In 2024 TRIUMF Innovations delivered new partnerships, innovative milestones, and measurable impact in medical isotope development. As the commercialization arm of TRIUMF, Canada’s particle accelerator center, we continued to link cutting-edge science and technology to tangible business opportunities.

Here, are some highlights from the year.

Driving Global Collaboration and Recognition

Our commitment to fostering strategic partnerships and advancing innovation was reflected in several significant achievements:

Landmark Acquisition: In March, our spinoff company, ARTMS, was acquired by Telix Pharmaceuticals for $82.5M USD, showcasing the commercial viability of TRIUMF-developed technologies.
Industry Excellence Recognized: In October, TRIUMF received the BC Tech’s Technology Impact Award (TIA) for Excellence in Industry Innovation, underscoring our leadership in creating multiple successful technology spinoff companies.
Federal Investment: In April, the Federal Government made an unprecedented $400 million investment in TRIUMF, a pivotal step in bolstering Canada’s research infrastructure. Then in August, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan visited TRIUMF to highlight the landmark investment

Accelerating Innovation in Health and Isotope Technology

2024 was a significant year for advancements in isotope science and health technologies, driven by the several organizations including the Canadian Medical Isotope Ecosystem (CMIE), which we co-lead with the Centre for Probe Development and Commercialization:

Canadian Radiotheranostics Leader’s Summit: Developed in partnership with the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council and the University Health Network, this event united experts from industry, academia, clinicians and government to accelerate Canadian radiotheranostic development.
CMIE’s Inaugural Annual Symposium: December saw the launch of this key event, which brought together leaders in the medical isotope field to drive innovation and collaboration, and foster the next generation of radiotherapeutic startups in Canada.

Expanding Leadership and Advocacy

We continued to shape the conversation around science, technology, and innovation:

Leadership Honours: Esteemed Board Chair Karimah Es Sabar was appointed to the Order of British Columbia in August, recognizing her leadership and impactful contributions in the science and healthcare fields.
Expert Leadership Appointments: In August, our CEO Kathryn Hayashi joined the Council of Canadian Academies Expert Panel for the State of Science, Technology and Innovation in Canada, working to develop a new report to provide critical insights on Canada's scientific landscape to inform our country's roadmap for innovation.
Isotopes for Hope Podcast: Kathryn’s compelling interview with Canadian Nuclear Isotopes Council’s podcast highlighted our vision for the future of medical isotopes and their potential to improve health outcomes globally.

Empowering Startups and Innovation Ecosystems

Through CMIE, we empowered emerging ventures and supported the next wave of innovation:

Funding Milestones: The CMIE awarded $1.7M in its first funding round to five pioneering companies, furthering their development and contributions to the isotope ecosystem.
Strategic Events: Sponsorships, such as the Life Sciences BC Invest in BC series, underscored our commitment to fostering innovation and connecting stakeholders across industries.

Looking Ahead to 2025

As we turn to the future, 2025 promises to build on this year’s momentum. In addition to announcing the second funding round for the CMIE Development Fund, two events are already in the works:

In 2025, the Canadian Radiotheranostics Leaders’ Summit will be expanding in scope and scale to reach new audiences and include more opportunities to discuss new and emerging trends, research, and applications. It will be held in Toronto, Ontario June 12 and 13.
CMIE’s 2nd Annual Symposium on Medical Isotopes. More information will be available soon.

From our community to yours, we are excited to continue this journey of discovery and impact.