Strengthening Health Care Research in Thunder Bay
November 28, 2014
Ontario Supporting Research and Innovation, Creating Jobs
Ontario is supporting medical research that will lead to improved care for patients while creating jobs in Thunder Bay.
With nearly $900,000 in support from the province’s Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), two projects are enhancing health care research and boosting the local economy:
- The Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute (TBRRI) is receiving almost $650,000 to fund research using a new technology in early stages of molecular imaging, the findings will help to earlier diagnose diseases like cancer and allow doctors to monitor the effectiveness of prescribed treatments. This project will create two new positions and retain 11 jobs.
- The Lake Superior Centre for Regenerative Medicine (RegenMed) is receiving over $241,000 to buy equipment used to process bone tissue for use in orthopaedic surgeries and dental procedures. This project will create four new positions and retain 10 jobs.
Fostering health care research in the Northwest is part of the government’s economic plan for Ontario. The four part plan is building Ontario up by investing in people’s talents and skills, building new public infrastructure like roads and transit, creating a dynamic, supportive environment where business thrives and building a secure savings plan so everyone can afford to retire.
- Since 2003, the NOHFC has invested $967 million in 6,300 projects in Northern Ontario, creating or sustaining more than 24,100 jobs.
- In the Thunder Bay area since 2003, the NOHFC has invested $154 million in 1,264 projects, creating or sustaining more than 5,000 jobs.
- In July 2014, the NOHFC announced an investment of more than $4 million to help the TBRRI fund research projects, buy equipment and create 29 jobs.
“Our investments in these health care projects are helping advance very significant research in Thunder Bay that will enhance the quality of life for residents in our region. I am very pleased that the NOHFC could invest in today’s projects, which will also help create good jobs in our community.”
“With the MicroPET scanner, TBRRI scientists can investigate advanced treatments for cancer and other diseases that most affect patients in Northwestern Ontario. Research is already underway using the MicroPET to find new ways of diagnosing certain cancers earlier and more precisely for better, more personalized care”
Andrée Robichaud
President and CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, and Acting CEO of the TBRRI
“Participating in these projects allows RegenMed to honor the gift that Ontarians provide through Trillium Gift of Life Network. This project will allow us to purchase the equipment, hire and train staff to become the only tissue bank in Canada to provide bone grafts for dental surgery. We are thrilled to be part of health care research in Northwestern Ontario and are excited to reach this next step.”
David Stezenko
Executive Director, RegenMed
Media Contacts
Mike Feenstra
Minister’s Office
mike.feenstra@ontario.ca
416-327-0655
Michel Lavoie
Communications Branch
michel.lavoie@ontario.ca
705 564-7125
NT3
