ICR Discoveries was officially launched in 2004 as a centre for synergistic approaches to research with the collaboration of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Lakehead University and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. The intent was to enhance the body of knowledge related to cancer care, but in January 2007 the partners agreed to expand the scope of its cancer research institute to include other forms of health research, including molecular medicine, cardiac and neurosciences.

Partnerships are the contemporary way to compete, and the Molecular Medicine Research Centre (MMRC) and its partnerships are a major cornerstone of the knowledge-based industry in Northwestern Ontario. A consortium comprised of THBRHSC, Lakehead University, Sunnybrook Research Institute at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Toronto, ON) and industry leader Philips Medical Systems, MMRC will:

• Establish a critical mass of investigators in various disciplines of cancer research
• Assist in the establishment of additional research infrastructure including laboratories and equipment related to cancer research
• Assist in the recruitment of qualified researchers and health care providers
• Provide an economic stimulus to Northwestern Ontario
• Provide education and training for students, researchers and physicians interested in cancer, cardiac and neurological research
• Attract top scientists to develop independent research programs and attract peer-reviewed grants
• Address cancer issues unique to Northwestern Ontario

Molecular medicine is a relatively new multidisciplinary field with great promise. Examples include gene therapy, DNA-based testing, vaccine design and the study of disease processes at the molecular level. The MMRC’s research themes and top-quality personnel make it distinctive, and its collaborative model open up limitless research potential.