Vision
The explosive development of biotechnology now reaches into many scientific and commercial sectors. The fields of genomics, drug development, diagnostics and therapeutics are fundamentally linked to the efficient use of animal models. Historically these models have been used by drug companies and research laboratories in acute studies where histopathology is used as the gold standard for outcomes. While histopathology will always have validity in certain applications, its limitations are obvious: the excised tissues are no longer living and thus the normal physiology, blood flow, cell-cell interactions, and metabolic activity are suspended or even degraded. The rapid acceleration of research and commercial activity related to biotechnology is now hampered by the lack of suitable high throughput tests that can provide non-invasive assessment of the growth, function, and phenotypic variation of living animals. The members of the Ontario Consortium for Small Animal Imaging are world leaders in the development of new microimaging technologies for small animal visualization. The research applications and markets for these technologies are growing dramatically. Canada has identified biotechnology as a national priority for growth and has recently invested $300 million in Genome Canada. These funds will be matched by the commercial sector to create a strong natinal focus in this area. Our vision is to accelerate research in small animal microimaging and to make Ontario an international leader (both academic and commercial) in this exciting and challenging field. To accomplish this vision, we will establish a strong partnership between the microimaging technology developers, end users, and the commercial partners in Ontario. Ultimately, the fruits of this effort will serve the larger research efforts and markets in Canada and abroad. Members of our consortium have already established 5 new start up companies in Ontario and have established strong links with numerous other corporations interested in investing in small animal imaging and informatics.
Our vision will be supported by a research and development plan to:
- develop the next generation of imaging technology for the visualization of small animal anatomy and physiology
- work closely with end users to refine and improve technological innovations
- develop highly qualified personnel to meet the needs of academic institutes and industrial partners
- transfer innovative imaging tools to indusstry to benefit the Ontario economy and create jobs