Backgrounder
March 1, 2010
Projects Funded In Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute
Ontario Network for Advanced Medical Imaging Detectors
Creating next generation imaging devices
Lead researcher: Dr. John Rowlands
Provincial funding: $6,483,000
Number of researchers affected: 21
Key private sector partners: Philips Healthcare, ANRAD Corporation, Sentinelle Medical Inc.
Detecting and diagnosing medical problems accurately and at the earliest stage of disease is critical for effective treatment and recovery. Imaging devices play a key role in achieving those goals. However, current medical imaging devices, originally based on technology developed for use in other fields, have been limited in their effectiveness. At the Ontario Network for Advanced Medical Imaging Detectors, Dr. John Rowlands (Founding Scientific Director, Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute) is leading a team of innovative researchers who are working closely with industry to develop and commercialize a revolutionary, new generation of solid state detectors for a variety of biomedical applications. Their approach is to identify strategic technological solutions for specific biomedical applications and to develop imaging devices which are optimized for these applications. This will change the face of imaging devices and will provide higher quality images without increasing the cost and radiation dose.
Ontario’s Innovation Agenda
Support for leading-edge science is part of Ontario’s Innovation Agenda, the province’s $3.2-billion strategy to make innovation a driving force of the province’s economy. The Agenda focuses on key areas – including the life sciences, digital media and green energy – where Ontario already is, or is poised to become a global leader, and builds on our greatest strength – the talent and ingenuity of our people – to ensure ours will be one of the winning economies of the 21st century.
Support from the Ontario Research Fund–Research Excellence program
Part of Ontario’s Innovation Agenda, the Ontario Research Fund is key to the province’s plan to move world-class research from the lab to the global marketplace. The Research Excellence program helps develop Ontario’s research talent while ensuring Ontario researchers have the operating funding they need to undertake their world-leading projects.
