MDS Nordion chief executive Steve West(rear) and University of Ottawa Heart Institute chief of cardiology Dr. Terrence Ruddy. (Photo supplied)

MDS Nordion and the University of Ottawa Heart Institute are partnering to establish a $2.2-million US centre of excellence for molecular cardiac imaging research.

The medical isotopes and radiopharmaceuticals maker will be putting in capital and new specialized equipment into a research and development radiochemistry laboratory to support cardiology research.

The centre aims to improve cardiology research by using molecular imaging technology, which looks at the physiology and cellular activity of the body rather than simply the anatomical structure.

"Traditional imaging involved looking at a tumour to see whether it shrinks or not, which could take up to six weeks – a very long time to see if a treatment works or not," explained MDS Nordion president Steve West in an interview. "With molecular imaging, we can instantly see where the treatment is in the body and whether it's working, because we're looking at the body on a chemical basis."

Mr. West said the facility would help companies develop drugs more effectively and allow physicians to detect disease earlier and better determine the best treatment for each patient.

The company said the centre would also allow it to provide its molecular imaging services to large pharmaceutical companies to help them commercialize new drugs at a lower cost.

"This collaboration will enable the Heart Institute to remain at the forefront of cardiovascular care, education and research," said University of Ottawa Heart Institute chief of cardiology Dr. Terrence Ruddy in a statement. "The centre is an important addition that will add a new dimension to our research infrastructure. We expect that the research capabilities and opportunities fuelled by this technology will provide a major step forward in combating and ultimately eradicating heart disease."

Mr. West added that the collaboration between the MDS Nordion and the Heart Institute was a "natural extension" of what both parties have been doing for many years, and represented an opportunity to expand the current understanding of technology in the relatively new field of molecular imaging.

He said the company is also interested at working with academia on treatments in the fields of oncology and neuroscience in the future.

"It's a journey of discovery," he said. "We'll see how well this concept and partnership evolves and what the outputs are ... obviously, you can tell we're very excited."

The centre of excellence is set to open in late 2007 on the Heart Institute's campus.