Photo courtesy of: www.prhc.on.ca
A new partnership between Peterborough Regional Health Centre and Trent University is aiming to accelerate healthcare innovation through research and collaboration.
More than 100 clinicians, researchers, students and staff gathered Thursday for the inaugural “Collider” event, designed to connect expertise and develop community-focused solutions to healthcare challenges.
The event marks a key step forward in a collaboration formalized in 2025 through a memorandum of understanding between the two institutions, with a focus on linking research, education and clinical care.
Dr. Lynn Mikula, president and CEO of PRHC, said the initiative is about turning collaboration into tangible outcomes by combining clinical insight, academic expertise and real-world data.
Trent University president Dr. Cathy Bruce said the event reflects a commitment to addressing regional healthcare needs through partnerships grounded in community priorities.
One of the first projects to emerge from the collaboration is a study examining the impact of drug poisonings on paramedicine and emergency department resources. The research involves Trent faculty, students and local healthcare partners, focusing on patterns and trends in toxic drug incidents in mixed urban and rural settings.
Organizers also announced the creation of the Natalie Beavis Collaborative Research Grant, which will support new projects and help move ideas from concept to implementation.
Officials say the partnership will also expand opportunities for students through co-op placements, internships and applied research at PRHC, helping to strengthen the local healthcare workforce.
The two institutions say the Collider event will become an annual forum to share ideas, measure progress and build on momentum as healthcare systems face increasing complexity.
(Written by: Jordan Mercier)
