Billion Dollar Challenge

Message from the President & CEO

In October 2014, we marked the halfway point of our five-year Billion Dollar Challenge. I want to personally thank our incredible community for supporting the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, one of the top 5 cancer research centres in the world. 
Our Billion Dollar Challenge is making excellent progress. The funds we raise will enable The Princess Margaret to lead the revolution in cancer care: Personalized Cancer Medicine. 
In the first two years of our bold challenge, we’ve been able to hire many new world-class cancer researchers—all equipped with the skill and expertise to deliver breakthrough research and top quality care for cancer patients at The Princess Margaret.
We’ve also made great strides with molecular profiling. The primary objective of our molecular profiling studies is to provide the clinician with information at the genetic level for their patients. This information may be used to better guide individual treatment.  Thanks to our world-class clinicians, we launched Canada’s first clinical trial integrating molecular profiling into cancer diagnostics. To date, over 2,000 patients in our IMPACT/COMPACT trials at The Princess Margaret have had their tumour molecularly profiled.  
In addition, our Billion Dollar Challenge has boosted areas of existing strength including immune therapy. We’re proud to be leading our Tumour Immunotherapy Program, the most comprehensive immune therapy program in Canada. This promising area of research was named the 2013 Breakthrough of the Year  by Science Magazine, one of the world’s top scientific journals.  
This remarkable progress is thanks to your continued support. Please accept my deepest and sincerest gratitude on behalf of The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.   
With your help, The Princess Margaret will continue to achieve global impact as one of the top 5 cancer research centres in the world. 





Paul Alofs
President & CEO
The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation