First-in-Canada scanner unveiled in London, Ont., promises earlier disease detection

St. Joseph’s Health Care has unveiled Canada’s first Biograph PET/MRI machine at Lawson Research institute. CTV’s Reta Ismail explains.

Researchers in London are gaining a clearer view of the human body than ever before with the arrival of a first-in-Canada medical imaging scanner that could help improve the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of diseases and workplace injuries.

The Lawson Research Institute at St. Joseph’s Health Care London unveiled its new Siemens BIOGRAPH One PET/MRI scanner on Thursday, an $8-million piece of technology that combines positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) into a single system.

Researchers say the scanner provides an unprecedented look inside the body by allowing them to examine both the structure of organs and tissues and the biological activity occurring within cells in real time.

“BIOGRAPH One is a very exciting piece of technology in the sense that it increases the sensitivity of the PET system. And the MRI system brings in all of the new technology that has been developed in the last 15 years or so in MRI and PET, all in one machine,” said Jean Théberge, a Lawson scientist, certified clinical medical physicist, and MRI specialist.

Scientists believe the technology could lead to earlier detection of diseases including cancer, stroke, chronic pain conditions and neurological disorders. Researchers are also exploring its potential to improve understanding of mental health conditions such as depression and bipolar disorder.

“These diseases are difficult to differentiate early on,” Théberge said. “The clinical standard right now for a psychiatrist is not very good in terms of accuracy of predicting. Most people that present for medical attention with depressed symptoms get treated with anti-depressants. It means a large number of people with bipolar disorder get the wrong diagnosis, get the wrong medication.”

The scanner was acquired through funding tied to a $65.7 million investment from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) and the WorkSafe Ontario Fund. The investment helped launch Lawson’s Workplace Injury Research Network, which focuses on advancing research into occupational illnesses and injuries.

“WSIB receives over 238,000 claims every year from people who are injured or ill as a result of the workplace,” said Julie Thurlow, vice-president of specialized claims and recovery services at WSIB. “Our role and our mission is to support them and reduce the devastation caused by these injuries and illnesses. Having investments such as today really helps us to understand and evolve science so that we can treat, prevent and diagnose those injuries more effectively and get people back to work.”

Researchers say the scanner will support studies into chronic pain, occupational stress injuries, musculoskeletal disorders and neurological diseases, with the goal of improving prevention, treatment and recovery outcomes for workers across Ontario.