Stem cell research at the BC Cancer Research Centre has been awarded $3 million by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and the BC Knowledge Development Fund (KDF).

"This is a fantastic opportunity to advance knowledge about stem cells and explore applications of stem cells for the treatment of various diseases," said Dr. Peter Lansdorp, Program Leader of the project, and a Senior Scientist in the Terry Fox Laboratory at the BC Cancer research Centre.

The funding was awarded as one of several CFI grants and matching KDF grants to support research in the areas of health, engineering, science, the environment, as well as the social sciences and humanities. It will be used to create a Stem Cell Research Centre at the BCCA.

Stem cells play a critical and essential role in the human body, providing the building blocks for every organ and tissue. In the early embryo, stem cells have the ability to form a variety of different tissues. As the embryo develops, stem cells are routed into specific tissues and organs, where they often stay for life.

Evidence suggests that stems cells in one part of the body can be used to repair tissue in a different part of the body. This raises the possibility of treating chronic degenerative diseases using stem cell therapies. For example, taking cells from bone marrow could possibly be used to replace damaged muscle in children with Muscular Dystrophy or to repair damaged neurons in adults with Parkinson's Disease. The emphasis of the work in the Stem Cell Research Centre will be on stem cells collected from adult donors and patients.

Stem cell research has also opened up the door to treatment using gene therapy. It is becoming clear that stem cells are essential for many types of gene replacement therapy. Only a stem cell has the ability to deliver therapeutic material to tissue over a long period of time.

In cancer treatment, blood-forming stem cells are currently used to restore blood cell production after high-dose chemotherapy. In the future, such cells could be modified using gene transfer techniques to benefit patients.

The $3 million award will provide equipment for the new Research Centre, which will allow scientists to purify stem cells from adult tissues in large numbers. This is important for cancer research, because in order to understand cancer stem cells, their properties must be compared to normal stem cells. This was practically impossible with existing cell sorting equipment.

The development of highly efficient systems to deliver genes to stem cells, either for therapeutic purposes, or to manipulate the fate of the cells, is a growing field of interest and one with huge potential.

The Stem Cell Centre will be an important component of StemNet, a Canada-wide network that brings together more than 50 basic scientists, clinician scientists, engineers and social scientists to develop new therapies for chronic diseases. Stem cell research in Canada is internationally competitive, and this award will help increase the Canadian presence in this exciting research area.

The BC Cancer Agency is responsible for cancer care and research in British Columbia. It provides a comprehensive cancer care program by working with community partners to deliver a range of oncology services, including, prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, education, supportive care, rehabilitation and palliative care. Research conducted by the BC Cancer Agency into the causes and cures for cancer is supported by the BC Cancer Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for cancer research in British Columbia.

For more information, please contact:

Nicole Adams
Public Relations Officer
BC Cancer Agency
(604) 877.6272

nadams@bccancer.bc.ca