Alberta’s government is investing $64 million over three years to complete construction of the Calgary Radiopharmaceutical Centre at the Foothills Medical Centre, bringing critical medical services closer to home for patients across southern Alberta. The Alberta Cancer Foundation is contributing an additional $7 million for specialized equipment and research labs, with support from the Culbert Family, Calgary Health Foundation and other donors.
Once complete, this cutting-edge facility will help diagnose and treat thousands of patients every year, producing the radiopharmaceuticals necessary for life-saving diagnostic imaging and treatments for cancer, heart disease, neurological conditions and other serious illnesses. In addition, the centre’s research labs will support the development of next-generation radiopharmaceuticals and future clinical trials, helping advance new approaches to diagnosis and treatment and improve understanding of disease progression.
“This investment is about more than a new building. It is about creating the infrastructure Alberta needs to diagnose illness earlier, expand access to treatment and deliver better care for the growing population across southern Alberta.”
“This new facility will strengthen Alberta’s health infrastructure and help ensure southern Albertans have reliable access to the diagnostic services they need. By bringing radiopharmaceutical production closer to patients, we are building capacity for the future and supporting timely, high-quality care.”
Currently, radiopharmaceuticals are produced only in Edmonton, and their limited lifespan makes transportation time critical. Local production in Calgary will reduce transportation time and product decay, providing southern Alberta with a more reliable supply of this critical medical tool.
Demand for diagnostic imaging is growing rapidly, along with the province’s growing and aging population. By 2040, demand for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans alone are expected to more than triple. Calgary’s new Radiopharmaceutical Centre will help meet this need by more than tripling Alberta’s capacity to produce medicines for PET scans and almost doubling capacity for Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) scans, supporting diagnostic imaging and specialized care closer to home.
“Building out the Calgary Radiopharmaceutical Centre will not only expand access to vital diagnostic services, but it will also unlock new research and clinical trials, accelerating access to treatment options for southern Albertans. Our donors are thrilled to be part of this exciting project, and the hope it represents for the future.”
“This new centre is an important step in the future of cancer diagnosis and treatment. This centre will support the expansion of specialized imaging capacity and targeted therapies, allowing us to diagnose cancer earlier and with greater precision, deliver more personalized treatment options and improve patient outcomes. This investment strengthens our ability to provide world-class care closer to home.”
Construction of the Calgary Radiopharmaceutical Centre is underway, with the facility expected to be operational by 2029.
Quick facts
- The Calgary Radiopharmaceutical Centre will be Calgary’s first cyclotron facility and Alberta’s third, with the other two located in Edmonton.
- Radiopharmaceuticals are specialized medicines used for diagnostic imaging and treatment, including targeted radiation for some cancers.
- PET and SPECT scans use radiopharmaceuticals to show how organs and tissues are functioning, helping diagnose, monitor and guide treatment for disease.
- The Calgary Radiopharmaceutical Centre will increase access to diagnostic imaging and treatment for cancer, heart disease, neurological conditions and other serious illnesses by:
- More than tripling the province’s capacity to produce medicines for PET scans.
- Nearly doubling the province’s capacity to produce medicines for SPECT scans.