Breakthroughs in cancer happen when bold ideas are backed, boundaries are pushed and innovation reaches patients faster.
The Arthur J.E. Child Fund is fueling progress across Alberta. Its focus is clear: advancing precision oncology, attracting and retaining world-class talent and accelerating discoveries that improve care.
That momentum led to the creation of the Arthur Child Innovation Catalyst Grant competition. Designed to seize emerging opportunities, the program supports bold, early-stage ideas with the potential to strengthen cancer care. In 2025, more than $1.3 million was awarded to five projects over two years, spanning the cancer care continuum and reflecting the program’s commitment to thoughtful risk-taking and rapid progress.
The fund has also enabled the launch of the Arthur Child Precision Oncology Initiative. This work is strengthening the infrastructure, expertise and collaboration needed to tailor treatment to each patient’s unique biology and diagnosis, helping clinicians make more informed decisions and opening the door to more personalized care.
Together, these investments share a common goal: shortening the distance between discovery and care. When innovation is supported early, research advances sooner, care evolves faster and Albertans benefit earlier
Arthur Child Innovation Catalyst grant projects
Dr. Perri Tutelman is creating a digital platform to support the unmet needs of adolescents and young adults living with cancer.
Dr. Jongbok Lee is exploring whether exercise can enhance immune-based T-cell therapy for Albertans with leukemia.
Dr. Sorana Morrissy is advancing a vaccine-based approach to target glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer.
Dr. Amir Nezhad is developing a biosensor-based diagnostic tool to predict and monitor treatment response in patients with bladder cancer.
Dr. Rui Fu is building a prediction tool to identify head and neck cancer patients at risk of life-threatening complications.
