Top research official steps down at Lawson amid dog testing controversy

Internal documents revealed the VP of research and scientific director at LHSC left the organization. CTV London’s Reta Ismail reports.

A senior executive at Lawson Health Research Institute has quietly stepped down following mounting criticism over animal testing practices at the facility.

In an internal email obtained by CTV News, Lawson confirmed that Dr. Lisa Porter, vice-president of research and scientific director, is no longer with the organization.

The move comes just over a week after Lawson announced it would end all research involving dogs.

The controversy began after whistleblowers raised concerns about the treatment of animals — specifically dogs — used in experiments at a lab operated by the institute at St. Joseph’s Health Care London.

Camille Labchuk, executive director of Animal Justice, said her organization launched its own investigation after being contacted by insiders.

“After the whistleblowers reached out, we launched an investigation into what was occurring at the secret dog lab at St. Joe’s,” said Labchuk.

“What we found based on their information was dogs who were being induced with up to three-hour heart attacks and then used in medical imaging studies — using the same MRI machines that human patients at St. Joseph’s were used in.”

In a statement, St. Joseph’s CEO Roy Butler said the hospital ensured that dogs were included in an enrichment program led by registered veterinary technologists to provide daily socialization with other animals and humans.

The hospital emphasized that animal testing was conducted in accordance with national guidelines and oversight. However, the ethical integrity of the process has been questioned publicly over the past two weeks.

Oversight of the animal research falls under the Western Animal Care Committee — mandated by the Canadian Council on Animal Care — which is responsible for ensuring that all testing meets ethical standards.

Dr. Arthur Brown, professor of anatomy and cell biology at Western University and chair of the animal care committee, said the review process is thorough.

“We have animal care workers, we have facility managers and we also have members of the public,” said Brown. “The focus of the ACC is to make sure that the research being done is done with ethical oversight.”

He acknowledged the emotional weight of the issue but urged a measured approach.

“There are many checks and balances in place,” said Brown. “It’s arm’s-length, it’s external, and it’s federal and provincial. There are lots of layers here.”

Despite halting new testing, Lawson says dogs remain in its care at the hospital. Officials maintain that oversight from both the Canadian Council on Animal Care and Western’s committee remains in place.

Pierre Verreault, executive director of the Canadian Council on Animal Care, said the council is actively reviewing documentation provided by the hospital and university.

“We ask: do they have enough staff to take care of these animals? Are the facilities in good repair? These are the kinds of things we look at,” said Verreault. “We’ll make sure everything was in compliance.”

St. Joseph’s said it will now launch an independent third-party review of all animal research practices at Lawson and plans to make the findings public.

As of now, no direct link has been made between Porter’s departure and the whistleblower allegations. But hospital officials say they are committed to transparency, accountability and restoring public trust.