The University Health Network has acquired a 15-storey office building in downtown Toronto to support the expansion of its programs in cancer care, research and education at UHN’s Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and Toronto General Hospital.

 The UHN is a leading research hospital. The building is located at 522 University Avenue on the southwest corner of University Avenue and Elm Street in the heart of Toronto’s Discovery District. The group said the building will also serve as another important training ground for health care learners from UHN’s Michener Institute of Education and partner academic institutions.

The building will also ease space pressures now that the Princess Margaret Hospital has reached capacity due to growing patient volumes.

UHN researchers will also use the acquired building’s additional space to pursue new clinical and research breakthroughs in cancer, develop innovative treatments and technologies, enhance adoption of artificial intelligence and educate the next generation of cancer experts, and ultimately set new standards of cancer care that will improve outcomes for cancer patients worldwide, said UHN in a news release.

“The demand for cancer diagnosis and treatment continues to surge here in Canada and around the world,” said Dr. Kevin Smith, President and CEO of UHN. “At UHN’s Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, we serve close to 19,000 new patients every year and this number is growing.

“The addition of 522 University Avenue increases our capacity to drive innovation and research in cancer prevention, early cancer detection, diagnostics and treatment, as well enable the introduction of new and expanded programs at UHN.”

The building’s other possible services may include enhanced supportive care, including in cancer mental health, an early cancer detection program with increased focus on cancer prevention and the molecular diagnosis and treatment of cancer, a new prostate cancer centre, and a centralized cancer digital intelligence team.

Photo: CNW Group/UHN