Introduction

The Canadian Cancer Research Alliance (CCRA) is an alliance of organizations that collectively fund most of the cancer research conducted in Canada – research that will lead to:

  • better ways to prevent cancer
  • diagnose cancer
  • treat cancer and
  • improve patient and survivor outcomes.

Members include federal research funding programs/agencies, provincial research agencies, provincial cancer care agencies, cancer charities, and other voluntary associations. 

We are motivated by the belief that, through effective collaboration, Canadian cancer research funding organizations can maximize their collective impact on cancer control and accelerate discovery for the ultimate benefit of Canadians affected by cancer.

Our Executive Office is supported by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, an independent, not-for-profit organization funded by the federal government to accelerate action on cancer control for all Canadians. For more information on the Partnership’s role, click here.

The CCRA is not a registered charity and cannot accept donations. If you wish to donate to a charity that funds cancer research, please check our Members page.

CCRA... 

  • has been publishing reports on the annual investment in cancer research in Canada since 2007 (to access, click here)
  • also publishes research investment reports on childhood and adolescent cancers, cancer risk and prevention, early translation, survivorship, and palliative and end-of-life care (to access, click here)
  • has developed two pan-Canadian cancer research strategies, which identify key priorities for cancer research funding collaboration (to access, click here)
  • has produced specific research frameworks for prevention, survivorship, and palliative and end-of-life care, as well as a report on the state of cancer clinical trials in Canada (to access, click here)
  • CCRA’s publications have been cited in more than 50 scientific papers (for a listing of these papers, click here)
  • has convened three scientific conferences, with the fourth scheduled for November 2017 in Vancouver (for more information, click here)
  • recognizes, on a biennial basis, the accomplishments of key leaders in cancer research (for more information, click here).

Dr. Elizabeth Eisenhauer Retires

After nearly a decade of leadership as the Co-Chair of CCRA, Dr. Elizabeth Eisenhauer retired on June 30th. Dr. Stephen Robbins, on behalf of the CCRA membership, acknowledged Dr. Eisenhauer’s extraordinary contribution in facilitating the growth and formalizing the mandate of the Alliance.

Dr. Eisenhauer joined as Co-Chair in 2008 and soon afterwards recognized the need to develop a pan-Canadian cancer research strategy that would unite cancer research funders around common areas of interest and help advance the science. The Pan-Canadian Cancer Research Strategy was a landmark document in the evolution of the Alliance’s efforts to facilitate collaboration around important research areas. Dr. Eisenhauer also wrote the seminal Report on the State of Cancer Clinical Trials in Canada, which laid the foundation for the creation of the Canadian Cancer Clinical Trials Network (3CTN). In addition, she provided visionary leadership for the inaugural Canadian Cancer Research Conference (CCRC) and ensured its tradition as a forum that brings together researchers of all stripes to encourage dialogue and spark cross-disciplinary partnerships.

Although a clinician researcher, Dr. Eisenhauer has contributed her expertise to areas as diverse as tobacco control and palliative/end-of-life care and will continue, post-CCRA, to provide her wisdom and energy to these important areas within the cancer continuum. Best wishes, Elizabeth. The CCRA membership will miss you, but look forward to continued interactions during your ongoing activities.

New Research Frameworks Released

CCRA is pleased to announce the release of two research frameworks as part of its Target 2020 deliverables. The Pan-Canadian Research Framework for Cancer Survivorship and the Pan-Canadian Research Framework for Palliative and End-of-Life Care are available for download along with one-page summaries, which will facilitate broad stakeholder engagement. CCRA will focus on development of an implementation approach in the coming months. The development of these frameworks involved many representatives from the Alliance and experts from the cancer survivorship and palliative and end-of-life care fields. You can find all of these documents here.

New Cancer Research Investment Report

CCRA's latest report describes the decade-long investment in cancer research and how it has changed over time. Nearly five billion dollars was invested from 2005 to 2014. There were substantial investments in national and regional platforms through the Canada Foundation for Innovation and a ramp up of provincial research programs in Ontario. A number of charities posted increased research funding from the first to the second quinquennial. The increased investments were most pronounced for research in the areas of early detection, diagnosis and prognosis and treatment. To access this report, detailed tables, and a companion slide deck, click here.

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Other News and Events...

Opportunity: Scientist at the RIOH in Manitoba

The Research Institute in Oncology and Hematology (RIOH), a joint institute of CancerCare Manitoba and the University of Manitoba, invites applications for a full-time position as Scientist and appropriate level of Professor at the University of Manitoba beginning October, 2 2017 or as soon thereafter as possible.

This is a one-year appointment (October 2, 2017–October 1, 2018). Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Applications will be accepted until December, 31 2017 or until the position has been filled. For more information, click here.