Cancer Care Ontario's Research Chairs Program Aims To Attract Leading Cancer Scientists To Ontario

Toronto, ON (Thursday, June 19, 2008) – Cancer patients in Ontario live longer and enjoy a better quality of life than ever before because of advancements stemming from research. Cancer Care Ontario is today announcing the 2008 recipients of the Cancer Care Ontario Research Chairs, a program that will further strengthen Ontario’s cancer research capacity.

"At one point or another every Ontarian will be touched by cancer," says Terrence Sullivan, PhD, President and CEO, Cancer Care Ontario. "The Cancer Care Ontario Research Chairs will generate a critical mass of scientists focused on quickly translating research findings into improvements in cancer services and clinical care for cancer patients."

Ontario has a strong research environment that produces findings recognized at the highest levels of research in Canada and on the global stage. The Cancer Care Ontario Research Chairs program, funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, is designed to attract leading new scientists to Ontario and support outstanding scientists already working in the province.

"Research is the ultimate lifeline of progress in health care," said George Smitherman, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. "This program will enable scientists from across Ontario to make discoveries that will improve the lives of cancer patients. By improving cancer services we are helping to improve access to quality health care for all."

Focusing on four important areas - population studies, experimental therapeutics, cancer imaging and patterns of care - Cancer Care Ontario has established a scientist network program that links researchers across Ontario and supports their efforts to translate research findings into clinical practice, including clinical trials. The Cancer Care Ontario Research Chairs Program, launched this past February, will build Ontario’s research capacity in these four areas.

The seven Cancer Care Ontario Research Chairs announced today are:

Cancer Imaging
Dr. Kristy Brock, Princess Margaret Hospital
Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute - Recruitment License*

Patterns of Care
Dr. Christopher Booth, Queen’s University
Dr. David Hodgson, Princess Margaret Hospital
McMaster University – Recruitment License*

Population Studies
Dr. Rayjean Hung, Mount Sinai Hospital
Dr. Scott Leatherdale, Cancer Care Ontario

* A recruitment license is an award that serves as a license to recruit a particular type of scientist into the Research Chair position

Applications were evaluated by the panel on the basis of scientific excellence and strategic alignment with the four research themes of Cancer Care Ontario’s scientist network program. The awards are for five years and are renewable for another three years.

Cancer Care Ontario is the provincial agency responsible for continually improving cancer services. As the government’s cancer advisor, Cancer Care Ontario works to reduce the number of people diagnosed with cancer, and make sure patients receive better care every step of the way.