Funds raised through the Billion Dollar Challenge will help our world-class oncology team create a new model of Personalized Cancer Medicine, benefiting patients at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, across Canada and around the world. The Princess Margaret's investment in Personalized Cancer Medicine stems from research that shows every patient’s cancer is different. We believe that we will conquer cancer by matching treatment to the exact type and stage of tumour for each individual patient.
Our vision of Personalized Cancer Medicine is based on four key pillars:
detecting cancer earlier,
diagnosing it more precisely,
targeting it more effectively and
supporting each individual patient according to their unique needs.
Because we are Canada’s largest and most comprehensive cancer research centre, The Princess Margaret is responsible for delivering the evidence and measuring the benefit of new treatments and new approaches.
“Therapies are funded if there is enough evidence to prove they are effective and safe,” said Dr. Mary Gospodarowicz, Medical Director at The Princess Margaret. “We want to be in a position to create this evidence… we want to be in a position to make the new therapies standard and available to patients."
By leveraging our basic science research and clinical strength, we will continue to lead the way and deliver the evidence that will make Personalized Cancer Medicine—the new gold standard in cancer care.
As we lead the way in Personalized Cancer Medicine, it is essential that we facilitate the transfer of knowledge both within The Princess Margaret and on a global basis. This is to ensure that the highest standards of care are available to the widest range of patients.
For instance, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre formed a partnership in 2012 with the country of Kuwait to provide comprehensive consultation on the provision of cancer care in Kuwait. The following year, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the King Hussein Cancer Center in Jordan. In Spring 2014, we signed another with Tata Memorial Centre, a leading cancer hospital in India. International partnerships such as these will allow us to share our vision of delivering advanced, effective cancer care.
Beyond sharing our expertise, we also work with many global partners. For example, we have a productive and long-standing relationship with Elekta, a Swedish company that provides radiation therapy equipment. The Princess Margaret plays a pivotal role in the development and clinical application of cone-beam CT for image-guided radiation therapy. In 2010, new technology developed at The Princess Margaret and licensed to Elekta was brought to market. With this product, radiation oncologists can better visualize and plan radiotherapy treatment allowing them to treat tumours aggressively with ultra-high precision.
With funds raised from the Billion Dollar Challenge, the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre will continue to lead the way and partner to share our innovative practices and expertise globally.
Training Leaders for the Future
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre attracts the best and brightest minds from around the world. Thanks to the expertise of our renowned scientists and clinician researchers, training young minds is an active and vital part of our critical mission.
In 2013, we trained 549 fellows and graduate students and provided oncology training for medical students at the University of Toronto. The knowledge and experience gained is spread across the country and the world. Through the training provided at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, we directly encourage the pursuit of bold and innovative cancer care in tomorrow’s leaders.