Research In Action

Champions of Hope - Research

Here are some of the exciting research projects funded by the Canadian Cancer Society right here in Alberta:

	Dr Chris Bleackley Our body’s immune system works hard to protect us from pathogens, viruses and microorganisms that infect cells. “Pathogen” is based on a Greek word which means “that which produces suffering.” As anyone who has suffered from a cold or the flu knows, that’s an all too appropriate definition. Read more on Dr Bleackley's research »»
	Dr Linda Carlson Dr Linda Carlson understands the healing power of yoga and meditation. Her team began a yoga group at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary in order to study the impact of stress reduction in cancer patients. Read more on Dr Carlson's research »»
	Dr YangXin Fu As a medical student, I had first-hand experience to see how cancer patients suffered and how little we knew about cancer. Therefore I decided to become a basic medical researcher with a special interest in cancer research. Find out why Dr Fu is a cancer fighter »»
	Dr Christine Friedenreich Dr Christine Friedenreich is conducting a year-long controlled exercise intervention trail with more than 300 post-menopausal women. Between the ages of 50 and 74, they are healthy but inactive – until taking part in this study. Read more on Dr Friedenreich's research »»
	Dr Michael Hendzel Dr Michael Hendzel is filling in these important pieces of the cancer puzzle so that more patients can get back to their everyday lives. He is investigating a protein called “actin,” one of the most abundant proteins in our bodies and one that can play a critical role in the development of cancer. Read more on Dr Hendzel's research »»
	Dr Frank Jirik Dr Frank Jirik and his research team are investigating how particular genes protect the lung's DNA against a particular carcinogen found in tobacco smoke and chewing tobacco. He is ultimately trying to determine why some smokers are more susceptible to lung cancer than others. Find out how Dr Jirik is fighting cancer »»
	Dr Kevin Kane Dr Kevin Kane has devised a non-invasive screening system to identify the mutated genes that the body’s own ‘killer cells’ – cytotoxic T lymphocytes – readily target and kill. Read more on Dr Kane's research »»
	Dr Raymond Lai Dr Raymond Lai is a pathologist who is responsible for diagnosing patients from inside his lab – examining their blood, tissues and other samples. Although he will likely never speak to them, he could tell patients a great deal about themselves. Read more on Dr Lai's research »»
	Dr Hanne Ostergaard Specifically, a group of white blood cells called "killer T cells" are known to be one of the immune system's most potent disease fighters. Killer T cells are the body's first line of defense against many different infections - and they also attack cancer cells. Read more on Dr Ostergaard's research »»
	Dr Thomas Simmen “Tumour cells are like a kind of weed growing in the body,” says Dr Simmen. “They grow faster and they’re hard to kill. Normal cells have a natural suicide tendency, but tumour cells do not die. They will continue to grow uninhibited.” Find out why Dr Simmen is a cancer fighter »»
	Dr James Stone Ras, Raf, Erk and Mek may sound like strange characters from a sci-fi film, but they are actually proteins that could provide great insight on how cancer cells are generated. Read more on Dr Stone's research »»
	Dr Roger Zemp Dr Zemp and his research team are developing a new laser-based imaging technology to study early tumour development and the response to cancer drugs. This highly sensitive technology will provide cancer biologists and clinicians insight into tumours that's never been previously available. Read more on Dr Zemp's research »»

FUTURE OF RESEARCH

The future of cancer research is filled with boundless optimism and promise. Yet there are still many hurdles to overcome. The number of new cancer cases and deaths continues to rise steadily as the Canadian population grows and ages. The challenge for today's researchers is to continue to expand and exploit existing knowledge to develop even better treatments and prevention strategies and improve the quality of life of patients with cancer.

In order to help make cancer history, the Canadian Cancer Society is committed to helping researchers continue advancing the frontiers of knowledge.

RESEARCH IS THE KEY

Twice as many kids beat cancer today than they did in the 1950s.

Today, more than 60% of Canadians diagnosed with cancer will SURVIVE - that's nearly double the survival rate in the 1960's.

Canadian Cancer Society – funded researchers are among the best in Canada.
An evaluation of the Society’s research grants program found that researchers funded by the
Society publish more papers, publish these papers in the most prestigious scientific journals, and are referenced more often by
other researchers.