A U.S. patent has been granted for a new process developed at the University of Victoria that will help oncologists better identify and target cancerous tumours. It involves synthesizing lanthanide, a rare-earth metal, for use with magnetic resonance imaging to increase the image contrast between a malignant tumour and surrounding tissue. It results in more accurate and effective diagnosis and surgery. “The patent gets companies interested in supporting further research,” says UVic chemistry professor Dr. Frank van Veggel. “You want to cover the U.S. because the potential market is so big and there’s a greater potential to access venture capital.” He believes the new process might eliminate the need for biopsies in some cases. A Canadian patent application is being reviewed by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. It will be about a decade before human applications are possible, van Veggel said.
“In diseases such as prostate cancer there are a lot of unnecessary interventions,” he said. “Once this process is ready for human use we’ll be able to differentiate between smaller, less aggressive tumours but also find small metastasized ones.”
Former Canuck to open bank
Gary Monahan, the first player selected in the National Hockey League’s first draft and who later went on to play four seasons for the Vancouver Canucks, will help officially open the Scotiabank branch at Uptown today. The event, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., is in support of the Courtnall Celebrity Classic Society and Saanich Minor Hockey. Branch manager Dave Wallace will be joined by Monahan, Saanich Mayor Frank Leonard, Bruce Courtnall, members of the Saanich Atom A Rep minor hockey team and other officials. Monahan will sign autographs from 2 to 4 p.m. He was drafted first overall in 1963 as a 16-year-old by the Montreal Canadiens and played through to 1982. He scored a career-high 18 goals and 44 points in the 1976–77 season for the Canucks. There will be prizes, refreshments and a chance to win a Canucks getaway package for a March 8 game against Calgary.
Dine Around, Stay In Town
The slow season in the restaurant and hotel industry is about to get a boost as Tourism Victoria and the Victoria branch of the B.C. Restaurant and Foodservices Association kick off the 11th Annual Dine Around & Stay in Town event from this Thursday to March 9. Participating restaurants offer a three-course menu at a cost of either $20, $30, $40 or $50 per person. Participating hotels offer room rates at $69, $79, $99 or $129 a night. More than 50 restaurants and hotels are taking part. Tourism Victoria said the event encourages local residents as much as visitors to explore what Greater Victoria has to offer. Reservations can be made by calling the restaurants and hotels directly. For details, go to tourismvictoria.com/ dinearound and follow the #YYJDineAround hashtag on Twitter.
