History & Highlights

Involvement in laboratory and clinical research of lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins begins, examining their role in coronary heart disease risk assessment.

The Clinical Research and Testing Laboratory (CRCTL) — later renamed CRLB — is established at McMaster University to function as a central laboratory providing services for clinical trials.

Dr. Salim Yusuf is recruited to McMaster University and establishes the Population Health Research Institute (PHRI), transforming the size and scope of the CRLB.

CRLB becomes actively involved in large peer-reviewed studies beginning with the HOPE Study — 9,000+ participants from 28 countries. Samples moved to nitrogen vapour storage at −160°C to −180°C for long-term stability.

The Genetic & Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory (GMEL) is established as a collaboration between McMaster, PHRI, and TaARI under Dr. Guillaume Paré, focusing on genetic testing and cardiovascular genomics.

The laboratory and biobank receives IQMH ISO 15189 Plus accreditation — the gold standard for medical laboratory quality management.

The CRLB and GMEL combine under a unified identity with Dr. Guillaume Paré as Director and Dr. Matthew McQueen as Deputy Director.

CRLB-GMEL becomes one of only four Canadian labs — and one of two offering the full Olink spectrum — to be certified as an Olink service provider, establishing the lab as an international leader in proteomics.