Seven UAB and Heersink School of Medicine leaders traveled alongside Marnix Heersink, M.D., to McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, for a meeting on June 29, 2023, to share overviews of the schools and universities and highlight some of the innovative programs at each institution in global health, women’s health, health care innovation and commercialization, and radiopharmaceuticals and medical imaging. In addition to the vast potential for research and clinical trial collaborations, delegates also discussed opportunities for faculty and student exchanges, a shared certificate, and other educational programs and symposia.
Heersink connected the UAB School of Medicine and McMaster University in an exciting collaborative partnership in the development of biomedical innovation and entrepreneurship and global health through his naming gifts to the two institutions. Now the schools are forging a new collaboration to leverage existing programs, infrastructure, relationships, and track records.
UAB, McMaster University, the Centre for Probe Development and Commercialization (CPDC), and Fusion Pharmaceuticals are joining together to focus on radiopharmaceutical development, one of the fastest growing areas of medicine, by creating the International Medical Isotope Collaboration Spanning Research, Training, Patient Impact, and Commercialization. This was launched with a two year pilot program led by Suzanne Lapi, Ph.D., (UAB) and John Valliant, Ph.D., (McMaster/Fusion), creating an opportunity to create a leading cross-border medical isotope/nuclear medicine program that fosters team science and trains the next generation of scientist-clinician-entrepreneurs.
The International Medical Isotope Collaboration program will provide opportunities for collaboration and training on research, translation, and commercialization for scientists, medical students, and medical interns. It is proposed that the institutions partake in a six week summer student exchange to allow for further cross fertilization of techniques and projects, in addition to one retreat per year, alternating annually between UAB and McMaster, where attendees can tour local infrastructure and participate in focused research talks. The program would also fund two research projects per year with co-PIs from each institution.
Heersink’s philanthropic investments established biotech commercialization hubs and global health institutes at the two universities as Hamilton and Birmingham continue transitioning from steel production and heavy industry to health care, higher education, and associated services and industries.
Both UAB and McMaster are investing strategically in expanding the radiopharmaceutical and medical isotope research programs, building on partnerships and successful track records in commercialization and clinical impact. This aligned path is an exciting and unique opportunity to combine these investments to build an international program focused on high unmet medical need areas.
The necessary components are already in place to deliver success and build a collaborative program that will drive innovation and have an impact for decades. Partnering with an exceptional institution like McMaster’s Faculty of Health Sciences will expand and accelerate well-aligned programs at UAB in exciting ways, potentially improving the health and well-being of people throughout the U.S., Canada, and the globe.