The early workers in clinical radiotherapy of cancer at the Radium Institute of the Curie Foundation, Paris, France

Lenz, Maurice

doi:10.1002/1097-0142(197309)32:3<519::aid-cncr2820320301>3.0.co;2-g

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…In contrast, the Radium Institute in Paris, which had been the model for the Quebec institute, continued to thrive, buoyed by academic prestige and international recognition. 89 The demise of the Canadian institute may be attributed to a constellation of factors which included financial instability, confusion over identity, lack of support from the medical profession, and competition from other institutions. A major factor was its chronically insecure financial situation which lead to repeated threats of closure in its early years.…”

Section: Radium Fragmentationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tarnished Adornment: The Troubled History of Québec’s Institut du Radium

Hayter

2003

Canadian Bulletin of Medical History

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In 1922 the Québec government appropriated $100,000 for the purchase of radium to found an Institut du Radium at the University of Montreal. Opened largely through the initiative and drive of Dr. Joseph-Ernest Gendreau, the institut was the first organization devoted to radium therapy and cancer treatment in Canada. This paper describes the background, origins and development of the Institut with a focus on the medical, political, and cultural factors which led to its establishment. From the point of view of the Québec government, the Institut was a way of showing its commitment to health care, of strengthening cultural bonds with France, and of demonstrating the province's emerging technological prowess. Radium was to be an adornment which showed off the scientific advancement of 20th century Québec. Unfortunately, the Institut never achieved the scientific or cultural stature promised by the rhetoric. Which surrounded its opening, and this paper will examine the factors which led to its instability and eventual demise. In addition to an overwhelming clinical workload, chronic underfunding and geographic isolation, the Institut fell victim to medical politics. Its success was undermined by opposition from medical groups and competition from hospitals which led to the establishment of multiple radium centres in Montreal. A fundamental problem was confusion over whether its role should be a research institute, a general medical clinic, or a specialized cancer centre. Despite numerous financial and administrative crises and the severing of its academic affiliation in 1945, the Institut survived until 1967. Despite its troubled history, the Institut made an important contribution to Canadian medicine through its ground braking role in the establishment of radiotherapy and cancer treatment. In addition, the lessons learned from its difficulties proved useful to other provinces planning their own cancer programs.

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Section: Radium Fragmentationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tarnished Adornment: The Troubled History of Québec’s Institut du Radium

Hayter

2003

Canadian Bulletin of Medical History

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“…The costs were to be borne jointly by the University of Paris and the Pasteur Institute. The Institut du Radium was to consist of two buildings: the Curie Pavilion for physics and mathematics research, to be directed by Marie, and the Pasteur Pavilion for related biomedical research (9). A well-known French radiologic physician, Claudius Regaud, was selected to direct biological and medical research including radiobiology in the Pasteur Pavilion.…”

Section: S C I E N C E ' S C O M P a S S H I S To R I C A L E S S Aymentioning

confidence: 99%