Surrey Hospitals Foundation and Simon Fraser University have announced a new partnership aimed at strengthening health research and innovation across Surrey and the South Fraser region.
The collaboration marks a major step forward for the Surrey Hospitals Health & Research Network (SH Network), launched earlier this year to integrate research more closely into hospital and patient-care environments.
Under the partnership, the organizations will work together to establish a dedicated fund through philanthropic investments and strategic partnerships to support hospital-based research, innovation, and collaboration.
Nicole Robson, President and CEO of Surrey Hospitals Foundation, said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to building a stronger and more connected health-care system in Surrey by aligning academic expertise with clinical priorities and community investment.
SFU Vice-President, Research and Innovation, Dugan O’Neil, said the collaboration will connect researchers directly with health-care providers and the university’s new School of Medicine to help translate research into improved patient outcomes.
The announcement comes as demand for health care in Surrey continues to grow. Surrey Memorial Hospital recorded more than 180,000 emergency department visits last year — the highest in British Columbia. Major projects, including the new Surrey Hospital and BC Cancer Centre, are also underway to expand regional health services.
The partnership also aligns with the upcoming launch of SFU’s School of Medicine, which is set to welcome its inaugural class in August 2026. The school will be the first new medical school established in Western Canada in nearly six decades.
As the first academic partner within the SH Network, SFU will support efforts to embed research directly into hospital settings while strengthening collaboration across health care, academia, and philanthropy.
Dr. Jason Chan, a neurologist with the Fraser Health Movement Disorders Program, said research partnerships are essential in advancing treatments and improving quality of life for patients, particularly in areas such as Parkinson’s disease where continued innovation is needed.
Surrey Hospitals Foundation said the partnership is expected to help expand research capacity, attract medical talent, and improve patient care across Surrey and the South Fraser region.
