Medical research group breaks ground on new research lab

Sudbury, ON – Construction of Greater Sudbury’s newest research laboratory has begun. The Advanced Medical Research Institute of Canada (AMRIC) recently held a groundbreaking ceremony at its property, which was previously a school.

AMRIC, the official research affiliate of Health Sciences North (HSN), will convert the building into a 14,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art research centre. Construction of the new AMRIC laboratory is expected to be completed in 2017.

“This is an incredibly proud and historic day for AMRIC because it validates the great work we’ve already done, and it gives us the ability and capacity to do even more world-class research right here in Greater Sudbury,” says Dr. Francisco Diaz-Mitoma, CEO and scientific director of AMRIC.

The transformation of the property is made possible by $4.99 million in funding from FedNor, $4.99 million from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), $1 million from the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation, and $750,000 from the City of Greater Sudbury.

Created in 2011, AMRIC investigates and develops promising new treatments for health conditions of particular concern in northeastern Ontario and northern Canada, including cancer, infectious disease, chronic diseases, and seniors health.

“AMRIC has made incredible strides in the last four years, and the work being done by its researchers is already having an impact on direct, front-line patient care, particularly in the areas of seniors care and infectious disease control, “says Dr. Denis Roy, HSN’s president and CEO.

Researchers at AMRIC work in close cooperation with the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Laurentian University, Cambrian College, and College Boreal.

Since its inception, AMRIC says it has doubled its complement of research and support staff and attracted over $15 million in research funding. It has created two subsidiaries, Ramsey Lake Pharmaceuticals and Lilly Creek Vaccines, to explore the potential commercialization of promising new research discoveries. In addition, AMRIC has also established research chairs in healthy aging and personalized medicine.