The University of Waterloo - renowned for its innovative research and academic excellence in artificial intelligence, quantum computing and machine learning - has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (PM), at University Health Network (UHN). The agreement will lay the groundwork for collaborative opportunities and taking a significant step forward in cancer research.
"This MOU is not just a formal agreement, but a pivotal step towards advancing medical technology and improving health care outcomes through collaboration and innovation," said Dr. Vivek Goel, president and vice-chancellor of Waterloo, during his remarks at the MOU signing ceremony with PM on September 30.
"At Waterloo, our commitment to health innovation is reflected in our interdisciplinary approach to health technology. We excel at the intersections of health, society, technology and entrepreneurship. By engaging with partners like PM to co-create solutions advancing population health, we offer Canadians a future-facing model for more sustainable community-based health systems."
Dr. Goel expressed optimism about the partnership’s potential to reshape cancer research and treatment. He mentioned how Waterloo had been selected as the site for the new regional hospital earlier this year. Developing a new hospital also signifies the deepening of Waterloo’s collaboration with local health-care institutions.
"I really believe that together, we can reshape the landscape of cancer research, treatment and diagnosis by levering technologies and making groundbreaking achievements together," said Dr. Keith Stewart, vice-president of Cancer and director of the Princess Magaret Cancer Program. "We look forward to a future filled with promise, progress and a very united effort towards break throughs that will change lives and shape the future of cancer care."
PM, Canada’s largest comprehensive cancer centre, cares for 91,500 patients annually. The collaboration will harness PM’s oncology expertise alongside Waterloo’s research capabilities. Together, they aim to enhance health-care delivery and make quality care accessible for all. Both institutions aim to offer equal opportunities to utilize their combined resources for innovative solutions in cancer treatment.
Stewart explained how PM has previously used artificial intelligence to improve patient matching for clinical trials. Further, PM has invested in developing AI models for radiation therapy planning, which helped enhance accuracy and efficiency in patient care.
"This collaboration is a unique opportunity to harness the power of technology and drive innovation in personalized cancer care and research," said Dr. Kevin Smith, president and CEO of UHN, who addressed the meeting via video conference. "At UHN we are committed to partnering with leading institutions like the University of Waterloo to bring forward solutions that go beyond boundaries."
"At Waterloo, we have core values of thinking differently, acting with purpose and working together - all’of these are foundational to what we’re trying to do with the MOU in terms of thinking differently," said Dr. Charmaine Dean, vice-president of Research and International at Waterloo.
"We are a research-intensive university with a Faculty of Health, but not a medical school. We see health innovation through a different kind of lens. We are reimagining health care using technology, and in terms of accuracy, it’s not just our faculty at Waterloo. It’s our entrepreneurs, our graduate students and our co-op students who are making contributions."
The University’s investment in AI technology is evident through the Waterloo Data and Artificial Intelligence Institute, its labs, researchers and a thriving community of startups and research initiatives. The Institute for Quantum Computing further enriches this partnership, focusing on breakthroughs in quantum communication, cryptography and sensing, which have significant implications for health care applications.
As the landscape of health care continues to evolve, this MOU sets the stage for groundbreaking initiatives that will push the boundaries of technology and improve patient experiences. Together, Waterloo and PM are committed to driving meaningful change in health care through research, innovation and collaboration.
