A Canadian laboratory pioneering the development of privacy-enhancing technologies to enable innovative health research without compromising privacy is being recognized with the 2026 Privacy and Human Rights Award.
This year’s winner is the Electronic Health Information Laboratory (EHIL) at the CHEO Research Institute, a leading pediatric health research institute in Ottawa, Canada.
The award is a joint initiative of the Global Privacy Assembly (GPA) and Access Now. It celebrates outstanding leadership or initiative in the fields of data protection and human rights.
Since 2005, EHIL, founded and directed by Dr. Khaled El Emam, Senior Scientist at the CHEO Research Institute, has helped to shape responsible data use and stewardship, while accelerating rights-respecting innovation and understanding around the world. The lab’s ground-breaking work in privacy-enhancing technologies enables health systems, researchers, and artificial intelligence (AI) developers to use data while protecting individuals’ privacy, dignity, autonomy, and safety.
Philippe Dufresne, Chair of the Global Privacy Assembly and Privacy Commissioner of Canada, and Alejandro Mayoral Baños, Executive Director of Access Now, will present the award during a ceremony at CHEO, in Ottawa, Canada on Monday, July 20, 2026.
Dr. El Emam, Canada Research Chair in Medical AI at the University of Ottawa, will accept the award on behalf of his team.
Quotes
Data is one of the most important resources of the 21st century – it can support and fuel innovation, and how it is managed and protected can shape an organization’s ability to lead and succeed globally. The privacy-enhancing technologies that the Electronic Health Information Laboratory at the CHEO Research Institute have developed support health data sharing for purposes such as supporting research and public health surveillance and analysis, and responsible AI development – without compromising privacy.
Philippe Dufresne
Chair of the Global Privacy Assembly and Privacy Commissioner of Canada
As governments, researchers, and institutions increasingly rely on data to address global challenges, protecting privacy has never been more important. The Electronic Health Information Laboratory’s work demonstrates that privacy is not an obstacle to innovation, but rather a foundation for public trust, accountability, and protecting fundamental human rights. We are proud to recognize a team whose pioneering work is helping shape a future where technology serves people without compromising their fundamental human rights.
Alejandro Mayoral Baños
Executive Director, Access Now
Award ceremony details
Date: Monday, July 20, 2026
Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm ET
Location: Max Keeping Room, W1306 and W1308, CHEO, 401 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Canada
Journalists who wish to attend the award ceremony in person are required to RSVP in advance. The ceremony will also be streamed online.
To register to attend or access the live stream, please contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada: [email protected]
Contacts
For other general and media enquiries, please contact:
Global Privacy Assembly Secretariat
[email protected]
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
[email protected]
Access Now
[email protected]