Ottawa, ON, May 27, 2024 – Yesterday, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and the Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, announced over $800 million in funding for science and research organizations through the Strategic Science Fund (SSF), including $38 million for BioCanRx. A subsequent announcement by the Honourable Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, highlighted the impact that this funding will have locally in Ottawa.
Dr. Stéphanie Michaud, BioCanRx President and CEO, made the following statement on the funding announcement:
“Immunotherapy is a groundbreaking approach to cancer treatment that uses the body’s immune system to fight the disease from within, giving hope to Canadians affected by cancer. This crucial funding will enable our network of partners and researchers to expand our projects and clinical trials, delivering lifesaving treatments from the lab to patients nationwide. Patients like Camille Leahy, who benefited from CAR T-cell treatment as part of a clinical trial at the Ottawa Hospital, are living proof of the promise of immunotherapy.
In addition to benefiting cancer patients, this investment will foster additional collaborations and help position Canada as a global leader in the fight against cancer and ultimately reduce healthcare costs for Canadians. We look forward to continuing to work with the government and our partners to make Canada a beacon of hope in cancer research and treatment.”
About BioCanRx
BioCanRx is Canada’s Immunotherapy Network. Our vision is to turn all cancers into curable diseases. We are a network of scientists, clinicians, cancer stakeholders, academic institutions, NGOs and industry partners working together to accelerate the development of leading-edge immune oncology therapies for the benefit of patients. As a leader in the translation, manufacture and adoption of cancer immunotherapies, we invest in translating world-class technologies from the research lab into clinical trials. BioCanRx provides researchers with access to funding, expertise, training and biomanufacturing facilities. We train and develop the talent needed for a thriving Canadian health biotechnology sector. BioCanRx receives funding from the federal government’s Networks of Centres of Excellence, and support from industry, the provinces and charities. The network is hosted by the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. Learn more at BioCanRx.com.
