The Honourable Vic Toews, President of the Treasury Board, on behalf of the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health announced $10.1 million for access to high quality cancer care research. Canada's New Government through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) in partnership with CancerCare Manitoba and Cancer Care Nova Scotia will provide the funding over the next five years to seven research teams.

"Canada's New Government is committed to further building knowledge on how to better detect, treat and survive cancer," said Minister Toews. "In this regard, the projects being funded today will build on the work of the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, announced by Prime Minister Harper November 2006 and designed to have the very best out of our knowledge today to plan for and improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment tomorrow."

"Evidence, based on solid scientific research, is key to informed health decision making. The 7 teams being funded today will provide exactly the kinds of evidence that cancer patients, policy makers and family doctors need to improve the quality of cancer care across Canada" stated Dr. Alan Bernstein, President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

"We are committed to working with provinces and healthcare experts to improve timely access to high quality health care, a top priority for CIHR and for all Canadians," said Dr. Branton, Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Cancer Research. "These teams will advance knowledge in many areas that are of strategic importance to our health care system, and will ultimately allow for better access to cancer care for patients and their families."

The selected CIHR teams underwent a rigorous peer-review process before being approved and exemplify CIHR's comprehensive, problem-based approach to funding excellence in health research. Funds will be distributed over the next five years to the seven teams. The funded research projects include:

Richard Doll (B.C. Cancer Agency) CIHR Team in Supportive Cancer Care. The team will research how cancer patients can receive greater and more equitable access to supportive care services that address the needs of the patients including physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs of the patient.

Brenda Elias (University of Manitoba) CIHR/CancerCare Manitoba (CCMB) Team in First Nations Cancer Research. The team will inform the development of a national surveillance system to gather cancer data for defined groups such as First Nations people to inform the future development of a First Nation specific cancer control strategy.

Eva Grunfeld (Dalhousie University / Cancer Care Nova Scotia)) CIHR/CCNS Team in Access to Colorectal Cancer Services in Nova Scotia The team will develop tools to measure and improve access to quality cancer treatment and care along the cancer continuum, including diagnosis, surgery, treatment, follow-up and palliative care.

Alan Katz (University of Manitoba) CIHR/CCMB Team in Primary Care Oncology Research. The team will identify factors that will support primary care physicians in improving the quality of care in patients with colorectal cancer, the leading cause of cancer death in Canada.

William MacKillop (Queen's University) CIHR Team in Access to Quality Radiotherapy. The team aims to improve cancer outcomes in Canada by developing, disseminating and evaluating quality standards for radiotherapy programs. The application of these guidelines may improve cancer outcomes.

Devidas Menon (University of Alberta) CIHR Team in Cancer Technology Decision Making. The team will develop new tools to make the decision making process associated with investments to new technologies for cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment more accountable, equitable, efficient and effective.

Scott Tyldesley (B.C. Cancer Agency) CIHR Team in Operations Research for Improved Cancer Care. The team, a collaboration between the BC Cancer Agency and the Sauder School of Business at UBC, will use operations research methods to improve access to radiation therapy and other aspects of cancer care.

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the Government of Canada's agency for health research. CIHR's mission is to create new scientific knowledge and to catalyze its translation into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian health-care system. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support to more than 11,000 health researchers and trainees across Canada.

cihr-irsc.gc.ca

CancerCare Manitoba is charged by an act of the legislature of Manitoba with responsibility for cancer prevention, detection, care, research and education for the people of Manitoba. As a centre of choice, CancerCare Manitoba is dedicated to excellence in cancer care, to enhancing quality of life for those living with cancer and blood disorders, and to improving control of cancer for all Manitobans.

Cancer Care Nova Scotia is a program of the Nova Scotia Department of Health, created to reduce the burden of cancer on individuals, families, and the health care system through prevention, screening, education and research.

bccancer.bc.ca