Harper Government Investment Strengthens Medical Isotope Development at TRIUMF
Today, the Honourable Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced funding of $5.5 million to support TRIUMF in procuring a new TR24 cyclotron and developing the Institute for Accelerator-based Medical Isotopes (IAMI). Today’s announcement marks a significant step as we receive these funds to purchase and install a new TR24 cyclotron, which will enhance our capabilities to do research and supply important medical isotopes for Canadians in British Columbia and beyond.
With this investment from WD Canada, TRIUMF, through the IAMI will have a critical piece of infrastructure that will enable it to become the centre of excellence that it strives to be in all things to do with isotopes for science and medicine. IAMI will bring together researchers, clinicians, entrepreneurs, and the technical team to support a future where new isotopes are used to drive the personalized healthcare revolution.
Medical isotopes are used by health practitioners to diagnose and treat illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.
Head of Nuclear Medicine Paul Schaffer explains, "This investment is a crucial step on the road to meeting Canada’s isotope needs after the NRU reactor in Chalk River, ON ceases isotope production in 2016. We are a huge step closer to being ready to enter supply stream for this city, this province, and this country. This project is being watched from around the world and Canada continues to take bold steps toward solving the looming medical isotope supply crisis – providing leadership and one solution that does not require highly enriched uranium or nuclear reactors."
In addition, other benefits of IAMI will be the provision of a platform for local British Columbia enterprises to study and test drug therapeutics, and the development of highly qualified personnel in the field of nuclear medicine.
"I would like to acknowledge that the $5.5 million investment from Western Economic Diversification of Canada that we are here to announce today is a testament to our team and the work that we do," Schaffer concludes.
Photo captions
Top: Paul Schaffer (Head of Nuclear Medicine, TRIUMF), Minister Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Minister Rempel, Jim Hanlon (CEO/CAO, TRIUMF).
Bottom: Minister Rempel with Paul Schaffer in the GMP Lab at TRIUMF.