capacity and fostering sustainable impact in health and rehabilitation. The partnership brings together the Bloorview Research Institute (BRI), which is embedded within Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital—Canada’s largest pediatric rehabilitation hospital—and the MicroResearch International Centre, housed at IWK Health in partnership with Dalhousie University in Halifax.
MicroResearch was co-founded in 2008 by Dr. Robert Bortolussi and Dr. Noni MacDonald of IWK Health, in collaboration with Mbarara University of Science and Technology in Uganda. The program trains and mentors local multidisciplinary teams to investigate health and social challenges using community knowledge and locally available resources. Since its inception, MicroResearch has supported more than 200 projects across 11 countries.
Strengthening global research capacity in childhood disability
“We’re thrilled to come together with MicroResearch to strengthen global research capacity in childhood disability,” said Dr. Evdokia Anagnostou, vice-president of research and director of the Bloorview Research Institute. “This collaboration reflects BRI’s strategic priority to enable transformational impact through global partnerships, co-designed solutions and knowledge mobilization that improves outcomes for children and families.”
The MOU sets out four core pillars of collaboration between BRI and IWK Health through MicroResearch:
- Knowledge sharing and capacity building
- Joint research initiatives
- Mentorship and grant support
- Global health and disability advocacy
Initial activities under the agreement have already begun. In 2025, BRI scientists Dr. Jessica Brian and Dr. Sarah Munce joined MicroResearch as international mentors. Brian is supporting a research team in Meghalaya, India, examining play behaviours among children with autism spectrum disorder. Munce is mentoring a project in Pondicherry, India, focused on barriers faced by mothers of young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities when accessing adult services and emotional support.
These projects are part of a broader cohort supported by MicroResearch in collaboration with Amar Seva Sangam, a long-standing partner in Tamil Nadu, India.
“The synergies between our organizations are strong and a good foundation for future collaboration,” said Dr. Robert Bortolussi. “We see great potential for partnership in knowledge sharing, training and rehabilitation-focused research.”
This collaboration marks a major step toward addressing global health inequities by leveraging research expertise and community-driven solutions.
By Priyanka Shah
