The Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation announced this week a $4.5 million investment for nine homegrown researchers, including six researchers affiliated with McGill, the MUHC and the Jewish General Hospital. Over 20 years, the Foundation has invested more than $25 million in research, in the hopes of reaching its vision of a future without breast cancer.
With this 5th edition of its breast cancer research grants program, the Foundation is continuing its commitment to theQuebec medical and scientific community, investing in promising, innovative research projects. The grants range from $100,000 to $125,000 per year, over a four-year term. The selected projects have, among others, such goals as better understanding how cancerous cells function; developing medication and a vaccine against breast cancer; improving diagnosis; and finding new hereditary links that could help explain the prevalence of breast cancer among certain Quebec families.
“Once again this year, the many high-quality applications we received reveal the energy and vitality of Quebec’sbreast cancer research community,” said Francine Cléroux, the Foundation’s chief executive officer. “As our understanding of the different types of breast cancer continues to improve, we can hope for even more targeted treatments with fewer side effects. Breast cancer affects more women in Quebec than any other kind of cancer, but thanks to the advances made in recent years, the five-year survival rate has reached 88%. The investment announced today, brings us closer to a future without breast cancer.”
The six McGill-affiliated researchers selected and their projects are:
Dr. Michael Witcher, Assistant Professor, Department of Oncology, McGill University and Researcher, Lady Davis Institute of the Jewish General Hospital: Finding a new therapeutic target in preventing metastasis.
Dr. Morag Park, Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Director, Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University and Researcher at the Research Institute of the MUHC: Finding a new use for existing medications.
Dr. Moulay Alaoui- Jamali, Professor, Department of Oncology, McGill University and Researcher, Segal Cancer Centre, Jewish General Hospital: Developing a medication to prevent metastasis.
Dr. Luke McCaffrey, Assistant Professor, Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University: Improving diagnosis in the early stages of the disease
Dr. Mark Basik, Associate Professor, Department of Oncology, McGill University and Surgeon and Researcher, Jewish General Hospital: Improving diagnosis in order to help match the right patient with the right treatment.
Dr. William Foulkes, Professor, Departments of Medicine, Human Genetics and Oncology, McGill University, Director, Program in Cancer Genetics, McGill University Cancer Geneticist and Researcher, Research Institute of the MUHC: Determine why certain Quebec families are at very high risk of developing breast cancer