A brief message from Steve West, COO, MDS Inc.
MDS Nordion is very proud to be the regional sponsor and host of the gala for the 16th International Meeting on Radiation Processing (IMRP) in Montreal. We congratulate the iiA on its new role as Permanent Secretariat and support its efforts to ensure future IMRP meetings continue to be top-notch, world-class events.We look forward to welcoming you to Montreal, Canada, the perfect mix of North American efficiency and European flair and a great place to mix business with pleasure. As you get together with colleagues, we encourage you to take some time to explore the city's unique culture and joie de vivre, all within a few blocks of the conference venue the Hilton Montréal Bonaventure.
Steve West, Welcome continued...
A few words from John Masefield, iiA Chairman of the Board
I have had the good fortune to participate in the majority of International Meetings on Radiation Processing (IMRP) since the first was held at Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico, in May 1976. The organizers that year, Joseph Silverman and Ken Morganstern, were convinced of the need for a multi-disciplinary international conference to address emerging issues, declaring that radiation processing had reached a critical mass and was entering a substantial period of growth.A global priority
While each conference has tackled the important challenges of its time, IMRP Montreal 2011 has the potential to be the most significant conference yet. The challenges we must address today are both urgent and global in nature. There is intense pressure on healthcare systems, for instance, to contain costs, focus on health outcomes and deal with an aging population. As the population ages, this pressure will only intensify. By 2050, it is estimated that the number of people in the world aged 80 or older will be six times greater than it is today.
