Two new studies join the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) portfolio of Window-of-Opportunity (WOO) Network clinical trials. April 18, 2024, TORONTO – A new round of clinical trials supported by the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) will harness a unique opportunity to test some of the newest treatment strategies for a range of different cancers. OICR has announced two new clinical trials as part of its Window-of-Opportunity (WOO) Network, which brings together Ontario researchers, clinicians and patients to study the biology of newly diagnosed and recurrent tumours. “‘Wi ..read more

OICR PhD student Farzan Taj created a ‘deep learning’ algorithm that uses different sets of molecular information to predict how tumours respond to drugs. Precision medicine is about knowing which treatments work best for which patient. But the more we learn about how small genetic differences can influence how one person responds to one medicine versus another, the harder that becomes. In cancer research, there’s a nearly limitless combination of drugs and tumour subtypes. Which is why researchers are increasingly turning to machine learning to help predict the most effective medication agai ..read more

Scientists, clinicians and patients shared their achievements and ideas for improving the lives of people affected by cancer. For a moment, on stage in front of a crowd of accomplished cancer researchers from Ontario and beyond, Carla Bossart-Pletzer wondered if she belonged. Carla Bossart-Pletzer A designer and illustrator by trade, Bossart-Pletzer was serving as MC for OICR’s 2024 Translational Research Conference, a gathering of about 250 people from across OICR’s vast cancer research network. “Then I remembered what my accomplishment is,” Bossart-Pletzer told the crowd. “My accomplishment ..read more

This landmark acquisition of the Hamilton-based company comes after years of funding and support from OICR and FACIT. AstraZeneca’s $2 billion (USD) acquisition of Hamilton-based Fusion Pharmaceuticals marks a major milestone for precision medicine in cancer and for Ontario’s life sciences sector, and the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) is proud to have helped launch this made-in-Ontario success story. Dr. John Valliant Fusion is a clinical-stage oncology company developing and manufacturing radiopharmaceuticals, a new class of cancer therapy that uses radioactive isotopes linked ..read more

A program of OICR, the Ontario Cancer Research Ethics Board (OCREB) includes more than 40 expert reviewers who specialize in cancer clinical trials. Ethics boards are an essential part of cancer research. They work to protect the rights and welfare of research participants who volunteer to join studies that generate knowledge and innovations that may help people live longer, better lives. Most hospitals that do clinical research have their own research ethics boards that review study protocols, participant consent forms and other study documents. But cancer research keeps changing and evolvin ..read more

Ontario Health Study participant Brenda Czich asks OICR’s Director of Genomics Dr. Trevor Pugh about blood tests for cancer. Watch the video to learn about cancer blood tests that are currently available, new ones under development and how these types of tests can help those at risk of hereditary cancers. The post Ask a cancer researcher: Is there a blood test for cancer? appeared first on Ontario Institute for Cancer Research ..read more

OICR-supported researchers are harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to help diagnose cancer quickly and accurately. The difference between cancerous and non-cancerous tissue can be so subtle it’s almost imperceptible. And yet distinguishing one from the other can mean the difference between life and death. Early detection is critical to treating cancer effectively, and it’s one of the pillars of OICR’s research strategy. As part of that strategy, the institute is supporting a range of cutting-edge studies that aim to make detecting and diagnosing cancer easier for clinicians by har ..read more

OICR’s Translational Research Initiatives (TRIs) made a lasting impact for patients. In 2017, ovarian cancer research was due for a new approach. Despite the best efforts of scientists, clinicians and patients, outcomes hadn’t improved for almost 50 years, and the disease always seemed one step ahead. Gaining ground on ovarian cancer was going take something bold. It was going to take teams of experts asking questions that matter to cancer patients and working together to answer them. And that’s exactly what OICR had in mind when it created the Ovarian Cancer Translational Research Initiative ..read more

A team of Ontario researchers is developing PMATCH, an automated system to match precision medicine clinical trials with eligible cancer patients. Clinical trials can be the best way to test new cancer technologies and treatments, and can give patients access to potentially life-saving innovations. Yet connecting patients with a trial they’re eligible for can be like finding a needle in a haystack. Clinicians and researchers are tasked with identifying all available trial options and their unique eligibility criteria, and comparing that against patients’ health history and complex medical inf ..read more

Blood cancer survivor Terry Hawrysh is the new Chair of OICR’s Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC). Though Terry Hawrysh has seen major strides in patient partnership since he first got involved in cancer research, he thinks we’re just scratching the surface of what patient partners can achieve. So he’s excited to help lead the next evolution of patient partnership in cancer research as the new Chair of OICR’s Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC). “As Chair, I have a wonderful opportunity to draw on the collective knowledge and experience of many diverse and dynamic patients partn ..read more