World-Class Laboratory Innovation, Right Here in Durham Region

Groundbreaking health-care innovation doesn’t just happen in major academic centres – it’s happening at Lakeridge Health. A landmark study led by Lakeridge Health’s Laboratory Medicine team has earned international recognition, reinforcing the organization’s role as a leader in laboratory and diagnostic medicine.

The study, spearheaded by Grant Johnson, Clinical Director of Laboratory Medicine at Lakeridge Health, was recently published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, the most prestigious peer-reviewed journal in the field. Conducted over five years (2018–2023) and through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the research analyzed more than 130,000 data points to improve blood culture collection volumes. This is an essential step in detecting life-threatening infections quickly and accurately.

The significance of this work reached far beyond publication. Johnson was invited to serve as the only sponsored speaker at the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (ADLM) Pre-analytical Conference in Providence, Rhode Island, presenting to laboratory leaders from across North America and beyond. The invitation highlights that innovation at Lakeridge Health is influencing laboratory practice on an international stage.

“This study shows what’s possible when local expertise meets a culture of continuous quality improvement,” said Grant. “I’m incredibly proud of our team and the work we accomplished here at Lakeridge Health, especially during an extraordinary period for health care. Our findings demonstrate that innovation at the front lines can meaningfully improve patient care.”

The study was made possible through the leadership and expertise of Arek Zubrzycki, Microbiology Charge Technologist, and Anna Sadowski, Pre-analytical Team Lead, whose contributions were central to the project’s success.

Kirsten Burgomaster, Health System Executive, Clinical and Vice-President of the Central East Regional Cancer Program, emphasized the broader impact: “This achievement reflects the strength of leadership and innovation at Lakeridge Health. We’re proud to have teams in Durham Region doing work that sets new standards in their fields. Grant and the Laboratory Medicine team exemplify our commitment to excellence, innovation, and delivering outstanding care for the communities we serve.”

For staff and community members alike, this recognition is a powerful reminder: World-class laboratory innovation is happening at Lakeridge Health, right here in Durham Region.

To read the team’s article published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology visit this link: https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jcm.00208-25