News and Events — TRIUMF Life Sciences

23rd December, 2023: The Life Sciences team came together for their annual holiday party to cap off the year on a high note. Attendees were greeted by twinkling Christmas lights and the scent of festive snacks that set the perfect tone for the evening. The highlight of the evening was a lively scavenger hunt that had everyone engaged and on their toes. Amidst the joyous games, the party also served as a platform to acknowledge the team's accomplishments throughout the year. Cheers to a successful year and a joyful holiday season from the Life Sciences team!

10th November, 2023: In a major achievement, TRIUMF and the University of York have secured funding from the UK government for a cutting-edge detector development project focused on advancing medical isotope research. Lead scientist Dr. Diget and his colleagues from the University of York visited TRIUMF. Dr. Hoehr, TRIUMF's lead scientist, personally guided them through the facility, showcasing its unique infrastructure.

29th October, 2023: TRIUMF's microfluidics co-op student, Jack Plant, clinched the third prize for his groundbreaking work on microfluidic radiopharmaceutical synthesis at the University of Waterloo Canadian Undergraduate Physics Conference 2023.

6th October, 2023: Our Life Sciences Division recently came alive with a vibrant spirit at our Fall Party. The division members gathered to enjoy an afternoon of board games and shared laughter. The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the highly anticipated baking contest. It was a day of fun, connection, and delicious treats, leaving lasting memories of the event.

8th September, 2023: Congratulations to Parmissa Randhawa, PhD student at SFU, for her outstanding achievement at the 10th International Symposium on Auger Electron Processes. Well done, Parmissa!

7th September, 2023: Dr. Rachel Codd, Bioinorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Prof. at the University of Sydney, impressed us with her radiometal chelator talk at NRC, Vancouver. She earned the prestigious Biota Medal in 2010, a top honor in Australian medicinal chemistry.

29th August, 2023: Our Team met with James Schellenberg, CEO of Cubresa Inc. to delve into the world of MR-compatible BrainPET systems and research tracers around Canada. During the meeting, James expressed a strong interest in understanding trends related to research and clinical tracers, not only in Vancouver but also across Canada and the USA.

2nd August, 2023: Meet Sophia Andru, our co-op student from Life Sciences, presenting her poster "3D Printing of Phantoms for Radiotherapy" at the Sci Week Poster Competition. Alongside Cornelia Hoehr, they're pushing the boundaries of innovation.

2nd August, 2023: Meghan Kostashuk, our Co-Op Student in Life Sciences alongside Madison Daignault claimed the People's Choice award for their outstanding poster on 'Development of Diagnostic Procedures for Radiopharmaceuticals In Vitro.'

2nd August, 2023: During Science Week, our accomplished scientists took the stage to share their pioneering research. Cornelia Hoehr's work on Proton Therapy and FLASH promises to revolutionize cancer treatment. Valery Radchenko explored Targeted Radionuclide Therapy for more precise cancer treatments. Hua Yang delved into the potential of radiochemistry. Our Life Sciences Director, Paul Schaffer presented an ambitious 5-year plan, followed by Caterina Ramogida who showcased TRIUMF's role in transforming cancer therapy with rare isotopes.

Dr. Paul Scaffer with Korean Atomic Research Group.

28th July, 2023: Exciting day at TRIUMF! Welcoming esteemed researchers from Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. They're here to explore our cutting-edge RI Production Facilities, gaining insights for their own setup. Grateful to host Dr. Myung-Hwan Jung, Dr. J.K. Park, Dr. H.M. Jang, and the entire team. Special thanks to Dr. Paul Schaffer and Dr. Andrew MacFarlane for leading the tour!

25th July, 2023: Shoutout to Shaohuang Chen, PhD student at SFU for acing the Best Presentation Award at 11ICI. His talk unveiled advancements in radiochemical separation techniques for mercury-197 extraction from proton-irradiated gold targets.

23rd July, 2023: Day one at 11ICI2023 in Saskatoon was a blast! TRIUMF's groundbreaking research shared by Dr. Paul Scaffer, Dr. Valery Radchenko, and Shaohuang Chen had everyone captivated.

20th July, 2023: Our partnership with the University of Saskatchewan led to a dynamic 3-day summer school preceding the 11ICI. Kudos to the Department of Physics at USask and Sylvia Fedoruk Centre for their valuable support.

4th June, 2023: Full house in room 121 at CSC2023 in Vancouver. Our symposium “Medicinal Inorganic Chemistry – From Diagnostics to Therapeutics” organized by Dr. Caterina Ramogida was super successful.

1st June, 2023: LSPEC 2023 was a roaring success! The LSPEC committee diligently reviewed research proposals, while participants showcased their projects through captivating presentations. The level of innovation and expertise on display was simply remarkable.

