CNIC Recognizes Canada’s Isotope Champions

Each year the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council (CNIC) asks its members to nominate individuals and organizations demonstrating incredible leadership on the isotope file across four categories recognizing provincial and federal public policy stewardship, academic leadership, and advocacy.

James Scongack Chair, Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council

“Although only in its infancy, the CNIC has made tremendous strides in raising awareness about the importance of isotopes to Canadians and their critical role in patient care,” said James Scongack, Chair of the CNIC. “Canada has always been at the forefront of isotope innovation; however, without champions, Canada could risk ceding that leadership role. That is why through the dedication, action and leadership demonstrated by today’s CNIC award winners, Canada can and will fight to remain at the forefront of nuclear medicine by providing treatments that improve our quality of life and ensure patients have access to critical life-saving treatments.”

As the recipient of the Provincial Public Policy Stewardship award, the Honourable Bill Walker, Ontario’s Associate Minister of Energy, has been one of the industry’s most vocal champions over the past number of years, always willing to provide his support to the CNIC on their numerous initiatives.

“The potential for growth in the isotope space provides an invaluable opportunity to leverage Ontario’s established nuclear supply chain that has developed over the past several years and is recognized as a leader around the world in isotope innovation, development and production. The landscape of medical isotope production in Ontario is diverse, due in part, to the long-standing and world-class research into reactor and accelerator research,” said Bill Walker, the province’s Associate Minister of Energy.

“Being recognized for this award is a privilege and I look forward to continuing to work with the CNIC and being an advocate for ensuring that here in Ontario we continue to raise the bar for patients fighting cancer and disease around the world.”

TRIUMF, a strong partner of the CNIC, is the recipient of this year’s ‘National Public Policy Stewardship Award’.

“TRIUMF has a decades-long history of working with industry, government and researchers to advance discovery and innovation,” said Kathryn Hayashi, President and CEO of TRIUMF Innovations, TRIUMF’s commercialization arm. “This award reflects the great collaborations and partnerships we have built in our national isotope ecosystem, and we look forward to continuing our important work with CNIC to grow and develop new opportunities for our future.”

“TRIUMF is honoured to receive the CNIC National Public Policy Stewardship Award,” said TRIUMF Director Dr. Jonathan Bagger. “We are privileged to work with isotope producers and researchers from across Canada and around the world to advance this field and support the health and well-being of Canadians from coast to coast to coast.”

Dr. Rebecca Wong is the recipient of the ‘Academic Leadership Award’. Dr. Wong‘s clinical and research interests are aimed at improving the outcomes of patients with gastroesophageal cancer and patients living with metastatic cancer, including oligometastases.

“It’s a real honour to be the recipient of the Academic Leadership Award as I share CNIC’s commitment to promoting Canada as a global leader in nuclear science,” says Dr. Rebecca Wong. “My work strives to help shape the Canadian research direction with medical isotopes in the clinical area. The work we do at Princess Margaret Hospital, is critically important in ensuring that Canada is well positioned to lead in the way in therapeutic applications of isotopes, which are quickly growing in use and will be a potential driver of market demand in the coming years. This approach can significantly minimize the damage to healthy cells while effectively killing the diseased cells.”

The recipient of this year’s ‘Not-For-Profit Advocacy award’ is Peter Coleridge, former President and CEO of Prostate Cancer Canada (PCC), who has been instrumental in helping to promote awareness about the innovative treatments isotopes offer in battling prostate cancer.

“In Canada, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men and the third leading cause of death from cancer in men. That is why the work of our organization and the CNIC are so critically important. Through supporting excellence in cancer research, we strive to open doors to new, innovative treatments for the estimated 1 in 9 Canadian males who will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Health technology innovation is helping Canadians live fuller, healthier lives and we are honoured to receive this award recognizing our support of this important field,” said, Stuart Edmonds Executive Vice President of Mission.

About the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council

The CNIC is a coalition of science, health care and nuclear sector organizations to ensure Canada remains a world leader in the production of life-saving isotopes by bringing awareness and supporting long-term policies at the domestic and international level that will save countless lives and support health-care innovation for decades to come. To learn more about the CNIC, visit www.CanadianIsotopes.ca and follow us on, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.