Federal money for cancer research in Thunder Bay.

• Position: Briefs

The Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute received $1.85 million in federal funding to purchase equipment toward advancing innovative medical research in northwestern Ontario.

The new equipment will be used in biomarker exploration and to evaluate the effectiveness of new treatment protocols using isotopes produced at the research institute's cyclotron.

A cyclotron is a machine used to make radioisotopes (radioactive atoms) used for medical imaging and research.

Biomarker exploration involves a biomarker, or a drug, entering the body and seeking out cancer cells at the molecular level. Using an MRI or other imaging tool, any cancerous cells that exist will light up, making early detection possible through non-invasive techniques.

It allows scientists and clinicians to define disease-specific therapeutics and customize individual therapy.

The institution believes the funding will also move the yardsticks toward enabling them to establish more partnerships, chase opportunities for contractual research and clinical trials, and spur a variety of new research and development projects.

Fifteen jobs will be created from the project and 10 more indirectly through related research at the institution, at Lakehead University, and at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.

In a March 15 news release, Jean Bartkowiak, CEO of...