Upstream Lab

Upstream Lab is a non-profit research laboratory located at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The organization is committed to enhancing health and well-being by focusing on social determinants of health (SDOH). These non-medical factors, such as income, education, and social status, significantly influence health outcomes. Upstream Lab also addresses systemic issues that contribute to health inequity.

The lab operates in three main research areas: interventions for social needs in healthcare settings, community and policy-level interventions, and the use of data and technology to improve health systems. Notable projects include the PREPARED initiative for pandemic preparedness, CanTreatCOVID for effective COVID treatments, and SPARK, a tool for assessing social needs in primary care. Other projects focus on health equity, asthma prediction, and the working conditions of domestic workers. Through these initiatives, Upstream Lab aims to integrate health and social care and promote equitable access to healthcare.