CancerCare Manitoba (CCMB) and the University of Manitoba (U of M) are pleased to announce a joint institute to expand the scope of cancer research in Manitoba – the Research Institute of Oncology & Hematology, at the CancerCare Manitoba Research Centre. The joint institute will bring together all pillars of cancer and blood disorder research, to foster innovation, collaboration and translation of leading edge research into meaningful improvements in cancer care for Manitobans.

“By improving cancer research, we are helping to improve the lives of cancer patients and their families,” said Health Minster Sharon Blady. “Research like this is vital to providing state of the art care to cancer and blood disorder patients and a vibrant research program also attracts the best and brightest of scientists and researchers.”

The Research Institute of Oncology and Hematology builds upon the success of CCMB and U of M’s original cancer research institution, the Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology, which has focused on molecular biology research since 1969. The RIOH expansion will create an umbrella organization to include all cancer research in the province.

“We are grateful to the University of Manitoba for their committed partnership to the advancement of cancer research in Manitoba,” said CancerCare Manitoba president and CEO Dr. Sri Navaratnam. “RIOH will now enable multidisciplinary teams across the cancer continuum to work more closely together, on more projects that will have greater direct benefit to our patients.”

The expanded cancer research platform at RIOH will includes the entire spectrum of cancer research:

• Discovery Research
• Prevention
• Clinical Innovation/Health Services
• Patient Experience

“We are excited to embark on this new collaborative approach to cancer research in Manitoba,” said Digvir Jayas, Vice-President (Research and International) and Distinguished Professor at the University of Manitoba. “By creating teams working in an interdisciplinary and multi-institutional manner, we are supporting transformational research that is put into practice for better healthcare of Manitobans and Canadians.”

Research Manitoba’s recent award of a $2.5 Million grant to CCMB Leukemia researchers, confirms the integrated, multidisciplinary approach to research planned for RIOH. Led by CCMB Senior Scientist, Dr. Spencer Gibson, the grant is for research into the most common type of leukemia (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia), and is based on a cluster approach to bring together the best and brightest in research of a particular disease.

Cancer research in Manitoba also receives strong support from Manitobans, particularly through their ongoing fundraising efforts on behalf of the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation. The Foundation has contributed approximately $98 Million to CCMB exclusively, since 2000.

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