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

Dr. Samuel Aparicio, co-senior author on Nature Aging paper linking breast tissue aging to cancer risk

Dr. Samuel Aparicio, distinguished scientist at the BC Cancer Research Institute and professor at the University of British Columbia, is co-senior author on a recent paper providing the most detailed map to date of how breast tissue changes over a woman’s lifetime, revealing the role of menopause in cancer susceptibility. The study was co-led with scientists at the University of Cambridge.

Improving health outcomes in breast radiotherapy: A universal solution for every body

For patients undergoing breast radiotherapy to treat their cancer, receiving a high-quality standard of care is important – particularly given they receive treatment over several sessions. 

However, this consistency can be challenging to maintain as each patient’s body is different. Positioning the breast accurately is key to ensuring the radiation targets the right area, yet variations in body shape and size can make this difficult. 

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

Genome-Wide Profiles of Extra-cranial Malignant Rhabdoid Tumors Reveal Heterogeneity and Dysregulated Developmental Pathways.

Cancer cell, 2016
Chun, Hye-Jung E, Lim, Emilia L, Heravi-Moussavi, Alireza, Saberi, Saeed, Mungall, Karen L, Bilenky, Mikhail, Carles, Annaick, Tse, Kane, Shlafman, Inna, Zhu, Kelsey, Qian, Jenny Q, Palmquist, Diana L, He, An, Long, William, Goya, Rodrigo, Ng, Michelle, LeBlanc, Veronique G, Pleasance, Erin, Thiessen, Nina, Wong, Tina, Chuah, Eric, Zhao, Yong-Jun, Schein, Jacquie E, Gerhard, Daniela S, Taylor, Michael D, Mungall, Andrew J, Moore, Richard A, Ma, Yussanne, Jones, Steven J M, Perlman, Elizabeth J, Hirst, Martin, Marra, Marco A
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Evolution of an adenocarcinoma in response to selection by targeted kinase inhibitors.

Genome biology, 2010
Jones, Steven Jm, Laskin, Janessa, Li, Yvonne Y, Griffith, Obi L, An, Jianghong, Bilenky, Mikhail, Butterfield, Yaron S, Cezard, Timothee, Chuah, Eric, Corbett, Richard, Fejes, Anthony P, Griffith, Malachi, Yee, John, Martin, Montgomery, Mayo, Michael, Melnyk, Nataliya, Morin, Ryan D, Pugh, Trevor J, Severson, Tesa, Shah, Sohrab P, Sutcliffe, Margaret, Tam, Angela, Terry, Jefferson, Thiessen, Nina, Thomson, Thomas, Varhol, Richard, Zeng, Thomas, Zhao, Yongjun, Moore, Richard A, Huntsman, David G, Birol, Inanc, Hirst, Martin, Holt, Robert A, Marra, Marco A
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The clonal and mutational evolution spectrum of primary triple-negative breast cancers.

Nature, 2012
Shah, Sohrab P, Roth, Andrew, Goya, Rodrigo, Oloumi, Arusha, Ha, Gavin, Zhao, Yongjun, Turashvili, Gulisa, Ding, Jiarui, Tse, Kane, Haffari, Gholamreza, Bashashati, Ali, Prentice, Leah M, Khattra, Jaswinder, Burleigh, Angela, Yap, Damian, Bernard, Virginie, McPherson, Andrew, Shumansky, Karey, Crisan, Anamaria, Giuliany, Ryan, Heravi-Moussavi, Alireza, Rosner, Jamie, Lai, Daniel, Birol, Inanc, Varhol, Richard, Tam, Angela, Dhalla, Noreen, Zeng, Thomas, Ma, Kevin, Chan, Simon K, Griffith, Malachi, Moradian, Annie, Cheng, S-W Grace, Morin, Gregg B, Watson, Peter, Gelmon, Karen, Chia, Stephen, Chin, Suet-Feung, Curtis, Christina, Rueda, Oscar M, Pharoah, Paul D, Damaraju, Sambasivarao, Mackey, John, Hoon, Kelly, Harkins, Timothy, Tadigotla, Vasisht, Sigaroudinia, Mahvash, Gascard, Philippe, Tlsty, Thea, Costello, Joseph F, Meyer, Irmtraud M, Eaves, Connie J, Wasserman, Wyeth W, Jones, Steven, Huntsman, David, Hirst, Martin, Caldas, Carlos, Marra, Marco A, Aparicio, Samuel
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