Facilitating the research of numerous nationally and internationally recognized scientists, in over sixty labs across British Columbia, to improve cancer care.

BC Cancer Research strives to improve the lives of patients through the integration of basic biomedical research, genomics, clinical trials, health services research, cancer surveillance, population health, and the development of innovative new technology, programs, and interventions. Organized through departments and programs with various themes, BC Cancer supports groundbreaking cancer research and personalized care approaches through world-class facilities and platforms including genomics, bioinformatics, imaging, drug development and tissue banking.

Our Research

At BC Cancer, collaboration is at the root of every discovery and breakthrough that impacts patient care. Our 2024 Research Report showcases the many achievements at BC Cancer that were a result of our priority to integrate research and cancer care, and continue collaborations with local, national and international partners.

Read the 2024 BC Cancer Research Report

News & Events

BC Cancer investigators participate in CCTG VISION Leadership Program

Three BC Cancer clinical investigators are participating in the Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG) VISION – Investigator Leadership Training Program, a new education and mentorship initiative focused on developing leadership skills among current and emerging clinical trialists.

Drs. Leah Lambert, Jonathan Loree and Lucia Nappi are part of the inaugural VISION cohort.

BC Cancer takes national honour for excellence in isotope production, research and use

BC Cancer’s Molecular Imaging and Therapeutics Program has been recognized with the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council (CNIC) Award for Academic Leadership — a national honour celebrating the team’s visionary leadership and impact.

At the April CNIC Annual Awards Reception at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Dr. François Bénard, senior executive director, Research, BC Cancer accepted the award on behalf the team, including Dr. Joseph Lau, Dr. Carlos Uribe, Dr. Arman Rahmim, Dr. Kuo-Shyan Lin, Dr. Don Wilson and many others.

New enzymatic platform harnesses DNA’s programmability towards the creation of custom radiopharmaceuticals

Researchers at BC Cancer Research Institute (BCCRI) and UBC Chemistry have created a new way to build radioactive DNA molecules that could help reimagine how radiolabeled drugs are built. Using enzymes that normally copy genetic material, scientists programmed synthetic DNA to carry cancer‑fighting isotopes in precise patterns, opening the door to developing drugs that could both image tumors and destroy them with the same molecule. 

Research Recovery Resources

BC Cancer Research is taking a gradual and careful approach to re-opening research activities to protect our staff, patients and communities.

Access our COVID-19 recovery resources.

Our Strategic Plan

Our Strategic Plan outlines our direction to strengthen our research capabilities and collaboration with departments and partners to improve our ability to generate knowledge, enhance the impact of our research, and support innovation in clinical care.  

Read the BC Cancer Research Strategic Plan.

Facilitating research excellence through management of day-to-day operations.

Office of Research Administration

Conducting research to improve the prevention, detection and treatment of cancer.

Population Health Sciences

Making novel discoveries in the biology underlying normal development and cancer progression.

Terry Fox Laboratory

Characterising the molecular changes that underpin the progression and pathogenesis of cancer.

Molecular Oncology

Researching the optical, radiobiological and genetic properties of cancer.

Integrative Oncology

Improving patient outcomes by gaining a deeper understanding of lymphoma biology and progression, for use in clinical applications.

Lymphoid Cancer Research

Defining better intervention strategies for individuals diagnosed with aggressive cancers.

Experimental Therapeutics

Clinical Research

Harnessing the immune system to detect and treat cancer.

Deeley Research Centre

The Nursing Research department promotes innovation and excellence in interprofessional research and knowledge mobilization to drive evidence-informed improvements in care, better patient outcomes and increased system performance.

Nursing Research

Basic & Translational Research

Publications

Identification and Analyses of Extra-Cranial and Cranial Rhabdoid Tumor Molecular Subgroups Reveal Tumors with Cytotoxic T Cell Infiltration.

Cell reports, 2019
Chun, Hye-Jung E, Johann, Pascal D, Milne, Katy, Zapatka, Marc, Buellesbach, Annette, Ishaque, Naveed, Iskar, Murat, Erkek, Serap, Wei, Lisa, Tessier-Cloutier, Basile, Lever, Jake, Titmuss, Emma, Topham, James T, Bowlby, Reanne, Chuah, Eric, Mungall, Karen L, Ma, Yussanne, Mungall, Andrew J, Moore, Richard A, Taylor, Michael D, Gerhard, Daniela S, Jones, Steven J M, Korshunov, Andrey, Gessler, Manfred, Kerl, Kornelius, Hasselblatt, Martin, Frühwald, Michael C, Perlman, Elizabeth J, Nelson, Brad H, Pfister, Stefan M, Marra, Marco A, Kool, Marcel
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The genetic basis and cell of origin of mixed phenotype acute leukaemia.

Nature, 2018
Alexander, Thomas B, Gu, Zhaohui, Iacobucci, Ilaria, Dickerson, Kirsten, Choi, John K, Xu, Beisi, Payne-Turner, Debbie, Yoshihara, Hiroki, Loh, Mignon L, Horan, John, Buldini, Barbara, Basso, Giuseppe, Elitzur, Sarah, de Haas, Valerie, Zwaan, C Michel, Yeoh, Allen, Reinhardt, Dirk, Tomizawa, Daisuke, Kiyokawa, Nobutaka, Lammens, Tim, De Moerloose, Barbara, Catchpoole, Daniel, Hori, Hiroki, Moorman, Anthony, Moore, Andrew S, Hrusak, Ondrej, Meshinchi, Soheil, Orgel, Etan, Devidas, Meenakshi, Borowitz, Michael, Wood, Brent, Heerema, Nyla A, Carrol, Andrew, Yang, Yung-Li, Smith, Malcolm A, Davidsen, Tanja M, Hermida, Leandro C, Gesuwan, Patee, Marra, Marco A, Ma, Yussanne, Mungall, Andrew J, Moore, Richard A, Jones, Steven J M, Valentine, Marcus, Janke, Laura J, Rubnitz, Jeffrey E, Pui, Ching-Hon, Ding, Liang, Liu, Yu, Zhang, Jinghui, Nichols, Kim E, Downing, James R, Cao, Xueyuan, Shi, Lei, Pounds, Stanley, Newman, Scott, Pei, Deqing, Guidry Auvil, Jaime M, Gerhard, Daniela S, Hunger, Stephen P, Inaba, Hiroto, Mullighan, Charles G
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