With support from CCS and Brain Canada, three teams of experts are undertaking large-scale projects to change the lives of people affected by advanced cancer
It takes big ideas – and bold researchers – to help more people live well with and beyond advanced cancer. That’s why new grants announced today by the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS), with support from Brain Canada, will fund cutting-edge research that aims to reshape how we care for people with advanced cancer and tackle critical gaps in research on how cancer recurs.
With $17.9 million in funding, the current round of CCS Breakthrough Team Grants brings together researchers, healthcare providers, people affected by cancer and other experts to find new and innovative approaches to cancer understanding, treatment and symptom support. Each of the three grants focuses on priorities identified by people with lived experience of cancer, who are also key participants in the research. This is the second round of these unique grants, which previously funded trailblazing studies into 6 low-survival cancers.
Through these grants, we’re fueling innovative research that could transform the future of cancer care. This kind of big-picture thinking is vital to improving not only cancer survival, but also quality of life for people living with or beyond cancer.
Dr Stuart Edmonds, Executive Vice President, Mission, Research and Advocacy at CCS
Psychedelic-assisted cancer therapy
One of the selected projects, led by Dr Linda Carlson at the University of Calgary and Dr Ronald Shore at Queen’s University, focuses on treating feelings like anxiety, depression and hopelessness that are common in people living with advanced cancer. Small trials suggest that psychedelic-assisted cancer therapy (PACT) can offer quick and long-lasting help, but barriers exist that prevent access to PACT for people with advanced cancers in Canada. With funding from CCS in partnership with Brain Canada, Dr Carlson, Dr Ronald Shore and their team will work with people from all walks of life to determine research priorities, train healthcare providers and eventually conduct a large-scale clinical trial of psychedelic-assisted therapy for people with advanced cancer that could influence policy.
“It takes a society to tackle cancer and the problems that go along with diagnosis and treatment,” says Dr Carlson. “We will bring together people living with cancer, their loved ones, cancer researchers across disciplines, psychosocial and palliative care clinicians, provincial cancer administrative leaders and provincial and federal policymakers on this team.”
Easier access to palliative treatment trials
“For most people, quality of life is as important as quantity of life,” says Dr Downar. “Our research is focused on finding new ways to improve symptom control and quality of life for people with advanced cancer because it makes all the difference in the world.”
Dr James Downar (Bruyère Health Research Institute), Dr Kieran Quinn (Sinai Health, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute) and their team are building a platform that connects patients with clinical trials for palliative treatments. With funding from CCS in partnership with Brain Canada, the team will work with people affected by cancer to focus first on treatments for psychological distress with the hope that the platform will eventually allow people to find trials for any symptom associated with advanced cancer. Their goal? To improve access to clinical trials and get results quicker, thus improving the lives of people affected by cancer.
We are proud to collaborate with Canadian Cancer Society on these projects that aim to deepen our understanding of the mental health challenges faced by individuals living with cancer. By investing in this critical research, we move closer to developing tailored solutions that address the psychological impact of cancer and improve patient outcomes.
Dr. Viviane Poupon, President and CEO of Brain Canada
Understanding cancer dormancy and recurrence
Some cancer cells can survive undetected in the body for years, a condition we call “dormancy.” Even long after successful treatment, these cells can reactivate and cause a recurrence of cancer. Finding and eliminating dormant cancer cells can reduce the risk of relapse – so Dr Francis Rodier at Centre de recherche du CHUM and his multi-institutional team are studying ovarian tumours with a high rate of recurrence to learn more about dormancy. Using brand-new technologies, they will search for vulnerabilities in dormant cancer cells and test new treatment strategies that target the cells’ weak points, ultimately reducing treatment resistance and improving patient outcomes.
“To fight a complex disease like cancer, it’s essential to bring together multidisciplinary teams to foster collaboration and discovery,” says Dr Rodier. “In Canada, there are very few large-scale grants such as the CCS Breakthrough Team Grants, which makes this program essential.”
The CCS Breakthrough Team Grants reflect the importance of funding ambitious, team-based scientific research aimed at improving the lives and outcomes of people living with advanced cancer. To learn more about these grants and the selected projects, visit cancer.ca.