Winnipeg, June 21, 2007 - The Health Sciences Centre Foundation is pleased to announce a $500,000 pledge from The Great-West Life Assurance Company, toward the purchase and installation of an on-site cyclotron. The cyclotron will allow the Health Sciences Centre to produce its own radioisotopes for its PET/CT scanner. In recognition of this commitment, the Winnipeg PET Imaging Centre will be re-named the Great-West Life PET/CT Centre.

“The ability to produce these isotopes at the Health Sciences Centre (HSC) will effectively double the hospital’s capacity to provide scanning services to patients. That means shorter wait times, and an immediate impact on patient care,” says Dr. Shadreck Mzengeza, Clinical Director, Radiopharmacy and Radiochemistry, Winnipeg PET Imaging Centre, Health Sciences Centre.

Other benefits include the expansion of research programs at the Siemens Institute for Advanced Medicine, and an enhanced ability to attract top researchers and clinicians.

“As a leading provider of life and health insurance, we have a special interest in supporting innovative programs that address the health and wellness concerns of Canadians,” says Jan Belanger, Assistant Vice-President, Community Affairs for Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life. “Our pledge to the HSC Foundation reflects that interest as well as our preference for supporting community initiatives with long-term impact and potential.”

The pledge was made under the auspices of the Key to Giving™ – the national corporate citizenship program of Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life. Through the Key to Giving, the companies support charitable organizations across the country in areas such as health and wellness, arts and culture, education, civic initiatives and social services.

The economic advantages of this technology will also be leveraged. In bringing this technology to HSC, the door is open for other hospitals in Manitoba to secure their own PET scanners, with a guaranteed local supply of the isotopes they will need.

“The Great-West Life PET/CT Centre at HSC will positively impact the diagnosis and treatment of patients,” says Lynn Bishop, Chair of the Board, Health Sciences Centre Foundation. “Access to a variety of isotopes will encourage increased innovation. Attracting and retaining clinicians and scientists will mean our already world-class nuclear medicine program will grow.”

The cyclotron will greatly enhance HSC’s ability to continue to recruit and retain the best and the brightest medical staff available, while providing Manitobans with access to the most innovative health care technology in the world. It will be located in the Siemens Institute for Advanced Medicine, currently under construction at HSC, and should be up and running in late 2008. Under its Breakthrough! Campaign, the Foundation has achieved almost $22 million towards its goal of raising $25 million for the Siemens Institute.