A joint federal-provincial initiative is expected to make Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technology more accessible and affordable for Alberta patients, as well as develop commercial opportunities for a made-in-Canada MRI.

The Honourable Stephen Owen, Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification) (Indian Affairs and Northern Development) and the Honourable Victor Doerksen, Minister of Alberta Innovation and Science, announced a joint $1.23 million federal-provincial contribution towards the development of a low field, high performance MRI at the University of Calgary.

The project will strive to build a lower cost system than currently exists, ultimately making MRI technology more accessible and affordable for patients. Greater access to a machine capable of detecting disease in its early stages would mean more successful treatments at a fraction of the current cost. The total cost of the project is $1.4 million, with funding from Western Economic Diversification Canada ($750,000); the National Research Council Institute of Biodiagnostics ($350,000); Alberta Innovation and Science ($130,000 through the Alberta Science and Research Authority); and the University of Calgary ($170,000).

"In addition to the anticipated impact on health care, this exciting project presents an opportunity to access new markets and new applications," said Secretary of State Owen. "Once the MRI is developed and tested, the University of Calgary will pursue creating a spinoff company to promote and sell the device. That means that the economic benefits from the intellectual property will remain in Canada, facilitating both additional research and prosperity in the West."

"Health research is a priority for the Government of Alberta, and we continue to invest in research and technology that will have a positive impact on the lives of Albertans," said Minister Doerksen. "We look forward to working with our partners and continuing to build on the successes we've had in this important sector."

The University of Calgary, in collaboration with the National Research Council (NRC) and the Calgary Health Region, has established an Experimental Imaging Centre in the Health Sciences Centre and is becoming a centre of excellence in MRI technology. The opportunity for such collaboration was a main reason NRC established a wing of its Institute of Biodiagnostics (IBD) West at the university.

With the new low field high performance MRI project, Western Economic Diversification Canada will have contributed to three projects at the Experimental Imaging Centre. The first two included funding towards a ultra-high field Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine and microscope imaging analysis research equipment, as well as the development of a multi-modal multi-user optical/fluorescence imaging system.

"This valuable partnership brings together a critical mass of researchers from NRC-IBD (West) and the University of Calgary to use imaging technologies to ultimately provide better diagnosis and treatment of patients," said Dr. Gil Schultz, Ph. D, from the Faculty of Medicine at the U of C. "This new initiative further enhances the presence of NRC/IBD in Alberta as well as provides innovative imaging technology with potential economic spin-offs that can have huge potential impact in translation to health care solutions in the clinical setting," added Dr. Boguslaw Tomanek, Ph. D, Site Manager for IBD (West).

On February 12, 2002, Industry Minister Allan Rock announced Industry Canada's component of Canada's Innovation Strategy, two papers that lay out a plan to address skills and innovation challenges for the next decade. The paper released by Minister Rock was entitled Achieving Excellence: Investing in People, Knowledge and Opportunity. Today's announcement supports this strategy.

For more information about Canada's Innovation Strategy, or to obtain a copy of either Knowledge Matters: Skills and Learning for Canadians or Achieving Excellence: Investing in People, Knowledge and Opportunity, please call
1-800-OCANADA (1-800-622-6232) or visit http://www.innovationstrategy.gc.ca/ .

Federal funding for this project was provided for in the February 2003 budget. Government of Alberta funding, provided through the Alberta Science and Research Authority, is a part of the Alberta Science and Research Investments Program (ASRIP). ASRIP is a competitive funding program that supports selected science and research initiatives of strategic importance to Alberta.

For additional information, contact:

Laura McNabb
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Edmonton, Alberta
Tel: (780) 495-6892 

Keri Scobie
Alberta Innovation and Science
Edmonton, Alberta
Tel: (780) 427-0038