Appendix 1: Participants and Organizers - CIHR/NSERC Medical Imaging Workshop
[ Table of Contents ]| Picture | Name | Contact Information | Research Interests Provided by the Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
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Douglas N. Abrams Director |
Edmonton Radiopharmaceutical Centre |
Our research is related to the radiosynthesis and development of radiopharmaceuticals for therapeutic and diagnostic use in Nuclear Medicine. Current work includes analogs of aromatase inhibitors, sentinel node tracers and melanoma and neuroendocrine tumour therapy. |
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Bruce Balcom Professor, Director of MRI Research Center |
University of New Brunswick P O Box 4400, IUC Building, Room 231, Fredericton, NB, E3B 5A3 Tel: 506-458-7938 E-mail: bjb@unb.ca |
Magnetic resonance and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Measurement Methods. Instrumentation, hardware, data processing.. |
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Rob Beanlands Chief, Cardiac Imaging |
University of Ottawa Heart Institute 40 Ruskin Street, Room 1220, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 4W7 Tel: 613-761-5296 E-mail: rbeanlands@ ottawaheart.ca |
Dr. Rob Beanlands is a Career Investigator (HSFO) and international leader in cardiovascular nuclear imaging. His research investigates metabolic and cellular function in cardiovascular disease and responses to therapy. He is Chief of Cardiac Imaging and founding Director of the National Cardiac PET Centre, a state-of-the-art facility funded in part by two CFI grants and the only PET facility in Canada dedicated to cardiovascular disease. He is extensively published and offers experience in leading large, multicentre imaging trials, including PARR-2 and leads the provincially-funded cardiac PET registry (CADRE). He holds multiple peer reviewed grants with CIHR and HSFO, developing strong collaborative relationships within the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, with partner institutions across Canada and internationally. He is the Ottawa site co-PI for the Canadian Atherosclerosis Imaging Network, and Director of the Molecular Function and Imaging providing a multidisciplinary, translational research training program, encompassing basic sciences, regenerative therapies, imaging physics/engineering, cardiology, chemistry, and clinical research to over 30 graduate, post-graduate and clinical trainees. He leads the CIHR Team Grant, IMAGE-HF. He is also the former president of CNCS. He is the current SPC Chair of CCS, the Associate Editor for JNC and Governor and Board member for ACC, SNM Cardiovascular Councils. |
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François Bénard Professor Expert Working Group Member |
University of British Columbia 675 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1L3 Tel: 604-675-8206 E-mail: fbenard@bccrc.ca |
Detection of cancer by positron emission tomography; monitoring cancer response to treatment; development of new radiopharmaceuticals for cancer imaging. |
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Steven Burrell Research Director, Radiology |
QE II Health Sciences Centre and Dalhousie University QE II HSC, Dept of Diagnostic Imaging, 1796 Summer St., Halifax, NS, B3H 3A7 Tel: 902-473-6161 E-mail: sburrell@dal.ca |
My primary areas of research are in nuclear medicine, including: a) Oncology, including PET b) Cardiac nuclear medicine c) Brain perfusion and molecular imaging d) Small animal imaging. |
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Anna Celler Senior Medical Physicist/Associate Professor |
Department of Radiology, VCHA/UBC Medical Imaging Research Group, VGH Research Pavilion, 828 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1L8 Tel: 604-875-5252 E-mail: aceller@ physics.ubc.ca |
Nuclear medicine, SPECT and PET, quantitative imaging with attenuation, scatter, resolution recovery and partial volume corrections, functional dynamic studies, image reconstruction, internal radiation therapy, internal dosimetry, tumour diagnosis and staging, myocardial perfusion imaging, quantitation of perfusion defect, dual-isotope imaging, methods for multidimensional data visualization and analysis, image fusion and registration, organ and tumour segmentation methods, electronic collimation and Compton camera, mathematics of inverse problems and optimization techniques. |
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Dean Chapman CRC - X-Ray Imaging, Professor of Anatomy and Cell Biology |
Canadian Light Source University of Saskatchewan 501-121 Research Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 1K2 Tel: 306-966-4111 E-mail: dean.chapman@ usask.ca |
