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Research at Regional Cancer Care (RCC) has experienced
exponential growth in the last 10 years. From early
years as a treatment centre’s wet lab to its current
status as a hub for research in Northwestern Ontario,
the research program at RCC has evolved into a world-class
enterprise. Involving a “bench to bedside”
research model, our career scientists work closely with
fellow researchers at Lakehead University, the Northern
Ontario School of Medicine and Sunnybrook Health Sciences
Centre, and collaborate with scientists around the world
on numerous research studies.
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Continuous Growth
RCC is home to the cancer centre Wet
Lab and the cancer research projects to date. Since it
was established in 1997 with funding from the Northern
Cancer Research Foundation (NCRF) and the former Port
Arthur General Hospital, the growth of the program has been
significant. Through research collaborations and academic
and industry partnerships, the career scientists at RCC conduct
basic research into cellular and molecular aspects of cancer,
trying to determine the mistakes in cancer cells in the hope
of repairing them, reversing the damage or taking advantage
of the information to improve treatment success.
Ongoing collaborations include contributions to the expanding
Clinical Trials program, translational research and the academic
activities of RCC. Evolving research studies also cross over
into Psychosocial Oncology, Medical Physics and Radiation
Therapy, continually investigating and testing new approaches,
treatment methods, applications and therapeutic tools for
strategies to address the complex origins and progression
of cancer.
Research Areas
The people dedicated to research cross the spectrum of care
at RCC, with concentrations in:
Our researchers have been successful over the last number
of years in achieving grant funding for various studies, including
funding from the Canadian Institute of Health Research, the
Northern Cancer Research Foundation, the Prostate Research
Foundation, and the Andison Foundation.
To further enhance individual program development, the cancer
program, along with its extended network of partner sites
in the region, emphasizes strong alliances with other industry
and academic partners. Lakehead University, McMaster University
and The Michener Institute have long partnered with the RCC
to ensure opportunities are available and academic excellence
is at the fulcrum of cancer initiatives.
As an example, Lakehead University, the Northern Ontario School
of Medicine, and the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences
Centre have allied themselves to create ICR Discoveries, the
Institute of Collaborative Research, with a commitment to
further the efforts of dedicated researchers in Northwestern
Ontario.
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Under
this bold new initiative, the Molecular Medicine Research
Centre (MMRC) has recently been added to the burgeoning research
portfolio in Northwestern Ontario. Under the partnership banner
of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Lakehead University,
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Toronto), the consortium
has announced its private industry partner, the global technology
giant Philips Medical Systems. |
This multi-million dollar initiative, funded by federal, provincial,
and municipal government agencies, along with industry and
partner investment, will enable leading-edge cancer research
and economic development in Northwestern Ontario. The molecular
cancer research, to be followed by cardiac and neurological
sciences research, places the Thunder Bay centre among the
top five facilities in the world for this type of partnership
and research, which positions the city and region in a positive
hub of growth, potential and opportunity.
Click here for additional
information about our partnerships.
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