TORONTO - A world-leading medical research initiative is bringing two of Canada's top companies together in the search to find cures for cancer.

The Genome Sequence Centre, the flagship laboratory at the BC Cancer Research Centre, is now in start-up under the leadership of Nobel laureate Dr. Michael Smith. Genome science is revolutionizing cancer research by attacking the source - genes that have gone awry.

Most promising cancer research
"It's exciting to be at the frontier of cancer research," says Maureen Kempston Darkes, president and general manager of GM of Canada. "The time is right for Canada's business leaders to learn that we have a cutting-edge lab in the most promising cancer research, right here in Canada, and get behind it," she says.

GM has long been a supporter of cancer research and annually awards top scientists through the Corporate GM Cancer Research Foundation program, says Kempston Darkes.

"At Hongkong Bank of Canada our business is investing, and this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to invest in Canadian research dedicated to learning how to cure - and even prevent - cancer," says Youssef Nasr, president and CEO of Hongkong Bank of Canada. "We want to showcase the incredible scientific talent and resources at the Genome Sequence Centre and BC Cancer Research Centre," he adds.

Supporting knowledge-based economy
"We are honoured that individuals of the stature of Ms. Kempston Darkes and Mr. Nasr are putting their personal stamp on the Millennium Campaign," says Michael Petrie, president and CEO, BC Cancer Foundation.

Business leaders recognize that the benefits of supporting world-leading research here in Canada extend beyond health to affect the nation's economic well being and growth, Petrie said. Cancer breakthroughs developed at the Genome Sequence Centre and other labs will create spin-off companies in life sciences, supporting investment and development of Canada's knowledge-based economy.

Building on a proud history
The BC Cancer Research Centre is Canada's largest cancer research facility. It has a long history of breakthrough and significant advances - for instance, in understanding the role of hormones in prostate cancer, in screening for cervical cancer, and in chemotherapy for breast and other cancers. Important current research areas include early detection of lung cancer, breast cancer, and recurrent oral cancers, and treatment for bone cancer and leukemias at the Terry Fox Laboratory, as well as many dimensions of gene therapy.

The Millennium Campaign will fund a state-of-the-art building for the BC Cancer Research Centre, currently housed in a converted bakery. It is obsolete and unsuitable as a molecular science facility because it is contaminated with yeast.

The BC Cancer Foundation, a charitable organization, supports the treatment mission of the BC Cancer Agency and research at the BC Cancer Research Centre.