Synchrotron based biomedical imaging research: much of this work relates to imaging animal models of human disease using synchrotron specific methods such as diffraction enhanced, phase contrast and K-edge subtraction imaging. Imaging modality research: this research is directed to developing new methods of x-ray imaging with emphasis on application to biomedical problems. One example is a dedicated K-edge subtraction and fluorescence subtraction system for application to visualizing gene expression in small animals. Translational imaging research: some research emphasizes the translation of imaging modalities developed at the synchrotron to laboratory and eventually clinical imaging. One method presently being developed for laboratory and clinical applications is diffraction enhanced imaging. |
| Guy Cloutier Professor of Radiology and Bioengineering |
University of Montreal LBUM-CRCHUM, 2099 Alexandre de Sève, room Y-1619, Montreal, QC, H2L 2W5 Tel: 514-890-8000 ext. 24703 E-mail: guy.cloutier@ umontreal.ca |
The Laboratory of Biorheology and Medical Ultrasonics (LBUM) pursues research in medical imaging and blood rheology. Our research programs intend to improve the diagnostic and follow-up of hyper-erythrocyte aggregation, a pathological state promoting the hyper-viscosity of blood and thrombotic side effects, arterial atherosclerosis, vascular aneurysms and deep vein thrombosis with new ultrasound imaging methods. The LBUM is also developing new methods to characterize the biomechanical properties of the vascular wall and their viscoelasticity of breast cancer lesions with ultrasound elastography. These research projects are realized in collaboration with clinical scientists, radiologists and cardiologists, fundamental scientists specialized in cardiovascular pathologies, biomedical engineers and medical physicists. | |
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Barbara Croft Program Director |
Cancer Imaging Program National Cancer Institute 6130 Executive Boulevard, Suite 6000, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-7412 USA Tel: 301-496-9531 E-mail: bc129b@nih.gov |
Barbara Y. Croft, Ph.D., is Program Director in the Cancer Imaging Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, of the National Cancer Institute. She received her B.S. in Chemistry from Swarthmore College, and M. S. and Ph.D. from the Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Croft spent 29 years on the faculty of the Department of Radiology at the University of Virginia School of Medicine before joining the NCI 11 years ago. Her research is in the area of radiopharmaceuticals and nuclear medicine physics. She has been associated with the whole spectrum of oncologic medical imaging grants at the NCI, especially the Small Animal Imaging Resource Program, the Lung Image Database Consortium and the Imaging Database Resources Initiative funded through the Foundation for the NIH. The mission of the US National Cancer Institute's Cancer Imaging Program is to promote cancer imaging research in the service of oncology diagnosis and treatment. We do this by funding grants and contracts in basic and clinical research. |
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Aaron Fenster Director |
Robarts Research Institute - University of Western Ontario 100 Perth Drive, London, ON, N6A 5K8 Tel: 519-931-5708 E-mail: afenster@ imaging.robarts.ca |
Fenster's group has focused on the development of 3D ultrasound imaging with diagnostic and surgical/therapeutic cancer applications in humans as well as mouse research models. His team developed 3D ultrasound imaging systems for: carotid atherosclerosis imaging and quantification, 3D ultrasound guided prostate cryosurgery and brachytherapy, 3D ultrasound guided prostate and breast biopsy for early diagnosis of cancer and 3D ultrasound imaging of mouse tumours and their vasculature |
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Philip L. Gardner President and CEO |
Advanced Applied Physics Solutions 4004 Westbrook Mall, Vancouver BC, V6T 2A3 Tel: 604-222-7436 E-mail: gardner@triumf.ca |
Isotope production and detector development |
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Karen Gulenchyn Chief, Nuclear Medicine |
Hamilton Health Sciences and St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton HSC 1P-15, 1200 Main Street W., Hamilton, ON, L8N 3Z5 Tel: 905-521-2100 ext. 75667 E-mail: gulenkar@hhsc.ca |
Dr. Gulenchyn's primary research efforts in the past 5 years have been in the application of 18F-Flurodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET imaging to clinical problems in oncology as part of the Ontario FDG PET evaluation process. She was the principle physician responsible for the design of the imaging protocols and led the Quality Assurance Subcommittee in concert with the principle physicist lead. Most recently the Hamilton group has begun to develop a program to assess the application of breast molecular imaging in women at high risk of developing breast cancer. |
| David W. Holdsworth Professor, Dept. of Surgery |
