Dr. Lisa Porter, the head of a research lab at St. Joseph’s Hospital, is no longer with the institution following public outcry over a controversial dog testing program. This decision comes a week after an investigation revealed that the hospital had been inducing heart attacks in dogs as part of research aimed at improving human cardiac care.

The hospital announced the termination of its animal testing program on Monday, following directives from Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who described the practices as "inhumane" and "terrible." In a statement, Roy Butler, the chief executive of St. Joseph’s Health Care, confirmed that Dr. Porter, who served as vice-president of research and scientific director at the Lawson Research Institute, is no longer with the hospital. Her email address has been deactivated, and her profile has been removed from the hospital's website.

Butler stated that the hospital is initiating an independent third-party review of its animal research practices. He emphasized the need for a transition plan to mitigate the impact on ongoing research, which has contributed significantly to advancements in cardiac treatment. The hospital has historically euthanized dogs involved in its studies but is now exploring options for rehoming them. However, a previous statement indicated that no dogs had been rehomed in the last five years.

"We understand there are personal opinions about the merits of research involving animals, but it is important to be clear about the scientific, transparent, ethical, and regulated approach taken to this work and our adherence to these strict standards," Butler said.

The investigation by IJB detailed a long-standing, secretive program that involved receiving puppies from U.S. breeders for experiments that induced heart failure in the animals. Staff were instructed to keep the details of the program confidential and to hide evidence of the dogs' presence, such as empty dog food bags.

In response to the investigation, Porter held a meeting with her staff on August 7, where she defended the research practices. "We know that the work that happens here is done ethically," she stated, according to an audio recording obtained by IJB. "The animals used in this research, we all know, they are heroes, born and bred to serve in research…These dogs wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for this work. They were born to do this work."

Porter also criticized whistleblowers who provided information to the IJB, asserting that study protocols are not intended for public understanding. She claimed that the public lacks the necessary scientific knowledge to comprehend the research.

The Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) mandates that research involving animals must include a summary of its aims in layman's terms, ensuring that the procedures to minimize animal suffering are clearly communicated. The protocols from Lawson’s dog testing studies included sections titled "Lay Summary," which required researchers to describe their work in accessible language.