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Governor General opens world-first lab

November 2, 2012

His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, opened a new 150,000 sq. ft. Centre for Research in Image-Guided Therapeutics at Sunnybrook today.

Teams of researchers in the $160-million Centre are discovering, developing and commercializing new and innovative devices and methods to treat, cure and eliminate some of our society's most devastating illnesses.

In this new space, the future of health care is being invented. More than 300 research and clinical teams are working in partnership with 30 leading biotechnology and other organizations to bring new devices and treatments to patients across the globe. The open concept of the Centre, which is housed mainly on two new floors at Sunnybrook, encourages collaboration across disciplines. In addition to this Centre, in April 2013, Sunnybrook will open the Louise Temerty Breast Cancer Centre, Canada's largest breast cancer centre.

"Our vision at Sunnybrook is to invent the future of health care and this new Centre is the nucleus for us to save lives through innovation. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped make this a reality," said, Dr. Barry McLellan, Sunnybrook's President and CEO. "Putting this Centre in one of the busiest hospitals in the country provides our scientists and clinical teams with a constant reminder and motivation for their work. You do not have to look too far here to find someone who will benefit. We built a one-of-a-kind space and provided the best people with exceptional facilities and we are expecting remarkable results."

Already, the Centre has made impressive advancements, such as the invention of a specialized ‘helmet' that uses sound waves instead of scalpels to treat brain cancer, movement disorders and other brain conditions. Teams in the Centre are also working on other innovations, including custom catheters for cardiac diseases, a vaccine for breast cancer and a method of rebuilding the human immune system.

"Our government is investing in research that leads to innovation and provides real benefit to Canadians," said the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology). "Here at Sunnybrook, and at hospitals across the country, we have made investments that are helping keep Canadians healthy and our knowledge-based economy growing."

The $160-million Centre was established with $75 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, with investment from industry and the support of federal and provincial funding partners, as well as the generosity of Sunnybrook's community.

"This Centre is indicative of the extraordinary things possible only through public and private philanthropy," said Dr. Jon S. Dellandrea, President and CEO of the Sunnybrook Foundation. "Today, Sunnybrook has opened the doors to the future of health care, but we recognize that it is only thanks to the visionary support of our partners that we were able to do so."

Full media release

Governor General of Canada opens world-first lab of the future at Sunnybrook

November 2, 2012 (Toronto, ON) - His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, opened a new 150,000 sq. ft. Centre for Research in Image-Guided Therapeutics at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre today.

Teams of researchers in the $160 million Centre are discovering, developing and commercializing new and innovative devices and methods to treat, cure and eliminate some of our society's most devastating illnesses.

In this new space, the future of health care is being invented. More than 300 research and clinical teams are working in partnership with 30 leading biotechnology and other organizations to bring new devices and treatments to patients across the globe. The open concept of the Centre, which is housed mainly on two new floors at Sunnybrook, encourages collaboration across disciplines. In addition to this Centre, in April 2013, Sunnybrook will open the Louise Temerty Breast Cancer Centre, Canada's largest breast cancer centre.

"Our vision at Sunnybrook is to invent the future of health care and this new Centre is the nucleus for us to save lives through innovation. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped make this a reality," said, Dr. Barry McLellan, Sunnybrook's President and CEO. "Putting this Centre in one of the busiest hospitals in the country provides our scientists and clinical teams with a constant reminder and motivation for their work. You do not have to look too far here to find someone who will benefit. We built a one-of-a-kind space and provided the best people with exceptional facilities and we are expecting remarkable results."

Already, the Centre has made impressive advancements, such as the invention of a specialized ‘helmet' that uses sound waves instead of scalpels to treat brain cancer, movement disorders and other brain conditions. Teams in the Centre are also working on other innovations, including custom catheters for cardiac diseases, a vaccine for breast cancer and a method of rebuilding the human immune system.

"Our government is investing in research that leads to innovation and provides real benefit to Canadians," said the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology). "Here at Sunnybrook, and at hospitals across the country, we have made investments that are helping keep Canadians healthy and our knowledge-based economy growing."

The $160-million Centre was established with $75 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, with investment from industry and the support of federal and provincial funding partners, as well as the generosity of Sunnybrook's community.

"This Centre is indicative of the extraordinary things possible only through public and private philanthropy," said Dr. Jon S. Dellandrea, President and CEO of the Sunnybrook Foundation. "Today, Sunnybrook has opened the doors to the future of health care, but we recognize that it is only thanks to the visionary support of our partners that we were able to do so."

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Media contact:
Monica Matys, Communications Advisor
416.480.4040
monica.matys@sunnybrook.ca

 

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