University of Western Ontario 100 Perth Drive, London, ON, N6A 5K8 Tel: 519-931-5777 ext. 24154 E-mail: david.holdsworth@ imaging.robarts.ca |
Dr. David Holdsworth is a Scientist in the Imaging group at the Robarts Research Institute. His research program involves the development and use of CT, MRI, and ultrasound techniques to investigate cerebrovascular disease and musculoskeletal disease. With respect to vascular disease, Dr. Holdsworth has previously been supported as a Career Investigator with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, with funding to investigate the use of advanced Doppler ultrasound techniques to characterize diseased blood vessels leading to the brain. He is also supported by the CIHR to develop new x-ray based techniques to diagnose and treat diseased blood vessels within the brain, applicable to both endovascular and surgical therapy. In 2007 Dr. Holdsworth became the Dr. Sandy Kirkley Chair in Musculoskeletal Research and has shifted the focus of his research to musculoskeletal disease. Dr. Holdsworth and his team have developed new methods for musculoskeletal disease diagnosis and treatment for both basic pre-clinical and clinical applications. Dr. Holdsworth has developed new micro-CT techniques that have been applied to a variety of animal models including rabbits, rats and mice. With collaborators Naudie and Dunning, he has been funded by CIHR to develop new techniques to image the interface between bones and metal implants, and to improve current techniques for radiostereometric analysis following joint replacement. | |
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Sylvain Houle Director, PET Centre |
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and University of Toronto 250 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8 Tel: 416-979-4651 E-mail: sylvain.houle@ utoronto.ca |
Application of Positron Emission Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Mental Health and Addiction research. The research aims at understanding underlying mechanisms involved in those disorders as well as studying pharmacological treatment including early drug development. A major focus of the work is on the development of new PET tracers for research. |
| Paul C. Johns Professor of Physics |
Carleton University 1125 Colonel by Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6 Tel: 613-520-2600 ext. 4317 E-mail: johns@ physics.carleton.ca |
Dr. Johns' research is in the physics of medical x-ray imaging and is currently supported by NSERC. Current work focuses on methods of using elastic (coherent) x-ray scattering to obtain diagnostic information in radiology. This encompasses precision measurement of the low-angle scattering properties of tissues and phantom materials, strategies for collimation design, and analysis and modeling of x-ray scatter imaging. Preliminary use of high-intensity x rays at the Canadian Light source BMIT facility for coherent-scatter imaging was made during commissioning of the facility this past winter and further work is planned. Dr. Johns also has an interest in the development of new detector technologies for digital radiography, in dual-energy radiography, and reconstruction techniques for computed tomography which minimize energy and scatter artefacts. | |
| Karim S. Karim Associate Professor |
University of Waterloo Dept of Elec. & Comp. Eng, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1 Tel: 519-888 4567 ext. 38336 E-mail: kkarim@ uwaterloo.ca |
Solid state large area digital flat panel X-ray and gamma-ray detectors (amorphous silicon pixel amplifiers for digital fluoroscopy, amorphous silicon single photon counting detectors for full-body CT; high speed avalanche Frisch selenium detectors for SPECT and PET; solid state-Frisch grid detector for mammography tomosynthesis; multi-layer detector and Ross filters for dual energy CT and digital subtraction mammography) | |
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Agnes V. Klein Director, Centre for Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals and Biotherapeutics |
Biologics and Genetic Therapies Directorate 200 Tunney's Pasture Driveway, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9 Tel: 613-954-5706 E-mail: agnes_v_klein@ hc-sc.gc.ca |
I am the Director of the Centre that evaluates and authorizes clinical trials and the review prior to marketing of radiopharmaceuticals, the topic of this workshop. |
| Michael Kolios Associate Professor / Canada Research Chair |
Ryerson University Department of Physics, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3 Tel: 416-979-5000 ext. 07065 E-mail: mkolios@ ryerson.ca |
