A new campaign from the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) celebrates the profound difference cancer research is making in the lives of Ontarians.
Launched on World Cancer Day 2025, Cancer Research Changed My Life showcases the people behind research discoveries, bringing their personal stories to life through videos and first-person testimonials.
As the province’s cancer research institute, OICR brings together a community of scientists, cancer patients, clinicians and everyday Ontarians to solve cancer together. With Cancer Research Changed My Life, OICR is shining a spotlight on that community and what is has achieved.
“Cancer research is about more than just hope. It is about using scientific insights to make a tangible difference in people’s lives every day.” says Dr. Christine Williams, Acting President of OICR. “The stories featured in this campaign are a testament to the power of research and its potential to transform the future of cancer.”
Cancer Research Changed My Life debuted with a series with powerful stories from cancer patients and a scientist:
“Without cancer research, I would not have a life to be talking about right now.” – Carla
“Cancer research has helped give me the power to stand up and take control of my future, while living with metastatic breast cancer.” – Michelle
Read Michelle’s full testimonial
“To see a drug that I helped discover have a real impact on patients facing this dreadful disease is the thrill of a lifetime.” – David
The campaign will continue for the rest of 2025, with new stories published throughout the year. OICR is encouraging people to join in the campaign on social media by sharing their own stories about cancer research using the hashtag #ChangedMyLife
This year also marks OICR’s 20th anniversary.
“Decades of research have led to significant advances in our understanding of how cancer develops and evolves, and therefore how we can prevent, diagnose and treat patients,” says Dr. Lincoln Stein, Acting Scientific Director of OICR. “With support from the Ontario Government and our partners across the province, we’ll continue our work help cancer research change even more lives in the future.”
To see more about how cancer research is changing lives, visit changedmylife.oicr.on.ca and follow OICR on Instagram, YouTube, Linkedin and Bluesky.