Excellence in research cannot be achieved without a strong infrastructure, adequate resources, and an environment that fosters innovation and collaboration. WCRI research services assists in the development and management of research projects and grant proposals; in appropriate accountability reporting; and in the dissemination and application of research findings. It also provides supports for women's health students at Women's College Hospital and the University of Toronto.

Vice-President's Office

The research activities of Women's College Hospital (WCH) are overseen by Dr. Paula Rochon, vice-president, research. The vice-president's office is the primary centre for strategic planning, inter-institutional partnership building, and research decision-making. Dr. Rochon and the WCRI Research Council are responsible for implementing the research mission of WCH.

Dr. Rochon can be reached by contacting her administrative assistant, Kathleen Meliton, at 416-351-3732 ext. 2711.

Research Ethics Board
The Research Ethics Board (REB) oversees all research involving human subjects conducted under the auspices of Women's College Hospital to ensure that such research meets the highest scientific and ethical standards in order to protect patients, investigators and the institution. Women's College Hospital has mandated the REB to approve, reject, propose modifications to, or terminate any proposed or ongoing research that is conducted within, or by members of, the hospital. The REB also has authority over investigators from other institutions who wish to carry out research on WCH premises or with WCH patients.

The REB is accountable to the WCH board through the Medical Advisory Committee (MAC). Administrative support for the board and its functions is provided through the WCRI. The board meets monthly to review research protocols and to recommend policies and procedures governing the ethical conduct of research at WCH.

Alexandra Chappell, research and ethics board co-ordinator at 416-351-3732 ext. 2723 is the first point of contact for the hospital's ethics review process.

Research Grant Management
Financial administration of awards and grants is managed by the WCRI grant co-ordinator in collaboration with the WCH's finance office, and overseen by the director, research operations. Grant administration functions include opening accounts, transfer of funds, reimbursement of expenses, annual financial reports to agencies and changes to accounts.

For questions about the grant administration process please contact Helen Pham at 416-351-3732 ext. 2180. Forms for establishing a research account and forms for other accounting functions are available here.

Questions regarding pre-award assistance with grant application budgets should be directed to Diana Raymond-Watts (see below).

Research Contracts/Agreements and Proposals
This process is managed by research manager Diana Raymond-Watts, who can be reached at 416-351-2535. Ms. Raymond-Watts provides administrative review of new research proposals and manages the institutional signature process. A database of all proposals and awards is maintained.

All researchers requiring an institutional signature for their proposals must submit a Research Grant/Award Submission Notification Form at least two weeks prior to the grant deadline. This form is used for all grant and award applications including applications on which Women’s College investigators are co-applicants (but require institutional signatures). Its use ensures that the vice-president, research (or another senior leader) is available to sign your submission at the appropriate time. Grant submissions will not receive the signature of the vice-president, research or CEO without a completed submission form.

All research contracts and agreements reviews are managed by Ms. Raymond-Watts, research and ethics co-ordinator. All contracts and agreements are signed by the vice-president, research. Templates have been developed for various contracts and WCRI faculty are encouraged to contact Ms. Raymond-Watts for any questions regarding the review process. A database of all proposals and awards is maintained