Dr. Michael C. Kolios is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at Ryerson University, adjunct professor at the Department of Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto and Canada Research Chair (tier II) in Biomedical Applications of Ultrasound. His work focuses on the biomedical use of ultrasound in diagnosis and therapy. He directs the advanced biomedical ultrasound imaging and spectroscopy laboratory at Ryerson University which houses state-of-the-art ultrasound imaging tools at frequencies ranging from 1 to 1000MHz. His work on tissue characterization using the frequency dependence of the backscatter has opened new avenues for ultrasound diagnosis. His primary research areas are ultrasound imaging and tissue characterization, high frequency ultrasound clinical and pre-clinical imaging, acoustic microscopy, opto-acoustic imaging and optical coherence tomography. He also has an active interest in blood flow measurements using these techniques. Recently, his laboratory has expanded into the field of molecular imaging using ultrasound and optoacoustic techniques. | |
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Roger Lecomte Scientific Head, Sherbrooke Molecular Imaging Centre |
Université de Sherbrooke 3001, 12th Ave N. #1864, Sherbrooke, QC, J1H 5N4 Tel: 819-820-6868 ext. 14608 E-mail: Roger.Lecomte@ USherbrooke.ca |
Professor of Nuclear Medicine and Radiobiology at Université de Sherbrooke and Scientific Chief of the Sherbrooke Molecular Imaging Center. Pioneering work in preclinical PET molecular imaging. Design, construction and exploitation of first avalanche photodiode (APD)-based PET scanner with which several premiere were achieved in small animals (rats and mice) imaging. Setup of the first preclinical PET imaging facility in Canada. Co-founder of Advanced Molecular Imaging (AMI) Inc., now Gamma Medica-Ideas Inc., to commercialize LabPET™ scanners, only APD-based fully digital PET scanner technology on the market. Current work on the integration of PET, SPECT, CT, MRI and optical imaging for multimodality imaging in preclinical applications. Biological applications in tracer development (11C-acetoacetate, 18FES/MFES, 64Cu-labeled peptides…), cardiology (perfusion, metabolism and function), oncology (photodynamic therapy (PDT), hormono/chemotherapy), neurology (epilepsy, aging), metabolism (diabetes, sepsis), tissue engineering (imaging of 3D tissue culture in situ). Biomedical engineering developments of instrumentation and ancillary devices for molecular imaging (e.g., microvolumetric blood counter, microfluidic blood sampler/analyzer). |
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Ting-Yim Lee Scientist |
Lawson Health Research Institute 268 Grosvenor St., London, ON, N6A 4V2 Tel: 519-685-8300 ext. 24131 E-mail: tlee@ imaging.robarts.ca |
I have developed functional imaging methods with dynamic contrast enhanced CT scanning for the quantitative assessment of tissue blood flow, blood volume and capillary permeability surface area product. The measurements have been validated in the brain and the heart and tumors of the brain, liver and skeletal muscle against the gold standard measurements with microspheres. The developed methods can be easily implemented on clinical CT scanners using routine contrast agents and study procedures. As such, the methods have been applied to study acute stroke patients, ischemic heart disease patients, and cancer patients. In acute stroke, the method is able to separate ischemic but viable tissue from infarction as well as predict the likelihood of hemorrhagic transformation. Both features are critical in the decision of thrombolytic treatment. In ischemic heart disease, the method can detect hemodynamically significant coronary stenosis and thereby help to select patients who would benefit from revascularization. In cancer, the method can be used to study the development of angiogenesis in tumors and their response to anti-angiogenesis treatment with, for example, tyrosine kinase inhibitors of VEGF signaling. |
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Lorenzo Leonardi Medical Device Sector Coordinator |
National Research Council of Canada 100 Sussex Dr., Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6 Tel: 613-998-9469 E-mail: larry.leonardi@ nrc-crn.gc.ca |
NRC has identified Canada's medical devices industry as one of the key sectors in which its expertise, multi-disciplinary competencies and infrastructure can make significant scientific and technological contributions to help industry respond to the considerable global medical device market expansion that is expected in the coming years. The NRC has identified Diagnostic Medical Imaging as a segment which NRC's scientific expertise and engineering know-how can make a significant impact. As Coordinator my role involves proposing, developing and coordinating cross-Institute activities in support of the medical device key sector strategy. In addition, develop and support external partner relationships that involve multiple Institutes and organisations. |
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Howard Leong-Poi Assistant Professor of Medicine |
