Leading a Revolution in Rehabilitation Research       

Toronto Rehab’s ground-breaking iDAPT Centre for Rehabilitation Research is a $36 million comprehensive research centre was unveiled on November 16, 2011. With an integrated network of pioneering facilities, it is one of the most advanced and sophisticated rehabilitation research initiatives of its kind in the world.

There is nothing else like it. iDAPT features a six-degree-of-freedom motion simulator located four storeys below ground level that can recreate different environments, like winter blizzards and bustling streets, and outperform most flight training simulators. This is just one feature of what is the most technologically-advanced rehabilitation research centre in the world. And it is here in Canada.

Located in the heart of Canada’s ‘Discovery District’ in downtown Toronto, iDAPT laboratories are housed at the hospital’s University Centre (550 University Ave.) and Lyndhurst Centre (520 Sutherland Dr.) and in the Rehabilitation Sciences building at the University of Toronto (500 University Ave.).

iDAPT is an integrated network of 13 different state-of-the-art labs, workshops and other research spaces. Over 65,000 square feet of new and renovated facilities are home to scientists and research students from a broad range of engineering and clinical disciplines who all work collaboratively to develop new technologies for people living with disabling injury or illness.

Toronto Rehab’s iDAPT is the first to apply aerospace technology to a research lab giving scientists safe and controlled settings so they can recreate the kind of everyday environmental challenges experienced by people with disabilities.

Research taking place at iDAPT will facilitate discovery and support a culture of inquiry - scientists and clinical experts working hand in hand – by using advanced technology to answer questions, solve problems and strive for breakthroughs that will help restore independence and quality of life and support recovery after injury or illness.

The centerpiece of iDAPT is CEAL (Challenging Environmental Assessment Lab), a massive underground lab that features the world’s first hydraulic motion simulator that can mimic everyday environmental challenges faced by older people and those with disabling injury or illness. Currently, there are three interchangeable lab spaces that are already in service, StairLab, StreetLab and WinterLab. CEAL is designed to be both a national and an international resource.


Funding

iDAPT is funded by the federal government through the Canada Foundation for Innovation and by the Province of Ontario through the Ontario Innovation Trust and the Ministry of Research and Innovation.

Toronto Rehab’s growing research program is supported by the Toronto Rehab Foundation and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

Support iDAPT and the future of rehabilitation through projects facilities and pods (labs) at CEAL.

To learn more and to support iDAPT, please contact Toronto Rehab Foundation at 416-597-3040 or donate online and designate your gift to research and iDAPT.

Find out more about iDAPT