Facilitating the research of numerous nationally and internationally recognized scientists, in over sixty labs across British Columbia, to improve cancer care.

BC Cancer Research strives to improve the lives of patients through the integration of basic biomedical research, genomics, clinical trials, health services research, cancer surveillance, population health, and the development of innovative new technology, programs, and interventions. Organized through departments and programs with various themes, BC Cancer supports groundbreaking cancer research and personalized care approaches through world-class facilities and platforms including genomics, bioinformatics, imaging, drug development and tissue banking.

Our Research

The success of BC Cancer is driven by the people and their passion to reduce the impact of cancer on people and society. Our 2022 Research Report showcases how BC Cancer continues to be internationally recognized for our excellence in cancer research and its integrated model of cancer planning and care. 

Read the 2022 BC Cancer Research Report. 

News & Events

Innovative Early Lung Cancer Detection is Saving Lives

As the most commonly diagnosed cancer, lung cancer accounts for a quarter of all cancer deaths — more people will die from lung cancer this year than from colorectal, pancreatic and breast cancers combined.

This is due to the fact that most patients are referred to BC Cancer once they’ve developed symptoms. As a result, nearly half of lung cancer cases are detected in Stage 4 after the cancer has metastasized. The five-year survival rate for the disease is 62% in Stage 1 but drops to just 3% in Stage 4.

Dr. Haifeng Zhang receives young independent investigator grant from the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research

Dr. Haifeng Zhang (Molecular Oncology), with the support of Dr. Poul Sorensen as mentor, received a young independent investigator grant from the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research (Rally). 

The award is tied to a project titled, “Immunotherapeutic targeting of IL1RAP in rare pediatric cancers.”

Rally helps fund all levels of promising research initiatives, from science at the bench to translational, and includes fellows, young investigators and independent investigators.

Congratulations to Dr. Zhang on this achievement! 

Dr. Poul Sorensen receives St. Baldrick’s Foundation grant for pediatric Ewing sarcoma research

Dr. Poul Sorensen (Molecular Oncology), with co-investigator Dr. Wei Li (University of Pittsburgh), has been awarded with a pediatric Ewing sarcoma research grant from St. Baldrick's Foundation. 

The Martha’s Better Ewing Sarcoma Treatment (BEST) Grant for All, named after a remarkable teenager who was fighting Ewing sarcoma and passed away in 2022, was awarded to Dr. Sorensen and Dr. Li for a project titled, "Better Ewing Sarcoma Treatment."

Research Recovery Resources

BC Cancer Research is taking a gradual and careful approach to re-opening research activities to protect our staff, patients and communities.

Access our COVID-19 recovery resources.

Our Strategic Plan

Our Strategic Plan outlines our direction to strengthen our research capabilities and collaboration with departments and partners to improve our ability to generate knowledge, enhance the impact of our research, and support innovation in clinical care.  

Read the BC Cancer Research Strategic Plan.

Facilitating research excellence through management of day-to-day operations.

Office of Research Administration

Conducting research to improve the prevention, detection and treatment of cancer.

Cancer Control Research

Developing and deploying genomics technologies and services in support of cancer and life sciences research.

Genome Sciences Centre

Making novel discoveries in the biology underlying normal development and cancer progression.

Terry Fox Laboratory

Characterising the molecular changes that underpin the progression and pathogenesis of cancer.

Molecular Oncology

Researching the optical, radiobiological and genetic properties of cancer.

Integrative Oncology

Improving patient outcomes by gaining a deeper understanding of lymphoma biology and progression, for use in clinical applications.

Lymphoid Cancer Research

Defining better intervention strategies for individuals diagnosed with aggressive cancers.

Experimental Therapeutics

Clinical Research

Harnessing the immune system to detect and treat cancer.

Deeley Research Centre

The Nursing and Allied Health Research and Knowledge Translation department promotes innovation and excellence in interprofessional research and knowledge mobilization to drive evidence-informed improvements in care, better patient outcomes and increased system performance.

Nursing and Allied Health Research and Knowledge Translation

Publications

Evaluation of Homologous Recombination Deficiency Signatures in Advanced Gastrointestinal and Thoracic Cancers Reveals Correlation with Platinum Therapy Duration

NPJ Precis Oncology
Erica S Tsang, Veronika Csizmok, Laura M Williamson, Erin Pleasance, James T Topham, Joanna M Karasinska, Emma Titmuss, Intan Schrader, Stephen Yip, Basile Tessier-Cloutier, Karen Mungall, Tony Ng, Sophie Sun, Howard J Lim, Jonathan M Loree, Janessa Laskin, Marco A Marra, Steven J M Jones, David F Schaeffer, Daniel J Renouf
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