For Immediate Release
8 October 2009
City Hospital Foundation pledges support for beamline research
Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation announced today a gift of $500,000 to help establish two biomedical beamlines at the Canadian Light Source synchrotron. “Our gift represents our commitment to supporting collaborative efforts in clinical care, research and teaching,” said Foundation Chair, Don George. “The two beamline facilities will advance research in two areas of particular interest to the Foundation – breast health and multiple sclerosis.”
The BioMedical Imaging and Therapy (BMIT) facility is a revolutionary new tool for the imaging, study and treatment of disease. Canada Research Chair Dr. Dean Chapman will use BMIT to lead the way in ground-breaking breast cancer research.
The BioXAS Beamline Facility is a new suite of beamlines tailored for life science studies of metals in living systems. Several researchers connected with the Cameco MS Neuroscience Research Centre, including Dr. Helen Nichol, are on a team investigating metals in the brain, with some research to be conducted on the BioXAS.
“This world-class work is aligned with our vision of the hospital for the next century,” said Steve Shannon, Chair of the Foundation’s Century of Care Campaign. “The work and reputation of the CLS will ultimatelyenhance medical care in our community and allow us, in turn, to contribute advancement in medicineglobally.” The Canadian Light Source is attracting world leaders in areas such as breast cancer researchand neuroscience research. Increasingly, Saskatoon Health Region includes tours of the CLS as part of its recruitment strategies for physicians and surgeons.
The total cost of the two beamlines is more than $42 million. Government, industry and philanthropists have contributed more than $34 million. The gift of Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation is part of the fundraising effort to raise the remaining $7.74 million.
“We are very excited and inspired by the generosity of the Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation,” said Dr. Josef Hormes, Executive Director of the CLS. “With the help of gifts such as these, we are able to createone of the world’s leading-edge synchrotron biomedical facilities.”
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For more information, contact:
Randy Kershaw, CFRE
Chief Executive Officer
Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation
(306) 655-8540
www.saskatooncityhospitalfoundation.com
Matthew Dalzell
Communications Coordinator
Canadian Light Source Inc
Ph: (306) 657-3739 Cell: (306) 227-0978
matthew.dalzell@lightsource.ca
Last modified: 2012-01-19 17:01:56