Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital has been named one of Canada’s Top 40 Research Hospitals 2025 by Research Infosource Inc., recognizing its continued leadership in pediatric rehabilitation research and innovation.

The 2025 rankings, based on data from fiscal year 2023–24, highlight Holland Bloorview’s strong and steady growth in research investment, reflecting its commitment to improving care and inclusion for children and youth with disabilities and developmental differences.

This year, Holland Bloorview’s total research spending increased from $14.05 million to $15.3 million, an 8.9 per cent rise from the previous fiscal year. The hospital also remained among the top three small-tier institutions for both researcher intensity and hospital intensity—two key measures of research performance and focus.

“Being recognized for the 14th consecutive year among Canada’s leading research hospitals speaks to the strength of our research community,” said Julia Hanigsberg, president and CEO of Holland Bloorview. “At the BRI, our scientists, clinicians and researchers work hand in hand with families to drive discoveries that advance care and inclusion for children and youth across Canada and beyond.”

The hospital’s researcher intensity—the average research funding per active researcher—rose from $668,900 to $765,000, maintaining a second place spot among small-tier hospitals. Hospital intensity, which represents the percentage of total hospital spending dedicated to research, remained strong at 12 per cent, placing Holland Bloorview third among small-tier institutions.

"These rankings reflect both the growth and consistency of our research impact, made possible by the dedication and passion of our entire team," said Dr. Evdokia Anagnostou, vice president of research and director of the Bloorview Research Institute. "We’re deeply grateful to our researchers, partners, families, donors and community for driving this progress and helping us advance inclusive, evidence-based care for children and youth with disabilities and developmental differences."

As Canada’s only hospital dedicated exclusively to pediatric rehabilitation, Holland Bloorview continues to lead transformative research that places children, youth and families at the centre of discovery.

“As a family leader involved in research, it’s inspiring to see how families are truly part of the entire research process,” said Manuela Comito, a member of Holland Bloorview’s Research Family Engagement Committee (RFEC). “Through meaningful collaboration between families, staff, and researchers, families’ voices don’t just inform research, they shape it, guiding the topics explored, the methods used, and how results are shared to ensure real-life impact.”

Research Infosource Inc. ranks hospitals annually based on total research spending, research intensity per researcher, hospital intensity and year-over-year growth. The full rankings can be found here.

By Priyanka Shah