St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto 7-052 Bond Wing, St. Michael's Hospital, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1W8 Tel: 416-864-5201 E-mail: Leong-poiH@ smh.toronto.on.ca |
My research program focuses on diagnostic and therapeutic applications for ultrasound using targeted microbubbles, including perfusion imaging and the molecular imaging of angiogenesis and stem cell engraftment; and gene and cell-based therapies for ischemic cardiovascular diseases and anti-angiogenic therapies for cancer treatment |
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Martin Lepage Professeur agrégé Canada Research Chair in Magnetic Resonance Imaging |
Université de Sherbrooke CIMS, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001 12th Avenue N., Sherbrooke, QC, J1H 5N4 Tel: 819-346-1110 ext. 11867 E-mail: Martin.Lepage@ USherbrooke.ca |
My primary research areas are the development of novel contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the improvements of pharmacokinetic modeling of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI. The ultimate goal is to improve cancer detection, characterization and monitor treatment response. |
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Nigel S. Lockyer Director |
Triumf 4004 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver BC, V6T 2A3 Tel: 604-222-7353 E-mail: director@ triumf.ca |
My primary area of interest is the development of PET detectors. |
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Alex MacKay Professor Expert Working Group Member |
University of British Columbia Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, 6224 Agricultural Rd, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z1 Tel: 604-822-7890 E-mail: mackay@ physics.ubc.ca |
My research program involves the development and application of magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy techniques to the study of pathological processes in humans. We have worked with a variety of different medical conditions including multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia, and phenyketonurea. Our largest research project involves using magnetic resonance to measure myelin content in vivo. |
| William Mackillop Professor ICR Institute Advisor Board Chair |
Queen's Cancer Institute Queen's University Kingston, ON K7L 3N6 Tel: 613-533-6895 E-mail: william.mackillop@ krcc.on.ca |
Cancer diagnosis, staging and prognosis. | |
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Kennedy Mang'era Director/Assistant Professor |
Health Sciences Centre/University of Manitoba RM GC219, 820 Sherbrook St., Winnipeg, Manitoba R3A 1R9 Tel: 204-787-3388 E-mail: mangerak@ cc.umanitoba.ca |
Radiolabeling of conventional anticancer agents with 99m-technetium and enhanced delivery of these agents into tumor sites by pre-conjugation with polymers; collaborator in exploration of alternative production for molybdenum-99 from enriched molybdenum-100 using accelerators. |
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Paul M. Matthews Vice-President for Imaging, GSK and Head, GSK Clinical Imaging Centre and Prof of Clinical Neurosciences, Imperial College |
Imperial College London and GSK Clinical Imaging Centre Hammersmith Hospital, DuCane Road, London WC12 0NN UK E-mail: paul.m.matthews@ gsk.com |
Paul M. Matthews, MD, DPhil, FRCP, OBE is Vice-President for Imaging, GlaxoSmithKline and Head, GSK Clinical Imaging Centre, Hammersmith Hospital, Professor of Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Imperial College, London and Adjunct Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University. For over 25 years he has contributed to biomedical imaging research applying magnetic resonance and most recently is exploring integration of PET molecular imaging and fMRI for pharmadynamic measures. The CIC is to become the internationally leading multidisciplinary center for molecular PET and MRI imaging for experimental human pharmacology in new drug development. The CIC was established to provide an in-house facility for advanced human imaging studies to provide a platform to help drive a transformation to new and better paradigms for drug development. The equipment and infrastructure allow application of state-of-the-art methods. Scientific staff with internationally-recognised expertise in PET and MRI have been recruited. CIC IT infrastructure offers the only compliant image acquisition-to-archiving environment available anywhere at present. It represents novel partnership between academia (Imperial College, London) and the world's second largest pharmaceutical company. |
| Alexander J. B. McEwan Professor and Chair, Dept of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Special Advisor to the Minister of Health Expert Working Group Member |
University of Alberta Department of Oncologic Imaging, Cross Cancer Institute, 11560 University Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1Z2 Tel: 780-432-8524 E-mail: sandymce@ cancerboard.ab.ca |
