London remains one of Canada’s most dynamic testbeds for technology-driven innovation. From manufacturing automation and clean-tech commercialization to creative industries, agri-food, fintech and digital health, the city’s tech-forward momentum is raising the bar for what’s possible across every sector.
That momentum is on full display across London’s healthcare ecosystem, where the philanthropic leadership of the Mitchell and Kathryn Baran Family Foundation—supported by Trudell Medical Limited—is actively transforming cancer care for patients across Southwestern Ontario.
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) has introduced a donor funded Varian ETHOS therapy system — an AI-assisted linear accelerator (LINAC)that delivers highly precise radiation treatment, completes scans in as little as six to eight seconds - and reduces damage to the healthy tissue surrounding tumors.
The impact is immediate: faster, more accurate care and capacity for an additional 10 to 20 (approximately) patients every day.
LHSC is now one of only four sites in Canada, and two in Ontario, equipped with this state-of-the-art technology. Unlike traditional systems requiring days of replanning, ETHOS leverages AI and real-time imaging to identify anatomical changes, from subtle shifts in tumor size to natural weight fluctuations. Clinicians can then generate a newly tailored radiation plan daily, ensuring treatment aligns exactly with each patient’s needs.
"Modern radiation therapy is extremely precise but internal organs are always moving. ETHOS is a state-of-the-art radiation treatment platform that allows us to visualize a patient's anatomy and adapt their treatment plan to the position of their organs at that moment,” says Dr. Christopher D. Goodman, MD, Deputy Head, Division or Radiation Oncology at LHSC. “This real-time capability improves safety and reduces unnecessary radiation to healthy tissues. Innovations like ETHOS place London at the forefront of modern cancer care and ensure our patients benefit from the best available technologies.”
The Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre at LHSC delivers radiation therapy to 4,000-4,500 patients every year, and those receiving care on ETHOS are already experiencing the benefits. Treatments are quicker, more comfortable, and more personalized. Increased precision means fewer side effects, and shorter scan times help not only radiation patients but also those waiting for CT or other LINAC-based appointments.
“Our ability to bring this advanced cancer treatment technology to our community is possible because of donors like The Mitchell and Kathryn Baran Family Foundation,” says John H. MacFarlane, president and CEO of London Health Sciences Foundation (LHSF). “Their generosity is transforming what’s possible in health care and ensuring patients throughout Southwestern Ontario have access to world-class care, close to home.”
London’s tech-forward momentum is the result of a coordinated, collaborative ecosystem where public institutions, private industry, donors, startups and research partners accelerate transformation together. From AI-driven clinical care to advanced manufacturing, medical device commercialization, smart mobility, and agri-food automation, London is emerging as a hub where global challenges meet practical, scalable, tech-enabled solutions.
The arrival of ETHOS is more than a milestone. It’s a signal the city is ready to lead the next generation of innovation with healthcare at the forefront.
