Two years ago Eric Lindros announced his retirement from professional hockey and punctuated the announcement with a $5-million donation to London Health Sciences Foundation.
At the time of his donation, the hospital’s Canadian Surgical Technologies & Advanced Robotics (CSTAR) already occupied part of the building, while four new research and teaching centres awaited donations needed to complete the construction of the building’s interior space.
The hockey star’s gift completed the funding for the building and its new centres, allowing that construction to commence.
Today the results of all those donations were revealed to donors, physicians and staff from London Health Science Centre, researchers from the hospital’s research arm (Lawson Health Research Institute), and educators from the hospital’s education partner (The University of Western Ontario’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry).
“In London, we have an integrated hospital, research and education community with strong relationships and synergies,” says Schulich Dean Michael Strong. “The Lindros Legacy Research building will further enhance our capacity for research and education. Each of its centres will be an outstanding resource for the training of our undergraduate medical students, residents and young scientists.”
The building and its five centres are expected to provide researchers and educators the resources needed to make significant advances and impact in several areas of health care on a national and an international scale. A total of $25.35 million was contributed by individuals and organizations for the building and its centres.
“It feels good to support a world-class organization that helps so many people,” says Lindros. “Being part of the team of donors who provide London Health Sciences Centre with the resources it needs to continue that outstanding work, is my way of giving back for the great care I received during my hockey career.”
These centres that make up the Lindros Legacy Research building include:
• The Matthew Mailing Centre for Translational Transplant Studies – As a healthcare model unique to Canada, the centre will promote the accelerated translation of basic research in transplantation to improve patient care and strive to enhance the work of clinician-scientists and scientists who have a primary interest in transplantation, novel immunotherapy, tissue protection and advanced microsurgical techniques.
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The Centre for Clinical Investigation and Therapeutics – A dedicated, centralized hub of the intellectual and physical resources clinical researchers need to conduct investigator-initiated, patient-oriented research and Phase 1 and Phase 2 drug studies, the centre will house leading experts, nursing staff and infrastructure that will ensure the best possible clinical studies can be collaboratively carried out while systematically growing and supporting ongoing translational clinical research in London.
• The Brent & Marilyn Kelman Centre for Advanced Learning – A state-of-the-art simulation training facility for surgical teams and is an integral part of CSTAR’s programs and services. Students, trainees and surgeons from around the world will be instructed in the latest surgical, interventional and robotic medical advancements. Its goal is to make LHSC the Canadian leader in training surgeons in the most advanced, minimally invasive technologies and techniques, ultimately improving surgical care in Canada and beyond.
• The Dr. Sandy Kirkley Centre for Musculoskeletal Research – This centre is designed to encourage collaborative research related to bone and joint disease and will facilitate city-wide, multidisciplinary research in sports medicine, joint replacement surgery, musculoskeletal imaging, skeletal biology, physical therapy and clinical epidemiology. This important new facility will create an infrastructure to consolidate existing orthopaedics research and clinical trials activity, foster fruitful collaboration and provide a platform for expansion and growth.