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Ravi Menon Canada Research Chair and Deputy Director |
Robarts Research Institute PO Box 5015, 100 Perth Dr., London, ON N6A 5K8 Tel: 519-663-5777 ext. 24148 E-mail: rmenon@ imaging.robarts.ca |
My research is in the application of ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the area of basic and clinical neurosciences. We develop novel hardware and software solutions to allow MRI to be used to determine the structure and function of the brain in a variety of subjects from mice, to non-human primates to humans. |
| Michel Meunier Professor |
École Polytechnique de Montréal Dept of Engineering Physics Montreal, Quebec H3C 3A7 Tel: 514-340-4711 ext. 4971 E-mail: michel.meunier@ polymtl.ca |
I have a Canada Research Chair Tier I in Laser micro/nano-engineering of materials. The main mission of the Chair is to develop and model new laser processing of materials and laser-matter interactions for the applications in biomedical. Fabrication of new nanoparticles, nanoplasmonic structures, optical and plasmonics biosensors are being developed within the Chair. The infrastructure of the laboratory includes various femtosecond and nanosecond lasers, many bioplasmonic sensors and several optical characterization systems. Here are some examples of research projects and interests related to medical imaging:
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| Thierry Muanza Assistant Professor |
Segal Cancer Centre - Jewish General Hospital 3755 Côte-des-Neiges, room G-002, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2 Tel: 514-340-8288 E-mail: thierry.muanza@ mcgill.ca |
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Frank Prato Imaging Program Leader and Assistant Scientific Director |
Lawson Health Research Institute 268 Grosvenor St., London, ON, N6A 4V2 Tel: 519-646-6100 ext. 64140 E-mail: prato@ lawsonimaging.ca |
Frank S. Prato receives his MSc from U of T in Nuclear Physics and a PhD from U of T in Medical Biophysics. Since 1972 he has worked in the area of Nuclear Medicine imaging and since 1982 in the area of Magnetic Resonance Imaging. He is one of the few Canadian medical imaging physicists who has helped peer review funding in both these areas of imaging. As well, Dr. Prato has an active program in non-ionizing radiation protection and has helped set Canadian safety standards for MRI exposure and RF exposure. While president of the Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine he was one of the founders of the Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists. Current research in bio-medical imaging include PET/CT, SPECT/CT, PET/MR, EEG/MRI and photo-acoustic. Primary applications are to cardiovascular disease with some of the imaging methods being developed having application also to human neurological disorders and pre-clinical studies in oncology. |
| John A. Rowlands Founding Scientific Director |
Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute 980 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay, ON, P7B 6V4 Tel: 416-480-5708 E-mail: rowlandj@ tbh.net |
Development of novel detector technology for x-ray, SPECT, PET and optical imaging. Development of combination imaging technologies, PET/MRI, x-ray/MRI, etc. | |
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Thomas J. Ruth Senior Research Scientist/Senior Scientist Expert Working Group Member |
TRIUMF/BC Cancer Agency 4004 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver BC, V6T 2A3 Tel: 604-222-7526 E-mail: truth@triumf.ca |
My expertise centers on the use of accelerators for producing radionuclides and the development of automated chemistry systems for their isolation and incorporation into a form for performing measurements primarily using imaging as the technique. As PET Director for the UBC/TRIUMF Program from 1989-2008 I helped develop complex protocols using multiple radiotracers to address fundamental questions in neurology, principally related to Parkinson's disease. More recently I have begun to assist in the development of a research program cancer biology using PET at the BC Cancer Agency. I have served on numerous National and International panels related to the production and use of radionuclides including the IAEA, US Department of Energy and the National Academy of Sciences (Advancing Nuclear Medicine through Innovation: 2006-07 and Production of Medical Isotopes with Highly Enriched Uranium: 2007-2009). I have served on several ad hoc working groups for Health Canada dealing with the use and regulation of positron emitting radiopharmaceuticals (PERs) in research. I am a member of the Canadian Association of Radiopharmaceutical Scientists, the Canadian Society of Nuclear Medicine, the Society of Nuclear Medicine, the American Chemical Society and the Society of Radiopharmaceutical Scientists (Treasurer, 2005-09). I have published more than 250 per reviewed papers and book chapters. |
