Bringing Great Ideas Out of the Lab

Welcome to the Digital Hub, where your lab discoveries are transformed into real-world applications!

We work with researchers and companies developing digital cardiovascular health technologies  such as wearable sensors, point-of-care diagnostics, and remote monitoring systems  to enable innovative solutions that are accessible and impactful.

Situated within Canada’s largest hospital network, the Digital Hub facilitates access to cutting edge resources, world class expertise, and diverse patient populations.

We understand the unique needs of patients, clinicians, and the healthcare system – and what’s required for your innovation to succeed.

Medical staff connects a smart watch to a patient for remote control of vital parameters.

years is the average time it takes to move innovations from research to practice

Here's the Problem:

Digital health technology is rapidly transforming healthcare through enhanced delivery, personalization, and precision. However, traditional clinical trials are often too slow to keep up with the rapid pace of innovation, making it challenging to validate advancements across diverse populations.

How We Can Help

The Digital Hub responds to the need for creative digital solutions that enable equitable care for people living with heart failure. Consider us a one-stop-shop, providing a streamlined process where your technologies can be effectively tested, validated, and refined – and most importantly, get into the hands of those who need them.

Our Approach

The Digital Hub works closely with world renowned clinicians to support researchers and companies at every step of their translation journey – from ideation to validation to regulatory licensing. We specialize in:

 

  • Leveraging the unique expertise and resources of our rich and deeply integrated network of clinicians, patient partners, and researchers spanning academic and hospital institutions. Together, we will ensure your digital health solutions thrive.
  • Supporting efficient validation testing and trials for digital health solutions. We handle both non-regulated and regulated trials, ensuring that each innovation meets the highest safety and efficacy standards.
  • Seeing through a health equity lens. Our patient partners are engaged in a respectful and safe manner and trials are conducted in an environment reflective of the diversity of end users. We support the development of solutions that are accessible and beneficial to all.
Illustration by Sam Bradd

The Digital Hub team has a deep understanding of how to practically integrate research into clinical practice. I felt fully supported at every stage of the process, knowing that I had a team of experts ready to assist with any challenges.

Ivana Čuljak, Postdoctoral Researcher, KITE-UHN

Our Services

 Our team can customize services to your needs: end-to-end support, a-la-carte services, or anything in between. It’s our priority to deliver high-quality services that maximize the value of your investment – that’s why the Digital Hub operates on a cost-recovery model. Our team will work with you to develop clear pricing structures that align with your goals at project outset. See some of the services we offer below.

Clinical Validation

Test your innovation against gold standard devices in a world-class institution

Clinical Trials

Let us facilitate every step of your clinical trial, from design to deployment 

Data Management & Analysis

Enjoy efficient, secure data collection and storage and powerful analysis services

Patient Engagement

Tap into our expertise and diverse network of patient partners for all recruitment and collaboration needs

Regulatory & Compliance

Access support for regulatory documentation, compliance, and adherence to reporting requirements

Ethics Navigation

Ensure your project meets the highest ethical standards in adherence with TCPS 2 and ICH-GCP principles

Our Process

Every research project is unique. That’s why we work with our users to develop flexible approaches and bespoke plans. Your roadmap to success starts here!

Digital Hub Partners

Key Considerations

Our team looks forward to discussing your project! Before you reach out, here are some things to consider:

  • What is your digital health solution and why is it important? 
  • Who is the intended user of your digital health solution?  
  • How do you see your innovation integrating into healthcare delivery or self-management? 
  • What is the development stage of your digital health solution?  
  • How can the Digital Hub facilitate your success, and what services may you require? 
  • How would you like to engage patients in your project? 
  • Will you require space or equipment to run your project? 
  • Does your technology need Health Canada’s Investigational Testing Authorization before it can be evaluated?

Contact Us

If you’re ready to hit the ground running, complete the Intake Form and a member of our team will be in touch.

To learn more about working with the Digital Hub, contact Dr. Ben Kim.

The Digital Hub program adheres to the highest standards of clinical research, including compliance with ICH-GCP (International Council for Harmonisation – Good Clinical Practice), TCPS 2 (Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans), and the policies of UHN (University Health Network). The Digital Hub is committed to creating a research environment conducive to patient-oriented research. We strongly recommend and incorporate the guidelines set out by the Patient Appreciation Policy of TRCHR (Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research). Our commitment to these guidelines ensures the ethical and responsible conduct of all studies under our purview.