Ontario has taken a significant step toward strengthening its global leadership in cancer care and medical innovation with the launch of the Nuclear Isotope Innovation Council of Ontario (NIICO).
The launch was announced Wednesday by Energy Minister Stephen Lecce at Toronto’s Sunnybrook Hospital.
“Ontario is proud to lead the world in the fight against cancer by harnessing the power of nuclear innovation to produce life-saving medical isotopes,” Lecce said during the announcement. “With the creation of NIICO, we’re not only advancing our global leadership in isotope research and production – we’re helping patients live longer, healthier lives, building a world-class biomanufacturing economy and turning Ontario’s clean-energy advantage into a catalyst for breakthrough health innovation.”
Bruce Power, a major contributor to Canada’s isotope production, welcomed the move.
“Bruce Power is proud to be a member of the Nuclear Isotope Innovation Council of Ontario (NIICO) and applauds the provincial government for taking a positive step forward in leading the way in becoming a global superpower in the production of cancer-fighting medical isotopes,” the company stated.
Lecce also named James Scongack, Bruce Power’s Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice-President, as chairperson of the new ministerial advisory panel. Scongack is a longtime leader in isotope innovation and the founding chair of the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council (CNIC),
"This is an exciting opportunity to expand Ontario’s leadership role in medical isotope innovation and bring hope to patients around the world,” he said. “I would like to thank Minister Lecce, the government, industry, health care and community leaders for their commitment to growing our medical isotope sector.”
Ontario’s nuclear reactors have long supported both electricity generation and global health care through the production of cobalt-60, lutetium-177, molybdenum-99 and other isotopes vital for cancer treatment and sterilization of medical equipment. The global nuclear medicine market is projected to reach $33 billion by 2031, highlighting the significance of today’s announcement.
Dr. Arjun Sahgal, Chief of Radiation Oncology at Sunnybrook and President of the International Stereotactic Radiosurgery Society, emphasized the importance of expanding access.
“It is a privilege to be a physician member of NIICO as we have to plan the global expansion of medical isotopes in the treatment of multiple cancer types," said Sahgal. "It is critical and challenging to lay the path forward so that all cancer patients in Ontario have access to these life-prolonging therapies, and their voices heard. We are privileged in Ontario to have world-leading nuclear isotope facilities and doctors committed to advancing cancer care with medical isotopes.”
The council will draw on the expertise of CNIC and other leaders in isotope development to create a comprehensive report outlining the province’s next steps in research and innovation. It will also align its strategy with Ontario’s Life Sciences Strategy and the Fortress Am-Can initiative to support cross-border isotope supply to the United States, one of the world’s largest markets for radiopharmaceuticals.
“Through the launch of the Nuclear Isotope Innovation Council of Ontario, our government continues to build on the bold vision set out in our Life Sciences Strategy and reinforce Ontario’s leadership in radioisotope production and innovation,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “By expanding Ontario’s nuclear medicine advantage and harnessing the strength of our biomanufacturing sector, we are ensuring that cancer patients of all ages can benefit from reliable access to cutting-edge treatments and positioning our province at the heart of the competitive isotope economy.”
The establishment of NIICO marks a bold investment in both the health and economic future of Ontario — one that aims to save lives while growing a globally competitive isotope economy.