Questions, Answers, and Innovations PDF
Types of research
Research is key to achieving a cancer-free future. The researchers you fund through the Alberta Cancer Foundation are involved in all aspects of the research spectrum and excel in translating research from "bench to bedside."
Basic discovery research means that researchers study cancer at the very basic level of molecules and cells.
In translational research, the basic discoveries are developed, or "translated," into useable tools for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer.
In clinical research, the new diagnostic tools or therapies developed in the translational research stage are then used with patients. The clinical research stage allows researchers to determine how effective the new tools and therapies will be.
Surveillance and monitoring research involves analyzing the data of groups of people with cancer. It helps researchers understand the causes of certain types of cancers and how to detect or prevent them.
Highlights of your research dollars at work
May 2009
A gift from Daryl and Diane Howard is celebrated at the opening of the Howard Cancer Research labs housed in the Health Research Innovation Facility at the University of Calgary.
February 2009
The Alberta Cancer Clinical Research Unit (ACCRU) is established to coordinate clinical trials for cancer province wide. Dr. Bernie Eigl, Tom Baker Cancer Centre, is named director.
Dr. Marc Trudeau leads the first cancer clinical trial conducted at the Medicine Hat Cancer Centre investigating a drug designed to treat metastatic breast cancer.
January 2009
Dr. Gino Fallone and his research team at the Cross Cancer Institute are the first in the world to build a prototype MRI-linac machine which could dramatically improve the effectiveness of radiation therapy.
Nineteen senior students receive awards for summer research projects supervised by a senior cancer researcher over the summer.
June 2008
Alberta’s Tomorrow Project, a cohort study of 30,000 well Albertans, becomes the basis for a national study under the leadership of Alberta’s Dr. Paula Robson, PhD. You can still join the Tomorrow Project.
November 2008
Two hundred sixty-four cancer researchers attend the annual research conference in Banff to share knowledge with international experts from around the world.
December 2008
In 2007, Dr. Peter Forsyth, and Donna Senger, PhD, along with their colleagues identified a "switch" that enables brain cancer cells to journey outwards from the primary tumour. This year, working with Dr. Stephen Robbins, PhD, and Samuel Weiss, PhD, they discovered a drug already being tested in Alzheimers patients could be the key to preventing the switch from being turned on.
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