December 16, 2014
Vancouver, BC – The Government of Canada announced yesterday $25 million to create the first Network of Centres of Excellence (NCE) devoted to cancer research. With an additional $35M from partners, including Genome BC, the new program entitled Biotherapeutics for Cancer Treatment (BioCanRX) includes local researchers Drs. Rob Holt (Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre) and Brad Nelson (BC Cancer Agency’s Deeley Research Centre). BioCanRx will accelerate Canada’s most promising cancer biotherapies from the laboratory into clinical testing.
The collaborative nature of the BioCanRx Network is essential to accelerating the translation of discoveries into clinical trials and will make Canada a global leader in the development of biotherapies for cancer. Biotherapeutics have the potential to eradicate even advanced cancers with far fewer side effects than many current treatments. The BC-based team members will be leading a genomics intensive immune-monitoring core to support clinical trials for three key areas of cancer research. In addition, Dr. Nelson will co-direct the cell therapy component of BioCanRx, which will focus on treating cancer with infusions of tumor-reactive immune cells called T cells.
“The transnational aspect of this project is incredibly important as it brings together the best and brightest minds in our country,” says Dr. Alan Winter, President and CEO for Genome British Columbia. “Genome BC is delighted so support this initiative to develop ground-breaking therapeutic strategies and we congratulate all of the participants in the network.”
Biotherapeutics, which include oncolytic viruses, immune cells and synthetic antibodies, are among the most promising cancer treatments to emerge over the last decade. While different biotherapeutics function in different ways, one thing they have in common is the ability to mobilize and activate the body’s natural defence mechanisms to attack cancer cells. Also called immunotherapy, this area of cancer research was chosen as 2013’s “Breakthrough of the Year” by Science magazine, America’s leading scientific journal.
Biotherapeutics, which include oncolytic viruses, immune cells and synthetic antibodies, are among the most promising cancer treatments to emerge over the last decade. While different biotherapeutics function in different ways, one thing they have in common is the ability to mobilize and activate the body’s natural defence mechanisms to attack cancer cells. Also called immunotherapy, this area of cancer research was chosen as 2013’s “Breakthrough of the Year” by Science magazine, America’s leading scientific journal.
The new network has assembled a team of more than 40 researchers from 17 academic institutions, as well as eight industry partners and nearly 20 community partners (including provincial organizations, and national and regional charities). Together they will work to accelerate the development of biotherapeutics from laboratory discoveries to manufacturing to industry sponsorship to clinical trials.
In B.C., Dr. Nelson and Dr. Holt’s research will be supported over the next five years with funding from Genome BC, the BC Cancer Foundation and the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research as well as the NCE. The NCE investment is the result of the most recent competition in the Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) program. The competition resulted in four new networks receiving funding and one existing network being renewed for a second five-year term.
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