Every day, nuclear scientists at the Sylvia Fedoruk Centre are developing medical isotopes to be used in hospitals across the country.

To support that life-saving work, the provincial government and Innovation Saskatchewan have invested $400,000 in the Centre, which will fund up to eight projects relating to nuclear developments.

Dr. John Root, Executive Director at the Fedoruk Centre, says some of the medical isotopes produced at the Fedoruk Centre are taken right next door to be used at Royal University Hospital, while others are transported to cities such as Edmonton and Calgary.

He adds that this funding is crucial for the Centre in its pursuit to attract people to participate in nuclear research.

“We need this money to say ‘Look! We’ve got a budget for some grants. You can put in a proposal, compete with your colleagues, and the top ones will be funded.’”

In order to be considered a ‘top’ project, Root says it must align with the purpose of the Fedoruk Centre, it should be feasible, the researcher should have partners, and it should provide social and economic benefits for Saskatchewan.

He explains that in addition to those key criteria, there is a certain type of project that will be awarded with funding.

“We’re very happy if a project has to do with nuclear medicine or healthcare research. We would be very happy to have projects that have something to do with nuclear energy, the social economic impacts of deploying nuclear energy in Saskatchewan.”

He adds that the funding will help familiarize the province with nuclear medicine and energy, as some people are hesitant to give it a chance.

Minister Responsible for Innovation Saskatchewan Jeremy Harrison echos that statement.

“Nuclear encompasses a whole broad array. I think a lot of people, when they hear nuclear, they think a cooling tower or something of that nature. (The impacts of nuclear energy extend) far beyond that into this area of nuclear medicine, which literally is saving people’s lives.”

The funding comes on top of the annual contribution the province allocated to the Fedoruk Centre, which was $2.5 million in the 2024-25 provincial budget.

A researcher demonstrates how vials of radioactive material are packaged so they can be transported to Royal University Hospital.