The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Lakehead University and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine have launched ICR Discoveries, Institute of Cancer Research in Thunder Bay, Ontario. After many years of cooperative research activities and teaching collaborations, the partner organizations have formalized their working relationships and are embarking on a new era of research that will support and enhance patient care, complement provincial and national research activities, and address local and regional needs.

In March 2001, recognizing the mutual interdependence of the partnering organizations to achieve their individual academic and research goals and objectives, the Northwestern Ontario Regional Cancer Centre (NWORCC) and Lakehead University conducted a needs analysis that identified current research and teaching activities, and the steps required to effectively launch an institute of cancer research. In the fall of 2002, a steering committee of interested Lakehead University faculty members and NWORCC scientists was formed to develop the institute. This committee has met on a monthly basis to address strategic issues dealing with the establishment of the organization now known as ICR Discoveries.

Because of the flexibility of operation and to capitalize on the infrastructure that was already in place, the institute was formally established within the corporate structure of Lakehead University as the Northwestern Ontario Cancer Research Institute (NWOCRI).

In October 2004, an agreement between the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Lakehead University, and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine was signed to form a partnership, committing institutional efforts to NWOCRI.

In November 2004, the official name of the Cancer Research Institute was changed to ICR Discoveries.

ICR Discoveries Mission

“To undertake, develop, and support cancer research and related programs in Northwestern Ontario that will improve the prevention, screening, supportive care, palliative care, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. This includes a focus on cancer issues of the people of Northwestern Ontario.”

To achieve this Mission, ICR Discoveries is committed to:

• Offering a platform for the training, development, and support of personnel in cancer research in Northwestern Ontario.
• Conducting research that relates to all parts of the continuum of cancer care: prevention, screening, supportive care, palliative care, diagnosis, and treatment. In doing so, ICR Discoveries will foster the development of emerging or expanding areas of research related to cancer.
• Supporting the translation of basic research into clinical programs.
• Developing interdisciplinary areas of research strength and fostering of translational research by increasing communication between fundamental and clinical investigators.

ICR Discoveries Goals:

• Establish a critical mass of investigators in various disciplines of cancer research under a single institute located in Northwestern Ontario.
• Assist in the establishment of additional research infrastructure including laboratories and equipment related to cancer research.
• Assist in the recruitment of qualified researchers and healthcare providers to Northwestern Ontario.
• Attract top scientists and their expertise to develop independent research programs; attract peer-reviewed grants, and train students in the latest techniques of medical research in Northwestern Ontario.
• Provide an economic stimulus to the area, and reverse the trend to out-migration of the “best and brightest personnel.”
• Provide an environment for people involved in cancer research to interact, collaborate, and create the scientific collegiality that is important to build a sustainable program.
• Provide education and training for students, researchers, and physicians who would like to undertake cancer research
• Assist in the establishment of educational programs that will produce researchers in Northwestern Ontario.
• Enhance the profile and prestige of Northwestern Ontario in the research community.
• Enhance the body of knowledge related to cancer care.
• Address northern cancer issues unique to Northwestern Ontario.

ICR Discoveries is an institute where faculty and scientists conducting cancer research in the partner organizations can become members. In addition, cancer researchers external to the partner organizations may also become affiliated with ICR Discoveries.

For further information, please visit the ICR Discoveries website.

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