Research
Since the first inception of a research department 17 years ago, the JRH has recognized that a strong foundation of research is needed for the growth and development of good clinical practice. In that regard, the JRH has been a leader in "evidence-based practice" before the concept became broadly emphasized recently in medical education and health care. A landmark achievement, owing to the immense support of the JRH Foundation, was the official inauguration of a research center in 1996, located in the basement of the new Kolber pavilion. At the time, the research center occupied 3,000 square feet of space, with a state-of-the-art posture and gait laboratory established jointly with McGill University. The continuous recruitment of new researchers has led to an expansion with an additional 2,000 square feet of laboratory and office space.
To date, the JRH research center houses thirteen full-time researchers and another fifteen graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Nine of the thirteen researchers have full-time academic appointment at McGill University, with their salaries and grants paid by the university and external funding agencies, including the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR), Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec (FRSQ), and Conseil Québécois de recherche sociale (CQRS). Infrastructure support is provided by the JRH Foundation, and matched by the Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire en réadaptation du Montréal Métropolitain (CRIR). JRH researchers are recognized as core members of CRIR in the areas of posture and gait research, speech pathology, driving evaluation and training, as well as family research and community reintegration. While JRH researchers are being regarded nationally and internationally, the tradition of dynamic interactions with JRH clinicians to improve health care practice continues.
