The Cancer Research Society awards $1.5 million to Oncopole to fund outstanding research projects with the potential to make a difference to disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Montreal, February 6, 2018 – The Cancer Research Society is proud to announce a contribution of $1.5 million to Oncopole as part of its EMC2 competition, which aims to fund unifying research projects to capitalize on Quebec’s expertise and strengths in oncology. The aim of the competition is to encourage collaboration between researchers from a variety of disciplines and from different Quebec institutions, with a view to making a greater impact in the fight against disease.
“Research is our best weapon for thwarting a disease as complex as cancer. And when the best researchers are brought together around a single project, the potential is incredible,” explains Max Fehlmann, President and CEO of The Cancer Research Society. “That’s why it was only natural for us to support the mobilizing competition set up by Oncopole, which will maximize our donors’ investment by accelerating the development of new tools to prevent, diagnose and overcome all types of cancer.”
Last November, Oncopole, a new initiative supported by the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS) and Merck Canada Inc. launched the EMC2 competition to the Quebec scientific community. Over fifty teams were invited to submit full applications. “We are delighted with the high level of interest shown in this first call for proposals, confirming the dynamism of oncology research in Quebec and the desire to make a significant impact for the benefit of patients,” says Stéphanie Lord-Fontaine, General Manager of Oncopole. “We are therefore delighted to be able to count on the support of the Cancer Research Society, our first philanthropic partner. This announcement concretizes Oncopole’s role as a catalyst and its vision of making Quebec a center of excellence and investment in cancer research.”
With the participation of the Cancer Research Society, the program has a budget of $7.5 million over three years. “The sums invested are considerable, and we anticipate major spin-offs in terms of discoveries and scientific breakthroughs. We sincerely hope that this partnership model will inspire others across the country,” concludes Max Fehlmann.
About The Cancer Research Society
Founded in 1945, The Cancer Research Society is the first Canadian organization devoted entirely to funding research into all types of cancer. Since its creation, the Society has supported thousands of researchers who have made major advances in cancer prevention, screening and treatment. Thanks to the generosity of partners and donors across Canada, the Society has distributed over $140 million in research grants since 2000. For more information: CancerResearch.ca
About Oncopole
L’Oncopole is a Quebec research, development and investment cluster dedicated to accelerating the fight against cancer. Created in February 2017, it is the result of a unique co-creation process by the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS) made possible by an initial investment of $15 million from Merck Canada. Oncopole’s mission is to act as a catalyst for the actions of Quebec’s oncology research and innovation ecosystem. The aim is to position the province as a leader in this field. Its priorities for action – research, entrepreneurship, the valorization and integration of innovation, and clinical relevance – are orchestrated with the aim of mobilizing stakeholders, discovering innovative approaches to the fight against cancer and, ultimately, generating positive spin-offs for the benefit of patients. For more information, visit: oncopole.ca
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Sources: The Cancer Research Society and Oncopole
Information
Carolyne Lord
Director, Communications and Marketing | The Cancer Research Society
514 861-9227, ext. 270
Catherine Cardinal
514 343-3111, ext. 41299
