BC Cancer – Prince George is committed to providing patients access to world-class clinical trials and research participation opportunities, while developing a research program to address the needs of northerners. Our commitment to northern research extends to our research partnerships. Current partnerships include: researchers, health care professionals, community organizations, community health representatives, Tribal Councils, cancer patients and their families, University of Northern British Columbia, University of British Columbia, and other academic institutions and research staff throughout the province. 

The Research Leadership Team at BC Cancer – Prince George (Centre for the North) is a multi-disciplinary team that meets regularly to discuss research priorities, projects, and collaborations. Members of the Research Leadership Team are:

• Dr. Rob Olson, Research and Clinical Trials Lead, Radiation Oncologist (click here to learn more)
• Dr. Stacy Miller, Regional Professional Practice Leader, Radiation Oncologist
• The Research Leadership Team, through discussions with BC Cancer – Prince George (Centre for the North) staff and other regional partners, have identified four research priorities:

1) HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH: IMPROVING ACCESS TO CANCER CARE

With overwhelming community support from across northern BC, BC Cancer – Prince George (Centre for the North) opened in November 2012. Patients from northern BC who were previously referred to other regional centres are now able to access treatment and care closer to home. This benefit, providing access to care closer to home, has become a common theme in many of the Centre for the North priorities, including research on barriers to access and potential solutions. BC Cancer – Prince George (Centre for the North) is committed to building this research agenda, with collaboration and support from other northern academic, health, and social organizations.

2) PREDICT

BC Cancer – Prince George (Centre for the North) plans to engage 75% of new patients and staff at BC Cancer – Prince George (Centre for the North) in a common research endeavour by implementing the Personal Response Determinants in Cancer Therapy (PREDICT) program. Implementation will be guided and supported by The Biobank Resource Centre, by The UBC Office of Biobank Education and Research in partnership with CTRNet (OBER) a widely recognized centre of excellence that promotes the use of standard biobanking tools, resources, certification, and best practices. OBER was a key to the development and implementation of PREDICT in BC Cancer – Victoria and BC Cancer – Kelowna.

3) STUDENTSHIPS

BC Cancer – Prince George (Centre for the North), in collaboration with various academic institutions, is dedicated to providing training and experience to students. Providing care in northern BC is both challenging and rewarding, and often requires different skills than a student might be taught in a large urban academic institution. It is hoped that by providing training and experience in northern BC students will be more likely to continue living and working in northern BC as they progress through their careers, thus ensuring the future of cancer care and research in this area. We welcome applications from students at all levels of training who would like to conduct cancer research. BC Cancer – Prince George (Centre for the North) has successfully hosted undergraduate, medical, and postgraduate students as well as specialty residents and fellows working on multiple research projects. 

4) CLINICAL TRIALS

BC Cancer – Prince George (Centre for the North) is committed to opening clinical trials in Prince George and enhancing access to clinical trials across northern BC. Centre for the North plans to enhance access to clinical trials across the large, widely dispersed northern region by engaging with the Community Oncology Network (CON) in clinical trial follow-up and monitoring. Clinical trials at BC Cancer – Prince George (Centre for the North) will give residents of northern BC an opportunity to contribute to cancer advancements in BC and across Canada.