World class researchers were honoured Saturday night  at the 2012 Ottawa Hospital Gala.

More than 560 business and community leaders filled the Westin Hotel to honour those who have contributed to research at the Ottawa Hospital.

The honourees were Dr. Vahab Soleimani, who was awarded the Dr. Ronald G. Worton Researcher in Training Award for discovering a network that triggers muscle stems to develop into muscle fibres.

 Dr. David Picketts, who was awarded the Dr. Michel Chretien Researcher of the Year Award for his discovery of a specific gene that activates brain stem cells.

And finally, Dr. Phillip Wells who was awarded the Dr. J. David Grimes research Career Achievement Award for his world-renowned methods of diagnosing particular blood disorders.

To date this year, $6.2 million has been raised for groundbreaking at  the hospital.