St. Joseph’s and Western University announce two research chairs – a milestone for London, Ontario’s hospital-based medical imaging research and patient care

London, Ontario – In a historical-first, St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation and Western University announced two research chairs that are a critical step toward new approaches in imaging research and patient care in London and around the world. The combined value of both innovative new research chairs is $6.5M, which will be endowed in perpetuity to advance imaging research at Western University and Lawson Health Research Institute.

 

The research chairs have been named after the two scientists who are revolutionizing health care through their groundbreaking imaging research – Dr. Ting-Yim Lee and Dr. Frank Prato, who were both honoured at the event’s announcement.

 

The Ting-Yim Lee Chair in Cardiac Computerized Tomography (CT) Imaging Research has been established through the generosity of Ting-Yim and Maggie Lee and a joint funding collaboration between St. Joseph’s Foundation and Western University.  

 

Dr. Ting Yim Lee is a scientist and professor of the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, medical physicist at St. Joseph’s Health Care London and a scientist with Lawson Health Research Institute’s Imaging program. Through his leadership, 

The Ting-Yim Lee Chair in Cardiac Computerized Tomography (CT) Imaging Research will transform the way clinicians diagnose, and prevent, severe tissue damage in persons who have experienced a cardiac event. This Chair represents the next phase of CT imaging research, focused on developing software and new methods that will save people’s lives.

 

The Dr. Frank Prato Research Chair in Molecular Imaging has been established to further enhance scientific understanding in the specialty of molecular imaging – building upon St. Joseph’s internationally-recognized leadership in imaging excellence.

 

Dr. Frank Prato is a scientist and professor of the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Chief Medical Physicist at St. Joseph’s Health Care London and the Founder and Program Leader of Lawson Health Research Institute’s Imaging Program. Through his visionary leadership, The Dr. Frank Prato Research Chair in Molecular Imaging will improve the way clinicians effectively diagnose disease and actively correct the course of treatments in real time for life-threatening illnesses. This Chair represents the next phase of precision medicine using molecular imaging to distinguish between varying forms of dementias, cancers, and to detect the early onset of cardiac disease and diabetes before symptoms emerge. 

 

These Chairs will also have a greater role to play in the local health care community by attracting, and retaining, the research talent needed to innovate the way London’s hospitals and Western tackle the most pressing health issues Canadians face today. 

 

“These Chairs build on the legacy of exceptional imaging leadership across our academic, research and healthcare organizations. They are a critical step towards new approaches in medical technology and hospital-based research that will revolutionize patient care.”

- Dr. Gillian Kernaghan, President and CEO, St. Joseph’s Health Care London

 

“These generous donations and the new Chairs they create will strengthen our partnerships with St. Joseph’s and Lawson and help ensure that London remains at the forefront of medical imaging research and teaching.”

- Dr. Amit Chakma, President and Vice-Chancellor, Western University

 

“I am truly honoured to have this Research Chair in Molecular Imaging named after myself. Over the past 40 years I have been privileged to work with outstanding people and incredible resources. Today Medical Imaging has become a cornerstone of care at St Joseph's Hospital. Here at St Joseph's we realize patient stewardship includes research as an essential part of the patient care continuum and that discovery, through research, leads to improved patient care. The holder of this chair will help lead us into the next frontier of medical imaging directly benefiting our local, national and global communities.”

- Dr. Frank Prato, Scientist, Lawson Health Research Institute, Chief Medical Physicist, St. Joseph’s Health Care London, and Professor, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry

 

“Over the past 28 years, St. Joseph’s and Western have created opportunities for me and supported my research endeavor in many ways. I feel this gift is the best way to repay the help that I have received. We are onto something that is worthwhile and successful. By setting up this Chair, there would be a significant person – a clinician-scientist – to lead the next phase of the cardiac CT program. I am really humbled that the institutions see the value in this research and have contributed to guarantee that we have the necessary leader to carry forth this development.”  

- Dr. Ting-Yim Lee, Scientist, Lawson Health Research Institute, Medical Physicist, St. Joseph’s Health Care London, and Professor, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry

 

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Renowned for compassionate care, St. Joseph’s Health Care London is a leading academic health care centre in Canada dedicated to helping people live to their fullest by minimizing the effects of injury, disease and disability through excellence in care, teaching and research. Through partnership with Lawson Health Research Institute and our collaborative engagement with other health care and academic partners, St. Joseph’s has become an international leader in the areas of: chronic disease management; medical imaging; specialized mental health care; rehabilitation and specialized geriatrics; and surgery. St. Joseph’s operates through a wide range of hospital, clinic and long-term and community-based settings, including: St. Joseph’s Hospital; Parkwood Institute; Mount Hope Centre for Long Term Care; and the Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care. 

St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation gathers, grows and grants philanthropic funds to enable St. Joseph’s Health Care London to pursue excellence in care, teaching and research. Through donor support, the foundation contributes to advances in the delivery of patient care, specialized equipment, research initiatives and capital funds at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Parkwood Institute, Mount Hope Centre for Long Term Care, Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care and Lawson Health Research Institute. As one of the largest charitable organizations in Southwestern Ontario, St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation is an accredited member of Imagine Canada’s Standards Program, which recognizes the foundation’s commitment to ethical fundraising and donor accountability.

As the research institute of London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health Care London, and working in partnership with Western University, Lawson Health Research Institute is committed to furthering scientific knowledge to advance health care around the world. 

Western University delivers an academic experience second to none. Since 1878, The Western Experience has combined academic excellence with life-long opportunities for intellectual, social and cultural growth in order to better serve our communities. Our research excellence expands knowledge and drives discovery with real-world application. Western attracts individuals with a broad worldview, seeking to study, influence and lead in the international community.

The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University is one of Canada’s preeminent medical and dental schools. Established in 1881, it was one of the founding schools of Western University and is known for being the birthplace of family medicine in Canada. For more than 130 years, the School has demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence and a passion for scientific discovery.

 

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