Humber River Health (Humber) welcomes Dr. Justin Grant as its new Vice President of Research & Innovation, a strategic leadership role dedicated to accelerating healthcare innovation through cutting-edge initiatives, collaborative partnerships, and transformative research. Dr. Grant joins Humber at a pivotal time, as the organization ambitiously accelerates their strategic priority of fostering research, education, and innovation.

As a University of Toronto graduate with a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences and an Executive MBA from the Rotman School of Management, Dr. Grant brings a unique blend of scientific expertise and entrepreneurial vision. He holds a faculty appointment with the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto (UofT) and maintains longstanding relationships with academic institutions across North America. His experience spans preclinical and clinical research, commercialization, startup development, and venture acceleration, positioning him to lead the next evolution of Humber’s Research Institute and its growing Innovation Portfolio. 

“Humber River Health is already known for many of its remarkable achievements including its digital infrastructure, surgical robotics, and integrated care,” says Dr. Grant. “What drew me here was the opportunity to help shape the next phase, building Humber’s Innovation Portfolio that includes Centres of Innovation, education and venture development that supports clinicians, academic and industry partners in rapidly developing and deploying solutions that improve healthcare for patients.” 

Throughout his career, Dr. Grant has played a critical role in bridging the gap between early-stage research and clinical implementation. At University Health Network (UHN), he supported close to 700 research projects, led commercialization initiatives, and worked with leading scientists and clinicians on multidisciplinary imaging studies in oncology, cardiology, neurology, musculoskeletal and other disorders. He later served as an Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) with projects at UofT, UHN, and The Hospital for Sick Children, helping to translate academic discoveries into a clear roadmap for commercialization and venture creation. In addition, Dr. Grant was the Director of Venture Development at Toronto Innovation Acceleration Partners (TIAP), where he was successful in building investment materials for UofT and hospital startups that achieved significant funding. His entrepreneurial work also includes leadership roles in several startups, from AI-driven diagnostics to clinical trials in alternative therapeutics, which had programs to support underserved populations globally. 

“Research and innovation go hand-in-hand,” says Dr. Grant. “At Humber, there is already a strong foundation and a clear openness to advance innovative ideas, whether that is improving diagnostics and treatments, optimizing patient flow through AI or building capacity for partnerships with the community. The potential is enormous.” 

Dr. Grant’s vision for Humber’s Innovation Portfolio emphasizes not only excellence in transformative innovation but also practical application. As a long-time collaborator with hospital foundations, he also recognizes the vital role of philanthropy in powering healthcare innovations. 

“Donor support is essential to building momentum,” says Dr. Grant. “From acquiring new technologies to generating clinical evidence and supporting patient-centered trials, philanthropy can make innovation possible in ways traditional funding cannot. As funding for government grants grows more competitive, the time for creative, collaborative approaches is now.” 

As Humber positions itself to be a leader in research and innovation, Dr. Grant sees enormous potential for growth and national relevance. “Humber is set to become a hub for clinician-led research, advancement of novel healthcare integrations, and large-scale innovation,” notes Dr. Grant. “We have the drive combined with a team-focused and a holistic patient centric approach. Now it is about putting it all together, building infrastructure, attracting partners and funding, and making Humber a globally recognized destination for impactful, translational research.” 

Dr. Grant’s appointment supports Humber River Health’s commitment to advancing its mission to deliver innovative, safe and equitable healthcare. As North America’s first fully digital hospital, Humber continues to attract leaders and partners who share its mission. Rooted in a belief that innovation is a necessity, this is especially the case for today’s growing patient needs and economic challenges. 

“Innovation at Humber is not an abstract concept, it is embedded in everything, from the hospital’s world renown eco-friendly design, advanced patient workflows through its Command Centre, novel treatments, to how it supports its teaching programs,” says Dr. Grant. “What makes this role truly exciting is the opportunity to transform innovative ideas into meaningful, life-changing outcomes for patients.”