Trudeau announces $10M in funding for UBC nuclear medicine facility

Nov 2 2018, 5:56 am

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced $10-million in federal funding today for UBC to build a new home for nuclear medicine at TRIUMF.

The Institute for Advanced Medical Isotopes (IAMI) will provide a first-of-its-kind hub in Canada.

With contributions from the provincial government, the University of British Columbia, and BC Cancer, industry partners, academic researchers, and clinicians will work together to advance medical isotope production, drug development, cancer therapy, clinical imaging, and radiopharmaceutical research – advancements that have the potential to help thousands of Canadians who suffer from illness.

The new 2,500-square-metre building will house a particle accelerator, as well as research facilities, equipment, laboratories, and office space. By concentrating all aspects of creating, handling, and testing isotopes in one location – from the creation of raw materials to clinical trial work of potential therapies – the IAMI will help Canada stay a leader in the production and research of medical isotopes worldwide.

Artistic rendering of the Institute for Advanced Medical Isotopes at UBC. (Architecture 49)

Artistic rendering of the Institute for Advanced Medical Isotopes at UBC. (Architecture 49)

This project will provide students and local researchers with access to a modern educational facility with innovative spaces for instruction, research, and laboratory work. It also provides TRIUMF and its network with the opportunity to develop new educational programs, increase research capacity, and attract new students from across Canada and around the world.

“The Institute for Advanced Medical Isotopes will be a state-of-the-art facility where industry leaders and academics can work together to push the boundaries of research and discover new ways to protect and improve our health,” said Trudeau.

“We will continue to invest in cutting-edge research and facilities – like the Institute for Advanced Medical Isotopes – to ensure Canada remains a world leader in medical research and innovation.”

More to come…

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