RESEARCH

Our Research Programs

We support projects to transform lab ideas into clinical Phase 1 products.

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Research Programs

Accelerating discoveries from lab bench to patient bedside

Five specialized funding streams that support cancer biotherapeutic projects at every stage, from early-stage validation and clinical-trial readiness to tackling social, economic and manufacturing barriers.

BioCanRx’s Translational Research Pipeline Model/Approach

Catalyst Program

The Catalyst Studies Program supports short-term, early-stage projects to conduct critical proof-of-concept studies that will advance cancer biotherapeutics development, assessment or clinical translation.

Program Highlights

Enabling Studies Program

The Enabling Studies Program funds work required to prepare and position biotherapeutic products and platforms for clinical testing in patients. It bridges the traditionally difficult-to-fund translation from the laboratory to clinical testing. Projects funded by the Enabling Studies Program are intended to provide critical resources to bridge the funding gap between laboratory discovery and clinical testing of innovations in cancer biotherapeutics, including funding to support GMP manufacturing and process development. Enabling Studies projects should result in either CTA submission packages or Quality (Chemistry and Manufacturing) packages.

Program Highlights

Projects are expected to be conducted over 6 months to 3 years
BioCanRx funding budget request: $750,000
BioCanRx will fund up to 50% of total project costs
Enabling Studies projects provide financial support and resources for activities required to position biotherapeutic products or platforms for their translation to clinical testing, including GMP manufacturing and process development, analytical assay development, and preclinical GLP studies.
Enabling Studies projects must result in one or both deliverables: CTA submission packages and Quality (Chemistry and Manufacturing) packages

Clinical Trials Program

The Clinical Trials Program provides funds for Phase I/II clinical trials of novel cancer biotherapies that have been substantially developed in Canada. Clinical Trials projects are expected to be high-content, and academically driven. The program is focused on clinical trials using biotherapeutics, including but not limited to: oncolytic viruses and vaccines, cell therapies, and therapeutic antibodies, either as mono-therapies or in combination.

Program Highlights

Projects are expected to be conducted over 1 to 3 years
BioCanRx funding budget request: up to $1M total
BioCanRx will fund up to 40% of the total project costs
Clinical Trial projects must have novel, Canadian content in their approach
The required deliverables include clinical data required to evaluate the case for advancing the therapeutic into later-stage clinical development.

Clinical, Social and Economic Impact (CSEI) Program

The objective of the Clinical, Social and Economic Impact (CSEI) Program is to develop potential solutions to social, legal, ethical, economic or health-systems barriers facing BioCanRx biotherapeutic products and platforms as they progress through the translational pipeline and reach patients in the evolving regulatory and policy landscape. The CSEI program funds projects that identify gaps and advance solutions in the uptake of BioCanRx cancer biotherapeutics and companion technologies by end users, which may include patients, researchers, healthcare providers, regulators, commercial partners, legal experts, payers, and policy makers. CSEI projects are expected to provide deliverables that assess economic, social, and/or commercial impact of cancer biotherapeutics, or inform decisions to advance therapeutics into later-stage clinical development/commercialization.

Program Highlights

Core Facilities Program

Program Highlights

Continuing from the previous success of core facility funding, BioCanRx will provide funding for Canadian academic or research institution facilities that offer translational services. Funding from the Core Facilities Program is intended to provide a baseline level of support for core facilities that will be engaged in BioCanRx projects.

Our Portfolio

Advancing Promising Therapies

Our programs are designed to support cancer immunotherapy research with a clear clinical path. Projects can enter or exit the pipeline at various stages, and we provide funding to move them closer to clinical trials.

Supports pre-clinical to Phase 1/2 trial

Funds proof of concept, dose & toxicity studies

Requires a clear path to the clinic

Facility & Impact Support

BioCanRx supports the infrastructure and activities that help our research have real-world impact. Funding core facilities and advancing technologies into practice, policy, and communities.

Core Facilities Support

We fund critical facilities involved in our projects when not covered by existing budgets.

Advancing Technologies

We also provide funding to enable the forward path of these technologies.