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Medical molecular imagining centre to open in Hamilton
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by chowdawg | August 20, 2008 at 09:10 am
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Canadians often pride themselves on being polite and humble, and we often don’t make a big enough deal about the world class research and science that is done in this country. We do a bad job of telling both Canadians and the world about the scientists and the work that they do. Few people would know that Canada is a world leader in molecular imaging, or the visualization of cellular function inside the body. Using radioactive isotopes, researchers and doctors can not only better diagnose, but also improve treatment by enhancing the testing of new medication.
In conjunction with the publicly funded AECL's National Research Universal Reactor, Canada produces 70 percent of the world’s medical isotopes. This means that more than 75,000 people every day and 27 million people every year, in more than 80 countries, use these isotopes in their tests. It was announced today that Canada will be home to the world’s first molecular imaging centre, the Centre for Probe Development and Commercialization. The idea is to help to bridge the gap between research and commercialization; attract world class researchers and experts to Canada; bring business and research interests together and improve disease diagnoses and therapy. And perhaps most of all, continue to showcase the incredible work being done every day in this country.
Molecular imaging lets doctors see how cells function inside the body, leading to more precise diagnoses and better treatment of illnesses such as cancer, epilepsy, and heart disease.
The centre, set to open in Hamilton, Ontario, will encourage innovative partnerships between the academic, private, and public sectors. “Our centre is going to create a stronger link between basic science and the needs of medicine,” says Dr. John Valliant, the centre’s newly appointed scientific director. “Early and more accurate detection of cancer in the breast or prostate is one of the leading benefits of the probes.”
According to Valliant, the centre will be the first of its kind in the world and will help Canadian researchers take promising new molecular imaging probes from discovery to commercialization. Similarly, pharmaceutical companies can have the centre evaluate new drug candidates in the early stages of development, and work with academic researchers to help develop clinical trials for new drugs.
So how does molecular imaging actually work? Doctors inject tiny quantities of probes or biomarkers into a patient. The probes then travel to the disease site and produce visual images of molecular processes, such as how quickly a tumour is shrinking after cancer treatment. The probes can also detect small tumours long before they are visible on an x-ray or a computed tomography (CT) scan.
The technology has economic impacts as well. “Tests that are more specific and that don’t require multiple testing could help decrease healthcare costs,” affirms Dr. Tom Ruth, one of the centre’s board members.
He’s confident the fee-for-service revenue generated through industry clients will ensure the centre’s long-term economic sustainability. Patents and intellectual property protection are also expected to generate investment, revenue, new spin-off companies, and more jobs.
The centre’s public and private partners include: Ontario Institute for Cancer Research; GE Healthcare Canada; Pfizer Inc; VWR International; McMaster Nuclear Reactor; McMaster University; Cancer Care Ontario
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (1)
at 18:24 on August 20th, 2008
Something about "injecting probes" just does not seem right.