A 5 year research program at the University of Saskatchewan could improve outcomes for cancer patients. The newly announced Nutrien Chair in Clinical Research, Dr. Ron Geyer will lead the program. Part of the research includes developing the next generation of molecular imaging agents for cancer diagnosis through work at the Centre for Cyclotron Sciences. There will be clinical trials where Saskatchewan patients will have first access to the new PET imaging probe and to the first molecular-targeted , image-guided surgical program in Canada. Geyer calls it leading edge research. Geyer will also be training clinicians on how these molecular cancer tests work so the testing can be done at Royal University Hospital, which means reducing patient travel time for tests, a quicker turnaround for results and improving surgical outcomes. Another part of the program is bringing the ability to do certain biopsies to the Advanced Diagnostic Research Lab rather than having to send the samples out-of-province. It’s estimated they will be able to do between 2,503 tests a year.