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Vesna Sossi Professor/PET Director |
University of British Columbia 6224 Agricultural Rd., Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z1 Tel: 604-822-7710 E-mail: vesna@ phas.ubc.ca |
PET imaging in humans and rodents with special emphasis on the dopaminergic system as related to Parkinson's disease. High resolution PET data quantification, modelling and interpretation. |
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Jean-Paul Soucy PET Unit Director |
Montreal Neurological Institute 3801 University St., Montreal, QC H3A 2B4 Tel: 514-398-8515 E-mail: jean-paul.soucy@ mcgill.ca |
Image analysis in SPECT neurological studies; regional cerebral blood low quantification with SPECT; cholinergic systems imaging with PET ligands of the acetylcholine vesicular transporter |
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Gilles Soulez Director of the Research Imaging Platform |
CHUM, University of Montreal, Dpt of Radiology, CHUM-Notre Dame, 1560 Sherbrooke east, Montreal, QC, H2L 4M1 Tel: 514-890-8250 E-mail: gilles.soulez.chum@ ssss.gouv.qc.ca |
Vascular imaging and interventional radiology. Modelization of aortic aneurysm using CT angiography. Image fusion to improve guidance during aneurysm endovascular repair. Prevention of endoleak following endovascular repair of aortic aneurysm by stent-graft optimization. Detection of vulnerable plaque using ultrasound elastography. |
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Michael G. Sowa Senior Research Officer |
National Research Council of Canada 435 Ellice Ave, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 1Y6 Tel: 204-984-5193 E-mail: Michael.Sowa@ nrc-cnrc.gc.ca |
Optical imaging, optical coherence tomography, nonlinear optical imaging, diffuse near infrared imaging, fluorescence imaging. |
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Elizabeth Theriault Assistant Scientific Director |
CIHR Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction Canadian Institutes of Health Research Strangeway Building, University of British Columbia, 430-5950 University Blvd., Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Tel: 604-827-4744 E-mail: etheria@shaw.ca |
The Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA) supports research on the functioning and disorders of the brain, the spinal cord, the sensory and motor systems, and the mind. The burden of disease in terms of the social, economic and health care costs associated with these disorders and related illnesses are staggering and there are indications that the number of people affected either directly or indirectly will continue to increase in the years to come. |
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John Valliant Associate Professor, Chemistry and CEO and Scientific Director Expert Working Group Member |
McMaster University and Centre for Probe Development and Commercialization 1280 Main St. West, BSB-B231, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1 Tel: 905-525-9140 ext. 21212 E-mail: valliant@mcmaster.ca |
Development of novel molecular imaging probes, probe discovery platforms and new approaches for radiolabeling molecules. The scope of our research program includes PET, SPECT and optical probe development for oncology, basic chemistry, preclinical studies and translation. Particular focus is on agents that can be used to assess metastatic potential of tumours. |
| Brian C. Wilson Division Head/Professor Expert Working Group Member |
Ontario Cancer Institute/University of Toronto 610 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G 2M9 Tel: 416-946-2952 E-mail: wilson@ uhnres.utoronto.ca |
My primary area is in optical imaging, for both pre-clinical research and clinical applications. This includes basic optical biophysics, instrument development, in vitro and in vivo studies, and clinical trials. Two main clinical applications are represented: I. multi-modal endoscopy for early cancer detection, with a focus on the gastrointestinal tract (esophagus, colon), and II. optical image guidance for cancer surgery, with a current focus on brain, prostate and head & neck tumors. The techniques under development include fluorescence imaging (using both endosgeous tissue fluorescence and molecularly-targeted agents), CARS imaging (coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy) and other non-linear light-tissue interactions, Doppler optical coherence tomography, and the use of optically-active nanoparticles as targeting agents and/or 'reporters'. For the work in glioma, we are integrating optical imaging with MRI, while in the prostate work it is being combined with robotic interventions (surgical and focal energy-based) The pre-clinical applications include both cell/tissue micro-imaging and in vivo small-animal imaging. The former includes multi-modal large-area confocal MACROscopy, and development of optical probes for specific molelar/genetic/metabolomic studies. The latter includes fluorescence tomography, intravital microscopies and DOCT, and bioluminescence imaging. Combination technologies are under development, for example, combining bioluminescence and CT. | |
