NRC Institute for Biodiagnostics (NRC-IBD)

(Winnipeg, Manitoba, Calgary, Alberta, and Halifax, Nova Scotia)

Improving Canadian Patient Care and Medical Diagnostics

NRC-IBD develops non-invasive medical devices and technologies for early and accurate diagnosis of health conditions such as cancer, stroke and cardiovascular disease. The Institute works in partnership with medical schools, universities, other research organizations, and industry to foster socio-economic development through R&D and commercialization of its advanced medical devices.

NRC-IBD has five core research groups:

• The Biosystems Group uses non-invasive investigative techniques, such as magnetic resonance (MR) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and is primarily focused on cancer, heart disease, and infectious diseases.
• The Biomedical Informatics Group develops and adapts methods to analyze and monitor complex biomedical data and helps bring the resulting software products to market.
• The two Magnetic Resonance Technology Groups develop magnetic resonance techniques and instruments to diagnose human disease, create protocols to apply these techniques to solve medical and biological problems, and partner with the MR industry to develop new products.
• The Spectroscopy Group uses optical and infrared spectroscopy and imaging methods to improve diagnostic capabilities in the health care of Canadians.
• NRC-IBD also has a prototyping team to take science from the proof-of-concept stage and develop it to the point where it can be transferred directly to industry.

NRC-IBD researcher using fluorescence imaging system to detect tumours

NRC-IBD operates two satellite facilities — NRC-IBD (West) in Calgary at the Calgary Foothills Hospital and NRC-IBD (Atlantic) in Halifax, a driving force in the Atlantic Canada neuroscience cluster. Both facilities focus on improved diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of disease.

The NRC Centre for Commercialization of Biomedical Technology (NRC-CCBT), situated adjacent to the Institute, opened in October 2005. The Centre will be home to a wide range of individuals, firms, organizations, supporting commercialization through innovation support services and programs.