Every Canadian will be impacted by cancer at some point, either personally or through a family or friend. With the Canadian Cancer Society estimating that 2 in 5 Canadians are expected to develop cancer in their lifetime, the need for collaboration and innovation has never been more pressing to provide patients with the best standard of care. Across the country, Canadian leaders in the medical isotope and radiopharmaceutical industry are rising to the challenge to ensure that Canada remains at the forefront in the fight against cancer.
On June 12th and 13th in Toronto, Ontario, the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council (CNIC) and a consortium of leading Canadian academic centers (University Health Network, London Health Sciences Centre, BC Cancer, and Centre for Addiction and Mental Health), in partnership with the Canadian Medical Isotope Ecosystem (CMIE), hosted the 2025 Canadian Radiotheranostics Leaders’ Summit. This monumental nation-wide event brought together more than 400 leaders from across the isotope supply chain, business and investment leaders, researchers, clinicians and patient partners, governments at all levels, Indigenous community leaders, students, and more, to shape the future to best serve patients.
As the only interdisciplinary pan-Canadian event of its kind, the Leaders’ Summit showcased the critical role that radiotheranostics, an innovative method of personalized medicine for cancer therapy, is playing in the future of cancer care in Canada.
“The Leaders’ Summit offered opportunities for leaders across the entire isotope supply chain and the healthcare communities to work together on practical, scalable solutions and a unified strategy to strengthen Canada’s isotope leadership, expand access to radiotheranostics, and drive healthcare innovation for the future,” said James Scongack, Chair of the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council.
A key highlight from the 2025 Canadian Radiotheranostics Leaders’ Summit was the expansion of the Student Program, sponsored by Nordion, welcoming 16 post-secondary students from across Canada. The Student Program offered students the opportunity
to engage directly with leading experts and organizations to explore career opportunities in the isotope industry. Both the 2024 and 2025 Summit Student Programs were delivered by the Southwestern Ontario Isotope Coalition (SOIC), of which the Town of Saugeen Shores is a proud partner. Several students from the region were also admitted to this prestigious leadership program this year, gaining key insights and contacts among Canada’s leading experts in nuclear medicine and isotopes.
“Saugeen Shores recognizes the vital role medical isotopes play in the fight against cancer, and we’re proud to support the next generation of leaders in nuclear medicine through our partnership with SOIC,” said Town of Saugeen Shores Mayor and Bruce County Warden, Luke Charbonneau. “It’s especially meaningful to see local students involved in this program as they witness world-class innovation happening right here in our region.”
This year, the Leaders’ Summit also launched its first ever call from abstracts, which provided 10 additional trainees in the field of theranostics and radiopharmaceuticals the opportunity to present their research to a national audience.
“As demand for isotopes grows exponentially and cancer rates rise, Canada must ensure that we provide opportunities and pathways for promising leaders of tomorrow,” said Melody Greaves, Executive Director and Vice President, Government Relations of the CNIC. “As Canada continues to lead in the global fight against cancer, events like the Canadian Radiotheranostics Leaders’ Summit are critical to building partnerships, knowledge, and talent needed to inspire innovation and shape the future of cancer care around the world.”
The success of the Canadian Radiotheranostics Leaders’ Summit is a large step towards Team Canada’s commitment to improving patient experiences and ensuring access to life-saving medical isotopes. With Canadian leaders uniting from coast to coast to fuel innovation and partnerships, this is an exciting time for patients, physicians, researchers, government, and the wider isotope industry alike who are leading the charge for Canadians. About the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council
The Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council (CNIC) is an independent, not-for-profit advocacy and member services organization. The CNIC supports over 100 members from across science, academia, healthcare, and nuclear-sector organizations dedicated to maintaining Canada’s position as a global leader in the production of life-saving isotopes. The CNIC raises awareness and advocates for long-term policies that support health-care innovation and will save countless lives for decades to come. To learn more about the CNIC, visit www.CanadianIsotopes.ca and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
