The provincial government is investing $15.5 million to expand operations at the McMaster Nuclear Reactor (MNR) – Canada’s largest nuclear research reactor and a world-leading supplier of medical isotopes.
The funding, announced as part of the provincial budget earlier today, will allow the reactor to switch from running for 24 hours five days a week to seven days nonstop, and support the increased production of custom isotopes required to develop new drugs.
Radioisotopes are essential in diagnosing and treating cancer. Each year, isotopes produced at the reactor are used in treatments for over 70,000 cancer patients globally.
With expanded capacity, McMaster will drive the development of more life-saving, targeted therapies, reaching even more patients in Ontario and around the world.
“We thank the Government of Ontario for its vital support in expanding operations of the McMaster Nuclear Reactor,” said McMaster President David Farrar.
“As Canada’s Nuclear University, McMaster is now even better positioned to commercialize cutting-edge research and train the next generation of nuclear experts to protect the health of Ontarians, Canadians and people around the world.”
The funding, spread over three years, builds on a $6.8M investment from the province in 2023. It will open new market opportunities for the university’s nuclear reactor and strengthen Ontario’s nuclear sector.
“Ontario is a global leader in innovative research that creates good, paying jobs, strengthens our economy and saves lives,” said Nolan Quinn, minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security.
“Our government is proud to support the expansion of the McMaster Nuclear Reactor so it can produce even more groundbreaking treatments that improve people’s health, protecting Ontario for decades to come.”
As part of the budget announcement, the province shared two other investments in research and academic programming at McMaster:
$750 million over five years to fund up to 20,500 seats for students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs at colleges and universities, including 2,440 per year at McMaster.