News

UHN Licensed Image Guided Irradiator System Reaches 10th Installation Milestone

(TORONTO,Canada– Feb. 29, 2012) UHN, in partnership with Precision X-Ray Inc., has installed the 10th unit of the pre-clinical Image Guided X-Ray Irradiation System, the X-RAD 225Cx, at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The X-RAD 225Cx is a platform which enables the image-guided placement of irradiation distributions within pre-clinical subjects.

Invented and developed at UHN by Techna Director and OCI Senior Scientist Dr. David Jaffray and OCI Senior Scientist Dr. Richard Hill, the system combines cone-beam CT imaging technology with X-ray irradiation capability. The integration of these two capabilities allows for sub-millimeter targeting accuracy to high-dose pre-clinical radiation therapy research. “This work came about from UHN’s own need of having pre-clinical cancer research tools which mirror IGRT treatments done in the clinic” says Dr. Jaffray.

The X-RAD 225Cx was commercialized by Mark Taylor through UHN’s Technology Development and Commercialization Office in 2009 using a medical technology-specific model for public-private partnership.  “We have worked hard to create an environment where our expertise in the health-technology area is translated into marketable product as quickly as possible,” says Mr. Taylor.  “It is about providing a sustainable enterprise enabling the development of new features and new discoveries.”  Technology development activities are being lead by Techna in partnership with local partners for the next generation development of the system.

NIH/NCI joins a growing number of international research institutions who have purchased the X-RAD 225Cx, including the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Maastricht University, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Duke University and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre.

 

Anthony Easty, Baxter Chair in Health Technology joins Techna Institute

(TORONTO,Canada– Dec. 7, 2011) – Dr. Anthony (Tony) Easty, Baxter Chair in Health Technology at University Health Network (UHN), has joined the Techna Faculty. Dr. Easty, a Professional Engineer and a Certified Clinical Engineer, holds the position of Senior Scientist and leads the Health Technology Safety Research Team at UHN’s Centre for Global eHealth Innovation. He is also an Associate Professor at the Institute of Biomaterials & Biomedical Engineering, Chair of the Canadian Board of Examiners for Clinical Engineering Certification and Past-Chair of the International Committee of theAmericanCollegeof Clinical Engineering.

Techna Institute is a new institute of the University Health Network, in collaboration with theUniversityofToronto, focused on the accelerated development and exploitation of technology for improved health. Dr. Easty is joining the Design and Engineering for Health core at Techna, led by Dr. Joe Cafazzo, Senior Director of Medical Engineering and Healthcare Human Factors at UHN and a member of the Faculty of Medicine at theUniversityofToronto. The UHN Human Factors group is the largest group of its kind internationally. It is devoted to the application of human factors engineering to solve problems of healthcare delivery and patient safety.

Techna will greatly benefit form from Dr. Easty’s expertise as a global leader in Health Technology Safety Research. Dr. Easty and his team conduct safety-based research investigations on a range of topics in a broad spectrum of health care environments. These include acute hospital-based care, cancer care, and home-based care, using tools such as ethnographic research, systematic analysis, technical analysis, and simulation studies. His current research interests include investigating the risks associated with multiple intravenous drug infusions, improving the safety of intravenous chemotherapy, and improving the safety of home-based care.

“We are delighted that Dr. Easty is joining Techna. His leadership in health technology safety design is an exceptionally attractive asset for the Techna Network.” says Techna Director David Jaffray, UHN Head of Radiation Physics and a Senior Scientist at the Ontario Cancer Institute. Dr. Jaffray is also a Professor of Radiation Oncology and Medical Biophysics at U of T and holds the Orey and Mary Fidani Family Chair in Radiation Physics atPrincessMargaretHospital. “At Techna we greatly value Human Factors and Safety Engineering. It is a crucial stage in the process of effective technology translation. Dr. Easty’s expertise will further strengthen it.