Chairs

Alberta Cancer Foundation Chair in Brain Tumor Research: Dr. Gregory Cairncross
Alberta Cancer Foundation Chair in Molecular Cancer Epidemiology: Dr. Marty Slattery
Enbridge Research Chair in Psychosocial Oncology: Dr. Linda Carlson
Engineered Air Chair in Research Cancer: Dr. Susan Lees-Millar
Kids Cancer Care Foundation Chair in Pediatric Oncology: Search

For more information

ACRI Alberta Cancer Research Unit
The establishment of the ACRI Cancer Clinical Research Unit (ACCRU) is an exciting opportunity to coordinate clinical research on a population of 3.3 million people. In this model, there is a single point of contact for prinicipal investigators, cooperative groups, biotech, and the pharmaceutical industry, allowing us to compete more effectively on an international level. This aligns with ACRI's 2025 vision of 50% fewer people dying from cancer.

ACCRU Alberta Cancer Clinic Research Unit will create a central business unit to set priorities and streamline processes to support the current Phase II and Phase III programs. As there will be a single unit for ethical approvals and contract negotiations, this will strengthen the capability to perform scientifically significant clinical and translational research. ACCRU will also increase the capacity and development of strategies to attract major biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies for investment in clinical cancer research and engineer Phase I units at both the Cross Cancer Institute and the Tom Baker Cancer Centre to enhance drug development.

A provincial Biorepository, which stores tumour tissue, normal tissue, and biofluids, will provide the opportunity to interrogate human tissues using a variety of "omic" technologies to facilitate "personalized cancer medicine. An interim scientific director has recently been named, Dr. Carol Cass.

Clinical Research Unit
The research activities within the Clinical Trials Unit include many phases of clinical trials, with the use of various pharmaceutical agents as well as radiation therapies. This area is sub-divided by tumor groups; which consists of Co-operative groups and industry sponsored studies. Dr. Rachel Syme is the Operations Manager of this unit. Dr Bernie Eigl has been the medical leader of the unit for the past 2 years. There are approximately 50 staff members (Research Nurses and Clinical Research Coordinators) who share the workload with the Investigators. These teams ensure that research activities are documented and completed in a timely and efficient manner, following various guidelines such as Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board - UofC, Good Clinical Practice, Health Protection Branch of Canada, US Food and Drug Administration, etc.

There are approximately 300 ongoing clinical trials; 100 of these trials are open to accrual.
Clinical Trials Unit is located on the Ground Floor and Basement of the Tom Baker Cancer Centre.

SACRI Southern Alberta Cancer Research Institute
The Southern Alberta Cancer Research Institute (SACRI) brings together researchers and physicians using the latest advances in medicine and science to determine the most effective treatments, to understand cancer causation, to explain trends in cancer incidence and mortality, and to improve the scientific knowledge of all aspects of the cancer continuum.

SACRI originated in 2003 as a partnership between the University of Calgary's Faculty of Medicine and the Alberta Health Services-Alberta Cancer Board (AHS-ACB). The Institute's primary role is to integrate cancer research across all disciplines into four broad streams - fundamental, translational, patient-based, and population health - throughout Southern Alberta.

Fundamental Research
The basic scientists in SACRI are involved in a wide spectrum of scientific investigations from how aberrant molecular processes result in tumour formation to how existing and new therapeutic agents destroy the cancer cells. These research efforts are key to understanding how cancer develops, grows and spreads.

Patient Based Research
Oncologists, the "front line" care givers in the fight against cancer, are ideally placed to observe the effectiveness of treatment regimes and how advances made by the scientists and epidemiologists are being translated into lower rates of occurrence, decreased morbidity and reduced mortality. For those patients who do not find success with current treatment options, the Palliative Care team is dedicated to improving the quality of life and providing superior end of life care. Research is continually attempting to improve the care these patients receive and to assist with symptom relief, pain control and medication tolerance.

Population Based Research
The AHS-ACB's Division of Population Health conducts research in cancer etiology, including an emphasis on molecular cancer epidemiology, early detection and health services, and statistical methods in cancer. The goal of this research is a reduction in the risk of developing cancer and an improvement in the early detection of disease. A major focus of the research is on modifiable lifestyle risk factors including physical activity and dietary intake, but also includes hormonal, molecular and genetic risk factors. Another major area of research is in colon cancer screening with several studies examining improved screening methods. The Department of Population Health Research has seven Research Scientists trained as epidemiologists and biostatisticians and a staff of approximately 50 individuals with training ranging up to the doctoral level. Currently, the main department is located in the TBCC while the Tomorrow Project staff and activities are located at the HCC and the PI for this cohort study is at the Sunlife Centre in Edmonton. All Research Scientists have their primary academic adjunct affiliation with the Department of Oncology but are also members of the Southern Alberta Cancer Research Institute and other university departments and faculties including Community Health Sciences, Medical Genetics, Mathematics and Statistics and Kinesiology.

Translational Research
SACRI translational researchers are involved in bringing scientific discoveries from "bench to bedside". Some of these researchers are investigating how various therapeutic agents destroy cancer cells and one arm of this work has led to the discovery that oncolytic viruses, when injected into a tumour, will kill the cancer cells. This discovery is proving significant and has already been used in the treatment of a small number of patients through Phase I and II clinical trails. Other research is looking at how the biomolecular mechanisms induced by radiation therapy treatments and chemotherapy kill cancer cells and how those mechanisms can be improved upon.