Cancer Biology

Theme Co-leads:

    Sonia Cellot, Sarah Cook, Nada Jabado, Amjad Kayali, Philipp Lange and Nathalie Therrien

Cancer occurs when abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and have the potential to spread to or invade other parts of the body. This happens as a result of the accumulation of genetic changes in normal cells. To understand pediatric cancers, it is pivotal to understand cancer biology on a cellular, molecular and biochemical level, which will ultimately lead to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease.

The aim of the Cancer Biology research theme is to better understand the biology of pediatric cancers and accelerate research efforts by removing barriers to collaboration, increasing research pathways, and building infrastructure to enable knowledge, expertise, and data sharing across Canada.

Priorities:

  1. Increase capacity and access to “–omics” (comprehensive genetic and other molecular profiles of cells), drug screening and modelling analyses.
  2. Create a national network of excellence to address key questions via collaborative national research projects.
  3. Consolidate and expand existing infrastructure and expertise to develop research pathways.
  4. Advance biobanking, data integration and data sharing across Canada.