February 2020
Buckley Systems founder and President, Bill Buckley, has been selected as one of three finalists for the New Zealand Innovator of the Year Award. From a strong field of ten semi-finalists, the judges acknowledged Bill’s achievement in seeing an opportunity to bring an innovative oncology treatment to reality. For a long time, Boron-Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) had shown very promising results for treating aggressive cancers but had required a nuclear reactor to produce enough neutrons for an effective dose. However, when it was discovered that a device originally used for exfoliating sapphire and silicon crystals could be converted into a compact, efficient neutron source, Bill saw a potentially world-changing opportunity.
Starting and investing heavily in a new business dedicated to developing and bringing the device to market, Bill’s practical engineering background and ability to overcome the manufacturing problems in producing such technologically challenging equipment, allowed the initial device to be built in a very short timeframe. The machine met all performance criteria and underwent extensive reliability tests before being installed at Helsinki University Hospital in Finland where it is expected to be treating patients in the near future. A second machine is under construction and will be delivered to Shonan Kamakura General Hospital (SKGH) in Japan in late 2020.
The winner of the 2020 New Zealand Innovator of the Year Award will be announced on 20 February.