The city of London, Ont., has decided that medical research is a wise investment. After first providing grants totalling $30 million to local hospitals and universities, the city recently signed as guarantor of a $7.75 million loan that will help the London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) establish the National Centre for Advanced Surgery and Robotics.
Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco says the commitment reflects the city's decision to “bring together the best scientists, researchers and ‘medical cluster.’ It is a wise investment on our part.”
The new centre will be affiliated with the University of Western Ontario and will attempt to find ways to treat human disease using robots, and to develop remote-operation and simulation-training tools (see CMAJ 2000;162[2]:244). It will be headed by Dr. Douglas Boyd and have an estimated construction cost of $12 million.
Tony Dagnone, CEO at the LHSC, says the city's guarantee results in preferred interest rates and fast-tracks the project. He says the urgency is related to “our current position as the international leader in this unique, pioneering research” and the need to retain and seek research grants.
The guarantee follows city grants of $15 million to London hospitals, $10 million to the university and $5 million to Fanshawe College. The city and Ontario government also committed up to $5 million each to construct the London Biotechnology Commercialization Centre, which will produce new therapies and diagnostic devices. Construction began in June.
In the past year, more than $130 million has been spent on research activities at London hospitals and research facilities.