John Kildea is a tenured associate professor of Medical Physics in the Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology, Scientist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), and FRQS dual chair in Artificial Intelligence and Digital Health.

John’s research focuses on building software for patient-centered health informatics and experimental methods to examine the biophysics underlying radiation-induced carcinogenesis. At the RI-MUHC, John directs the research, development, and technology innovation activities for the Opal Health Informatics Group (O-HIG).

O-HIG is the research team that John co-founded in 2015 with colleagues Dr. Tarek Hijal (radiation oncologist) and Prof. Laurie Hendren (patient partner and computer scientist). The group designed, developed, clinically implemented, and operates the Opal patient portal. Opal’s technology is the centrepiece of the Quebec SmartCare Consortium, a major research project that John created and leads as its principal investigator.

The research projects in John’s lab are underpinned by strong connections established over several years with clinicians, patients, other researchers, industry partners and nuclear regulators. All projects funded and productive. They involve students, software developers, and multidisciplinary collaborations.