Canada's unique research centres

The BC Cancer Agency's Research Centre in Vancouver is one of the largest free-standing cancer research centres in Canada - 233,000 square feet. Built with donations to the BC Cancer Foundation and opened in March 2005, the centre provides the opportunity for researchers and clinicians to collaborate in the quick translation of new knowledge into improved outcomes for cancer patients in every part of B.C.

On Vancouver Island, the BC Cancer Agency's Trev & Joyce Deeley Research Centre specializes in cancer immunology research that promises improved cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment.

BC Cancer Foundation donors made these outstanding research centres possible, and continue to do so - thank you.

Inside the BC Cancer Agency's BC Cancer Research Centre - Vancouver

The Centre is home to eight research departments and the Rix Family Discovery Centre. Made up of basic research scientists and clinical research, each department collaborates in discovering the causes of cancer, and ways to improve prevention and treatment and develop more effective ways to control and cure the disease.

Rix Family Discovery Centre
Named in honour of the generous donation given by the Rix family, Don, his wife Eleanor and daughter Laurie, the Rix Discovery Centre has a "walk-in" location on the ground floor of the BC Cancer Agency's Research Centre. Readily accessible to both patients and their families, as well as scientists and healthcare professionals, the centre is to be enhanced by internet access, so people from around the province can arm themselves with the vital information they need.

Advanced Therapeutics
The Advanced Therapeutics team improves the outcome of cancer patients through therapeutic interventions. Focusing on developing new and more effective treatments and translating them into clinical trials, the department's research programs can be categorized into five general areas - gene therapy, multi-drug resistance, drug delivery systems, immunotherapy and the study of novel molecules. In addition, the department's unique Investigational Drug Program is designed to expedite the development of promising new therapeutic agents to the stage where they can be tested in clinical trials.
Department Head: Dr. Marcel Bally

Cancer Control Research
The Cancer Control Research program is directed towards reducing cancer incidence and mortality in BC. The unit has active programs in areas such as occupational epidemiology, brain cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer and skin cancer. Current research includes studies into whether cellular phone use and shift work increases the risk of cancer and detailed analysis of liver cancer rates among Chinese Canadians and Americans.
Department Head: Richard Gallagher

Cancer Endocrinology
Focused mainly on the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer, the department also specializes in therapeutics for lymphoblastic leukaemias and diagnosis of melanoma. The staff are focused on the rapid translation of basic research findings into clinical practice and examining novel combination therapies for effectiveness.
Acting Department Head: Dr. Victor Ling, Vice President of Discovery

Cancer Genetics and Developmental Biology
This department houses a specialty laboratory designed for identifying genomic changes and the signalling and metabolic pathways associated with tumour development. One of the primary areas of research interest is directed towards understanding the events leading to cancer progression, which is thought to be driven by cumulative genetic alterations affecting a small number of genes. In addition, research is conducted to better understand the mechanism of resistance to anti-cancer drugs observed in many human cancers - this will ultimately assist the pharmaceutical industry to design more effective drugs to assist cancer patients.
Department Head: Dr. Victor Ling, Vice President of Discovery

Cancer Imaging
The main objectives of the department are developing the means to detect and classify early cancers and precancerous lesions at risk of developing into cancer. Staff work on exploiting the interaction of light at both the micro- and macro-scopic level to detect, delineate, grade and treat early (predominately pre-invasive) cancers. The department is currently focused on early cancer management issues in the lung, cervix, prostate, breast and skin, and has a special emphasis on enabling the translation of research to clinical usefulness.
Department Head: Dr. Calum MacAulay

BC Cancer Agency's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre
The BC Cancer Agency's Genome Sciences Centre is Canada's first high-throughput gene sequencing centre dedicated to cancer research. In addition, it is the only centre directly linked to a cancer treatment and research organization - the BC Cancer Agency. Genetic research in cancer includes pinpointing which anti-cancer drugs will work best in individual patients, devising genetic screens to identify individuals at high risk of cancer and developing drugs and radiation techniques targeted at early stages of cancer to stop it in its tracks and prevent disease growth.
Department Head: Dr. Marco Marra, Director, Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer Agency'

Medical Biophysics
The Medical Biophysics department concentrates on making in-roads into understanding cancer biology as well as the practical aspects of radiotherapy and related treatments. Scientists and researchers specifically study the biology and vasculature of solid treatments, methods of treating tumours and predicting their response to treatment.
Department Head: Dr. Ralph E. Durand, Associate Vice President of Research

Molecular Oncology . Molecular Oncology and Breast Cancer Program
This department utilizes genetic and genomic approaches coupled with high content screening to understand abnormal tumour cell pathways.
Department Head: Dr. Samuel Aparicio, molecular oncology & breast cancer research program, BC Cancer Agency

Terry Fox Laboratory
With a mandate to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment, this young and dynamic unit has developed an international reputation for standards of excellence in research and training since being established in 1981. Current emphasis is on the development of new technologies that will answer key questions about the control of cell growth, differentiation, aging and gene regulation.
Department Head: Dr. Allen C. Eaves

Inside the BC Cancer Agency's Vancouver Island Centre

The BC Cancer Agency's Trev & Joyce Deeley Research Centre (located in Victoria, BC)
Opened in 2003 in the BC Cancer Agency's Vancouver Island Centre, the Deeley Research Centre is designed to serve as a translational research centre that performs “bench-to-bedside” research for patients on Vancouver Island and throughout BC, in conjunction with research departments located in Vancouver. Researchers are specifically focused on how the immune system responds to cancer and how best to enhance this response for preventative and therapeutic purposes. In addition, the centre also houses the Tumour Tissue Repository, which will provide BC Cancer Agency researchers with essential tumour specimens for basic and clinical studies.
Department Head: Dr. Brad Nelson, Director, BC Cancer Agency's Trev & Joyce Deeley Research Centre