New Medical Research Facility Completly Retrofitted
by Scott A. Sumner
Thunder Bay Business
The former Thunder Bay Regional Cancer Centre building on Munro Street is now close to full completion of its renovation for its new use as ICR Discoveries. The 52,000 square foot three level including basement structure will soon house up to 150 highly trained employees
undertaking a variety of research projects.
ICR Discoveries currently has Lakehead University, Genesis Geonomics, the Lake Superior Centre for Regenerative Medicine as tenants in the new facility and are expecting more shortly when the final renovations are complete in the next month or so. The whole building will have been completely retrofitted for research purposes. DRD Construction is completing the renovation work.
“ There will be additional wet lab space and research space for when we recruit scientists ensuring that they have the appropriate space. This will include 4000 square feet of wet or dry labs,” said Nella Lawrence in charge of the project for the TBRHSC. “ They had some specific needs in imaging research, so need X ray booths, characterization so have a significantly big optical table and office space for researchers and students. There is a clean room, a high tech room that is completely environmentally controlled so they can do sensitive types of experiments. As well micro biology labs, machine shops and diagnostic areas will be used in experimentation.”
“ The area being finished now is about 18,000 square feet in total. There will be multiple different researchers all having different tracks or themes in research they will be pursuing. Some may have some commonality and others not as far as the research. We have identified
three major themes we are interested in. Bio Marker exploration is one theme. Minimally invasive therapy is another,” said Scott Potts, Senior Vice President of Corporate Services for the TBRHSC.“ We have had support through all levels of government and a private partner as well- Philips that has provided supported. The whole project with the 5 year operating funds and the original capital retrofit means $50 million in funding. Each of the scientists that work here are always applying for grants from places like the Canada foundation for Innovation and others. They look for funding to support their projects.”
“ All the space will be developed but we are still in the recruitment process right now. It wont be fully occupied at the opening but in the next 2 to 3 years will be. I thought is was a wonderful way to expand our research program and strategy. Also we had a vacant building and we saw this as a really viable opportunity to bring more people into our community and develop that building at the same time.” said Nella Lawrence. “ The designation of ICR Discoveries as a robust academic centre means we have a very well developed and extensive research program. We are part of an academic centre in providing new ways of providing patient care though teaching and research. Here is an initiative that helps develop a new economy for Thunder Bay and NW Ontario. This is a high tech sector that can be successful in different geographic locations,” said Scott Potts. “ There is world wide collaboration that occurs with our scientists and with the advances in technology, being in Thunder Bay does not hinder them in making those relationships. It is a great way to diversity the Thunder Bay economy and I think that is what the funders saw and why we had a lot of support from the community.”
“ The scientist themselves don’t usually have the ability to get large infrastructure facilities. They need the facilities to do their work and you have deliver it to them. Their focus is on the actual science including their equipment and staff. These are PhD and clinical scientists. Our relationship with LU has helped to develop new graduate programs within the university which is another spin off,” noted Potts. “These type of facilities are usually associated with a
medical school. You need research with patients and hospitals have patients so their needs to be a close tie to fully develop the program.”
The TBRHSC which is completing this project has its own annual operating budget of $270 million and annual capital budget of $10 million or higher depending on the project. Currently they are undergoing an expansion of their space for the NOMS. It is being expanded to accommodate the medical learners on site and the the faculty as well. It is a project that has been ongoing since July 2008 and is a 23,000 square feet expansion with some in different
locations and some on site. There is also about 9000 square feet of a renovation of existing space. The TBRHSC is spending $9 million on the work being completed by Tom Jones Corporation.
“ We have been working with different proponents to redevelop the old Port Arthur General Hospital site. To date there is not really any confirmed success. We are still working with one group who are having some issues with respect to financing because the financial markets
are not abundant right now. If that is not a success we may have to look at other options including demolition,” said Potts. “The old McKellar site has moved fairly well with Shoppers and the other part progressing but is more complicated so is taking more time. The two
developers who took on that property are gong to make something successful out of something that would just be a vacant building and a liability. We understand it is moving forward.”
“The TBRHSC is gong to be in a deficit position next year. This research arm ICR Discoveries is a separate entity with seed funding supporting the plans. Health care is a challenge all across the world with costs escalating. Take a look at the demographics of Canada. When
people age they demand health care. We need to get creative in how we deliver our services because there are fiscal realities. We have to work together.” said Scott Potts.
