St. Boniface has made research a cornerstone of its healthcare service to Manitobans. Providing Manitobans with the best healthcare possible requires having access to the most advanced and effective medical technologies available. One of the best ways to ensure access to these technologies is to play a leading role in their discovery and development.

The St. Boniface campus includes the St. Boniface General Hospital Research Center, a first-tier research facility that has gained a world-wide reputation for excellence in medical research since its opening in 1987. Its research mandate is in three primary areas: basic and applied cardiovascular sciences, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy, and degenerative disorders associated with aging (senile dementias, Alzheimer's disease, strokes, etc.). In addition, the Centre undertakes research in a number of other important areas including anesthesia, epidemiology, family medicine, infectious diseases, nephrology, nursing, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, sleep disorders and surgery.

The first facility of its kind in Manitoba, the Dr. Andrei Sakharov Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Facility has allowed St. Boniface to become a recognized leader in the MRI field in Canada. With three state-of-the-art scanners available patient care, the facility allows radiologists to diagnose abnormalities of the brain, spine, internal organs and joints and also offers great insights for medical investigators.

The facility also pursues research into new interventional techniques and procedures that can benefit patients through improved practices and quicker recovery.

Opened in 2004, St. Boniface’s I.H. Asper Clinical Research Institute is a state-of-the-art facility that bridges the gap between the Research Centre and the Hospital by allowing clinical trials of the discoveries made at the Centre to be conducted in Manitoba for the very first time. As such, it will provide Manitobans with direct and early access to leading-edge treatments and technology without having to leave the province – something that should pay big dividends for the long-term health of Manitobans.

The Office of Clinical Research provides education, liaison and support services to facilitate the conduct of clinical research at St. Boniface General Hospital. They work with all areas of research, including medicine, nursing and allied health disciplines. Their mandate is to develop and foster the hospital and staff resources required to attract and execute academically based clinical research projects and to develop and enhance the St. Boniface General Hospital institutional capabilities and reputation as a training facility for clinical research.