The Electronic Living Lab for Interdisciplinary Cancer Survivorship Research (ELLICSR) celebrated its official opening on June 4, 2010, an event that was attended by UHN and surrounding community members. The 12,000 square foot research centre is located at the Toronto General Hospital. This unique facility was made possible by grants from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) ($1.2M) and the Ontario Research Fund ($1.2M). With additional support, the total project was $3.7M.

"Finally we have a space that allows us to teach important life skills around diet and exercise, proven approaches to improve side the effects of treatment, as well as overall health and quality of life," says Dr. Pamela Catton, Medical Director of the Cancer Survivorship Program, and Founding Director of ELLICSR.

The goal of ELLICSR is to improve the cancer experience by exploring novel ways to learn from survivors, to develop new survivorship communities and to study how cancer survivors can be engaged, empowered and active in adopting healthier behaviours that minimize the negative impact of cancer and its treatment. It is a spacious community centre with teaching and self management areas for patients and survivors that include: a full kitchen, a community resource space, consultation rooms and an exercise room. ELLICSR is fully wired to support virtual programming, community connections and global collaborations. There is also a research team on-site who are keen to investigate new and interesting strategies to improve the cancer experience.

In a press release, Dr. Eliot Phillipson, former President and CEO of CFI, comments, "This is a unique area of interdisciplinary research we were keen to support as communities of cancer survivors continue to grow. Providing researchers with the tools they need to undertake leading-edge research is what CFI is all about."

Visit ellicsr.ca for more information about this truly unique local, national and international cancer resource.

Supported by the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Ontario Research Fund, the University Health Network, Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation, The Quilt Project, The Weekend to End Breast Cancer, Butterfield-Drew Chair in Breast Cancer Survivorship, Desire2Learn, Klick Communications, Willow and Wellspring.