By KELLY LOUISEIZE
Northern Ontario Business
Neureka Research Corp. is currently in the process of changing its name to
Northern Centre for Biotechnology and Clinical Research with the intent of
attracting more research projects.
The name change reinforces the centre's location and their market, and
provides an avenue for biotechnology expansion in the North, says Magdy
Basta, president and CEO of Northern Centre for Biotechnology and Clinical
Research.
"It reflects our mandate," Basta.
"We will advance our infrastructure...from 6,946 square feet right now to
25,000 square feet."
Laboratories and offices of four different facilities - the custom contract
research and commercialization facility, training and education facility
and a research and development facility, including the biotechnology and
clinical research facility, will be housed on the fifth floor of the Willet
Green Miller building in Sudbury by the end of this year. In total
approximately 20 more researchers and scientists will be employed on top of
the 40 already working at the site.
"We have the largest network to do clinical research, so no one can compete
with us" Basta explains. However, he is quick to point out the need for
collaboration and partnerships throughout Northern Ontario to develop a
biotechnology sector.
"In order to expand you have to change and work together," he adds.
In addition to the increased presence in Sudbury, "we would like to have
several organizations around Ontario," Basta explains.
Satellite centres in Timmins, Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie and North Bay
can become key organizations in the development of biotechnology research,
since each community has expertise in designated sectors, he says.
The northern research facility has been open for four years with a proven
track record, thereby securing $4,999,999 million in funding from Northern
Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. to jump-start the $15-million expansion
project.
Within those four years, scientists have invented medical tools for the use
of early detection of cardiovascular disease and bowel dysfunction. Now a
Cholesterol Marker Kit, is in clinical trial. The product, which is
patented, measures risk assessment for cardiovascular disease. It will be
used on hundreds of patients throughout Europe this summer. Another product
called the Toroviruses Kit monitors for toroviruses, an agent found in
diarrhea. A prototype kit was developed and is now proceeding towards
commercialization. The northern research centre has partnered with Bio-X
Diagnostic Company of Belgium to market the kit after testing is completed.
Basta says they have another 72 research projects underway.
"There is no single pharmaceutical company in the world that I do not have
a contract or two (with)."
With more announcements on the biotechnology sector expected from Ministry
of Enterprise Opportunity and Innovation, on Aug. 8 in North Bay, the North
could eventually become a centre of excellence, Basta says.