Funding Research on Inherited Cancer

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Terry Fox Foundation supports four research projects across Canada, including one led by UHN.
Posted On: October 12, 2015
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The research project led by PM Cancer Centre Senior Scientist Dr. John Dick (pictured) will focus on acute myeloid leukemia, myeloma and brain cancer.
On the 35th Anniversary of the Terry Fox Marathon, the Terry Fox Foundation announced a total of $16 million in funding towards four world-class Canadian research teams.
 
The funds were provided by the Terry Fox New Frontiers Program Project Grant program through a process that was highly competitive and included an international peer review. Each funded project represents leading edge biomedical research that has the potential to improve diagnosis or treatment of high-risk and inherited cancers.
 
PM Cancer Centre Senior Scientist Dr. John Dick will be leading one of the four projects. His research team will receive $6.2 million over five years to advance our understanding of cancer stemness, which is the ability of cancer cells to self-renew and differentiate into cancer cells. He will focus his work on uncovering ways to improve our detection of and treatment for three high-risk cancers: acute myeloid leukemia, myeloma and brain cancer.
 
Other projects will be led by Dr. David Malkin, senior scientist and oncologist at The Hospital for Sick Children ($2.2 million); Dr. Steven Jones, associate director of the Canada Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre at the BC Cancer Agency ($2.2 million); and Dr. Vincent Giguére, a scientist and professor of biochemistry, medicine and oncology at McGill University’s Goodman Cancer Research Centre of McGill University ($5.3 million).