1st June, 2023: LSPEC's student poster competition was a highlight for LSPEC. The LSPEC committee carefully assessed the posters, while the audience embraced the competition with enthusiasm. It was an inspiring display of creativity, knowledge, and innovation.

1st June, 2023: Congratulations to Charlene Harriswangler Harris, FPI Predoctoral Fellow at CICA UDC for claiming the top prize at the LSPEC 2023 Student Poster Competition for her poster on the Study of large 18-membered macrocycles in 203Pb radiolabeling.

26th May, 2023: TRIUMF postdoctoral researcher Luke Wharton, Postdoctoral fellow (Radiopharmaceutical Development) took home the Best Abstract - Nuclear Medicine and Biology award at the recent International Symposium of Radiopharmaceutical Sciences (iSRS) conference in Honolulu, Hawaii.

4th May, 2023: A team of researchers led by Dr. François Bénard (University of British Columbia) and Dr. Caterina Ramogida (Simon Fraser University + TRIUMF) has been awarded $23M in federal funding to support research and development for isotope-based therapies that can treat cancer and other diseases.

25th April, 2023: Congratulations to Parmissa Randhawa, PhD student at SFU for being one of the five recipients of the Young Investigator Award win for her poster on Hg-197 chelation at ISTR 2023 in Vienna. The TRIUMF/Fusion team also delivered exceptional plenary invited talks and showcased TRIUMF during the Symposium. Many thanks to Dr. Cornelia Hoehr for organizing a successful event.

March 8, 2023: International Women's Day at TRIUMF was a heartwarming celebration of remarkable women in STEM. Our Life Sciences team gathered for coffee, cake, and camaraderie. We had fun with "Name the Dame" and Bingo while reflecting on women's unique challenges and achievements in STEM. We emphasized the importance of gender diversity. To mark the day, we shared our thoughts and aspirations on a board, symbolizing our commitment to gender equality in STEM. Thanks to all who joined us, and here's to a future where women continue to excel in STEM.

March 8, 2023: Happy International Women's Day 23’! Today, we celebrate the remarkable achievements of women worldwide and honour their invaluable contributions. This year, we spoke with three inspiring women from TRIUMF, who shared their stories and advice with us.

March 1st, 2023: The Life Sciences team from TRIUMF had an amazing time at TAT12 in Cape Town, South Africa. Engaging in discussions on targeted alpha therapy and research advancements. Great connections were made with industry leaders from around the world.

21st January, 2023: Thank you to everyone for joining us in our fun Mid-Winter Celebration Event at River Rock Show Theatre. The formal celebration was followed by music and food and honoring the retirees that retired during the COVID-19 pandemic and which we were not able to celebrate with sooner.

8th August, 2022: Our Research Scientist Monika Stachura participated in FEST which is hosted by the Consulate General of Switzerland in Vancouver bringing together organizations and audiences from the fields of science, technology, arts, industry, and community around Swiss-Canadian innovation.

https://www.innovationfest.net/imagination-dialogue

26th April, 2022: TRIUMF celebrates the successful crane-in of the TR24 cyclotron, the cornerstone of the new Institute for Advanced Medical Isotopes (IAMI), which took flight briefly on Friday, April 8, up and over the IAMI site fence and then down to its permanent home on the B2 level of the Institute.

April 14, 2022: A big thank-you to all of our TED attendees this week for the opportunity to show you our laboratory, our work, and our community.

12th April, 2022: We are delighted to announce that Dr. Paul Schaffer, our esteemed director of life sciences, has been awarded the prestigious Osaka Award at the Global Alumni Reunion. The award is a recognition of his outstanding contribution to the field of life sciences and his unwavering dedication to his work.

24th to 28th August, 2020: WTTC held in Whistler, British Columbia was a series of workshops initiated for the purpose of exchanging information about the problems and solutions to problems associated with the production of radioisotopes for biomedical research and their applications to the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

10th September, 2019: TRIUMF Researcher Emeritus, Dr. Thomas Ruth elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada

Find out more: https://www.triumf.ca/awards-honours/triumf-researcher-emeritus-dr-thomas-ruth-elected-fellow-royal-society-canada

6th September, 2018: Using a particle accelerator, our team of scientists are attempting to make a rare radioactive element that could revolutionize cancer treatment.

Here’s how:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DkhSFS0FY4

Credits to:

http://www.storyhive.com/

24th August, 2010: TRIUMF's Rabbit Line, on the University of British Columbia campus, sends slightly radioactive material under the streets of Vancouver at 100km/h (60mph). Here's how and why-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMTZvA8iFgI ◾

Learn More: https://www.triumf.ca/headlines/current-events/rabbit-line-gets-replacement

Edited by: Michelle Martin https://twitter.com/mrsmmartin