How You Can Make a Difference for Cancer Patients

Funds contributed to The Robert & Maggie Bras and Family New Drug Development Program by our donors are used for the highest priorities – fellowship assistance, equipment, new facilities and technical support of clinical trials – that lead to new and improved treatments. Below is a description of the top four priorities for The Robert & Maggie Bras and Family New Drug Development Program at Princess Margaret Hospital:

1. Preclinical evaluation of new agents in tumour xenograft models to develop and maintain a biological bank of tumour tissue samples. This program will allow us to resect human tumours and transplant the human cells into mice models for a more relevant study of how human cancer responds to novel agents. With the creation of a biobank we will have a database of information detailing how new cancer treatments are performing before they are administered to cancer patients. For instance, new drugs can be given to these animals and their effects can be examined on a microscopic level, in order to identify predictive factors why such drugs would work when they enter human testing. This project will require close collaboration between scientists and physicians, as well as substantial personnel and infrastructure resources to be successful. It would be a major step forward towards individualizing therapy for cancer patients.
   Cost to implement: $2,072,000
2. Testing Canadian Innovation would allow The Robert & Maggie Bras and Family New Drug Development Program to take breakthrough discoveries of treatment agents from the laboratory to the clinic at a quicker pace. Across Canada, and especially at PMH, there has been a number of significant advancements in cancer treatment using older drugs. For instance, a drug used to treat cholesterol can now be used in higher dosages to combat cancer. Often the clinical research funding required for such a discovery is not available which prolongs the process of getting the drug to the patient. Having the funding available to work with the most promising of these drug discoveries would accelerate their development and put them on the market for the benefit of patients.
   Cost to implement: $
3. An Inpatient Drug Development Unit will be used for the evaluation and monitoring of patients who are enrolled in early phase cancer clinical trials. Such a unit will help ensure patients suffer no adverse side effects while enrolled in clinical trials. The Robert & Maggie Bras and Family New Drug Development Program currently has two prestigious awards from the US National Cancer Institute to develop Phase I and II clinical trials of anti-cancer drugs. These clinical trials are critical to determine safety and tolerability of new agents (Phase I), as well as early signs of anticancer activity (Phase II). The creation of a world-class inpatient unit with sophisticated monitoring capabilities will enhance the conduct of these trials, and further our mandate to develop new therapies in a safe and efficient manner.
   Cost to implement: $
4. Upgrading existent laboratory facilities in the Advanced Molecular Profiling Lab: Molecular targeted agents are drugs that attack cancer cells with precision. Over the last decade, there has been an explosion of scientific knowledge on cellular proteins and pathways that drive the malignant process. In order to understand the anticancer effects of these new drugs, and to identify patients who would most likely benefit from them, sophisticated state-of-the-art equipment and machines that offer readouts with high precision are needed. The Advanced Molecular Profiling Laboratory (AMPL) is an important component of The Robert & Maggie Bras and Family New Drug Development Program. Within AMPL, there are ongoing laboratory evaluations to measure the molecular effects of new drugs in tumour tissues, to identify biological markers that may predict drug efficacy and toxicity, and to evaluate drug concentrations achieved. Support to upgrade machines and equipment of AMPL would compliment clinical drug development to discover better therapies for cancer patients.
   Cost to Implement: $16,200,000
5. New Drug Development Training Program: There is a significant need within The Robert & Maggie Bras and Family New Drug Development Program for a training and development program to ensure our continued level of excellence in research for the future. Your generosity will allow us to expand our current training program to recruit promising Fellows, pharmacists and pharmaceutical company researchers who will undertake clinical, translational or basic research related to drug development. Those chosen to participate in the program will devote the majority of their time to research projects (in either a basic or clinical research laboratory), under the supervision of a member of the drug development program. Candidates will be recruited who demonstrate academic prowess and the ability to conduct exceptional research. Supporting these positions will allow the program to continue to conduct groundbreaking research, fast track the development of new drugs and foster closer partnerships and working relationships with the pharmaceutical industry.
   Cost to implement: $2,000,000

For further information please contact:

Greg Lichti, Senior Director, Major Gifts
The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation
610 University Avenue Toronto ON M5G 2M9
Tel: 416-946-2168
e-mail: greg.lichti@pmhf.ca

or

Matthew Warszawski, Associate Director, Major Gifts
The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation
610 University Avenue Toronto ON M5G 2M9
Tel: 416-946-2107
e-mail: matthew.warszawski@pmhf.ca