Research
Strategy
Overview
Overview
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A new era of cancer innovation is upon us, and Ontario is leading the way.
Blood tests are now beginning to detect cancers that used to be invisible, artificial intelligence is diagnosing tumours with surgical precision, and personalized medicines are treating each cancer patient based on their unique needs.
For more than two decades, OICR has powered a provincewide community that made these innovations possible.
Now we are taking the next critical steps to bolster Ontario’s global leadership in cancer research, bring life-changing innovations to patients, and fuel economic growth across the province.
To help Ontario lead the future of cancer research, OICR is focusing on three priorities:
Priority 1:
Research excellence
Bolster Ontario’s global leadership in cancer research
Priority 2:
Better health
Drive development and adoption of cancer solutions for Ontario patients
Priority 3:
A stronger economy
Invest in cancer research innovations to build economic value for Ontario
How Ontario will benefit
With world-class researchers discovering solutions to the biggest challenges in cancer, Ontarians will get early access to the latest cancer innovations. Strong partnerships between Ontario researchers, clinicians, industry and policymakers will bring new tools and technologies into the province’s clinics, where cancer will be detected earlier and treated more precisely. Cancer innovations will also launch made-in-Ontario companies, bringing new jobs and new opportunities to a thriving Ontario economy.
Developing knowledge and approaches to detect and monitor cancer over its life cycle to enable precise and proactive clinical management.
Advancing Ontario cancer discoveries through early clinical validation, partnering with industry and the health system for downstream development and implementation of new treatments, diagnostics and biomarkers, thus fostering precision medicine for cancer patients.
Validating novel cancer drug targets and advancing select therapeutic candidates towards clinical development.
OICR enables world-class translational cancer research in Ontario.
Recruiting, developing and engaging outstanding Ontario cancer researchers and clinician-scientists.
Providing access to cutting-edge research tools, assays, databases, expertise, resources and infrastructure.
Supporting activities that promote the uptake of evidence-based practice and research into regular use by policymakers and healthcare providers.
Collaboration
Cancer is incredibly complex, so tackling it requires a team effort. Collaborative research is critical for maximizing the impact of our investment and achieving breakthroughs in patient care.
OICR actively collaborates with both the private and public sector, including pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, venture capital firms, cancer centres, research institutes, hospitals, government agencies, academia and patients.
OICR investigators collaborate with the oncology research community in Ontario, across Canada and around the world.
Visit our Collaborative Research Resources directory, explore our programs or meet our researchers to find out more about opportunities to collaborate.