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A key strategic focus of the SickKids Research Institute is the commercialization of research findings-translating discoveries into new technologies and treatments to improve the understanding and treatment of diseases that affect children.

"An environment like the Discovery District allows research institutes and the University of Toronto and its affiliated hospitals to work together to promote research and its application," she explains.

One of the unique aspects of Toronto is its open, collaborative environment. Individual institutes are not fighting each other for funding resources. This collaborative nature is what people comment on when they come here." A Toronto location provides other advantages too, she says. "There is a strong university and college environment, which provides a great pool from which to draw talent. There is strong support from all three levels of government. And there is strong philanthropic support, which is important." Dr. Rossant says working for the Hospital for Sick Children has been very gratifying.

Dr. Rossant is also looking forward to the opening of the new research and education building going up in the Discovery District. "The Research Institute currently has 2,000 people spread across the Discovery District and the new building will bring us all together and allow us to interact in new ways."

The conference, featuring international speakers such as Richard Lloyd of Vanderbilt University, will investigate cultural mapping from a number of unique perspectives and disciplines, and will support the interaction of policy-makers, academics and new researchers. Richard is author of "Neo-Bohemia: Art and Commerce in the Postindustrial City". Other Speakers include British-based cultural policy expert Colin Mercer. The conference is an extension of the Placing Creativity partnership which investigates the interconnection between 'Place' and 'Creativity' through a number of different lenses.