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Frank Wuest Associate Professor and The Dianne and Irving Kipnes Chair in Radiopharmaceutical Sciences |
Department of Oncology University of Alberta 11560 University Avenue Edmonton AB T6G 1Z2 Tel: 780-989-8150 E-mail: wuest@ualberta.ca |
My research interest is embedded in the interdisciplinary field of radiopharmaceutical sciences, with special focus on radionuclide molecular imaging and therapy of tumors. My research program is aimed at the evaluation and translation of the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of novel molecular targets involved in the development and progression of cancer by means of radiopharmaceuticals for a better understanding and controlling of cancer to enhance patient care. My research activities are mainly directed to the design, synthesis and radiopharmacological characterization of novel radiopharmaceuticals by means of multimodality imaging techniques combining functional molecular imaging (PET and SPECT) with anatomical mapping (CT and MRI). This includes basic discovery research in the field of radiopharmaceutical chemistry, and pre-clinical translational cancer research for the discovery and functional characterization of tumor-specific proteins and other parameters of tumor micro-environment in vitro and in vivo. My special interest is application of small animal PET for translational cancer research in combination with other imaging methodologies like small animal MRI. The obtained biological data are used for the elucidation of structure-activity relationships and the detailed assessment of the potential clinical value of novel radiopharmaceuticals. |
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Martin Yaffe Senior Scientist |
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Rm S6-57, 2075 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5 Tel: 416 480-5715 E-mail: martin.yaffe@ sunnybrook.ca |
My work focused around the development and evaluation of new methods for earlier and more accurate detection of cancer as well as techniques for the quantification of cancer risk and the monitoring of response to therapy. I have put considerable effort into the development of digital mammography and am now working on advanced 3 dimensional applications (tomosynthesis) and imaging of angiogenesis. Recently I started a research program in quantitative pathology where imaging techniques are used to improve sampling and make better quantitative use of information from tissue for diagnosis of disease and to serve as a "gold standard" for validation of new imaging techniques. Much of my work is directed toward breast cancer, but in my new role as director (with Dr. Aaron Fenster) of a large research program on cancer imaging through the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, I am expanding my interests toward molecular and functional imaging for all types of cancer. |
| Picture | Name | Contact Information |
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Kimberly Banks Hart Associate, Institute Strategic Initiatives |
CIHR Institute of Cancer Research Tel: 613 954-1965 E-mail: kimberly.hart@cihr-irsc.gc.ca |
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Pierre Bilodeau Director, Bio Industries Division |
NSERC 350 Albert St., Ottawa, ON, K1A 1H5 Tel: 613 947-9452 E-mail: pierre.bilodeau@nserc-crsng.gc.ca |
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Doris Braslins Program Manager, Bio Industries Division, Research Partnerships Program |
NSERC 350 Albert St., Ottawa, ON, K1A 1H5 Tel: 613 996-7229 E-mail: doris.braslins@nserc-crsng.gc.ca |
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Judith Bray Assistant Director |
CIHR Institute of Cancer Research Tel: 613 954-7223 E-mail: judith.bray@cihr.gc.ca |
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Diane Christin Institute Project Officer |
CIHR Institute of Cancer Research Tel: 613 941-0997 E-mail: diane.christin@cihr-irsc.gc.ca |
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David Hartell Associate, Institute Strategic Initiatives |
CIHR Institute of Cancer Research Tel: 613 941-4329 E-mail: david.hartell@cihr-irsc.gc.ca |
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Morag Park Scientific Director, Institute of Cancer Research |
CIHR Institute of Cancer Research Tel: 514-398-2895 E-mail: mailto:mpark.ic-icr@mcgill.ca |
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Maura Ricketts Director, Office for Public Health |
Canadian Medical Association Tel: 613 731-8610 x 2279 E-mail: Maura.Ricketts@cma.ca |