People affected by serious illnesses such as cancer and heart disease could get diagnosed and treated at a quicker rate, with a regional coalition that aims to expand a form of medical practice.
The Southwestern Ontario Isotope Coalition (SOIC) has been supported through a resolution by Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (WOWC) to make isotope advancements and grow their leadership.
(Credit: Bruce Power workers, Southwestern Ontario Isotope Coalition website)
Isotopes out of Bruce Power, an isotope production station in Ontario, provide their products both locally and globally, said Kate Gallagher, Executive Director at WOWC.
These products aid in sterilizing single-use products, such as syringes in hospitals, and radiation treatment in cancer, said Gallagher.
Western University is one of many post-secondary partners in the region to help “make sure the isotopes can do what they can do, and help improve our health outcomes,” said Gallagher.
On top of increased access to isotope-related health outcomes, Gallagher says this resolution also aims to boost economic growth with job opportunities and draw attention to rural communities for enhanced well-being.
“Southwestern Ontario currently provides key isotopes such as Cobalt-60 and Lutetium-177—produced at Bruce Power—as well as Iodine-125, produced at McMaster University,” said a joint statement from SOIC and WOWC.
Their aim is to have a “future-ready ecosystem to support the Province of Ontario’s goal of doubling isotope production by 2030.”
You can find more information about SOIC and its mission here.
