The Research Institute at the Montreal Children’s Hospital was formally established in 1966 as a partnership between McGill University and the hospital in order to promote and facilitate excellence in child health research. In 1996, the Institute joined other research centres at McGill University to establish the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC).

Today, the RI-MUHC at the Montreal Children’s Hospital has major research strengths in the fields of genetics, public health and preventive medicine, growth and development, oncology, psychosocial problems and cardio-respiratory health. Other important research domains include endocrine and renal disease, infection and immunity, musculoskeletal disorders and neuroscience. Research activity is conducted at the Montreal Children’s Hospital and two satellite facilities within a block of the Hospital.

The Montreal Children’s Hospital has over 100 clinical and basic scientists, nearly 50 of whom hold grants from peer-reviewed agencies such as the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Fonds de recherche du Québec–Santé, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute, and the International Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. Other personnel include more than 100 technicians, research assistants, coordinators, nurses and administrative staff, and over 100 graduate students and research fellows.