| Established | 2005 |
|---|---|
| Research Type | Translational |
| Field of Research | Genomics, Bioinformatics, Medicinal Chemistry, Imaging, Cancer Stem Cells, Immuno- and Bio-therapies, Clinical Trials, Health Services Research |
| Director | Thomas J. Hudson |
| Staff | 200 |
| Address | 101 College Street |
| Location | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Affiliations | Cancer Care Ontario, Terry Fox Research Institute, Pfizer Global Research, GE Health Care, International Cancer Genome Consortium, Cancer Stem Cell Consortium, NCIC Clinical Trials Group |
| Website | www.oicr.on.ca |
The Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) is a not-for-profit organization based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that focuses on the prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancer[1]. OICR intends to make Ontario more effective in knowledge transfer and commercialization while maximizing the health and economic benefits of research findings for the people of Ontario[2]. OICR was launched in 2005 by the Government of Ontario, which provides funding through the Ministry of Research and Innovation. The Institute employs more than 200 people at its research hub at the MaRS Centre in downtown Toronto and funds more than 300 scientific staff at hospital-based research institutes and universities around the province.
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OICR’s predecessor organization was the Ontario Cancer Research Network (OCRN), a not-for-profit corporation established by the Government of Ontario in November 2001 to increase translational research related to the development of new cancer therapies. OCRN’s four main program areas were: the Ontario Tumour Bank, Clinical Trials Programs, the Ontario Cancer Research Ethics Board and the Cancer Research Fund. The organization was headed by Robert A. Phillips, PhD. All of OCRN’s programs continue to function within OICR.
In May 2005 the Government of Ontario announced its intent to launch a new cancer research institute in the province. OCRN was asked to evolve into the new institute, which would later be named OICR. OICR was formally launched by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty in December 2005 [3]. OICR was designed to continue OCRN’s translational research programs while building new research capacity in the province[4]. Thomas J. Hudson, MD was appointed President and Scientific Director of OICR in June 2006[5] and Robert A. Phillips was appointed Deputy Director. Dr. Hudson consulted with the Ontario cancer research community and external experts to develop a strategic research plan for the institute in 2006. In February 2007 the completed strategic plan was approved by the Ministry of Research and Innovation.
In its first five years, OICR focused on creating or enhancing existing cancer research infrastructure in Ontario, recruiting outstanding scientists to the province and launching new programs and technology platforms to establish the foundation necessary to build translational research and commercialization within the province. Robert A. Phillips retired as Deputy Director in 2009. The current Deputy Director of OICR is Nicole Onetto, MD.
OICR occupies three labs and more than 56,331 square feet (5,233.3 m2) of space in the MaRS Centre in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Located in the heart of Toronto’s Discovery District, the MaRS Centre’s neighbours include the University of Toronto, the Provincial Legislature, University Health Network (including Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto General Hospital and the Ontario Cancer Institute), The Hospital for Sick Children and Mount Sinai Hospital. It is also located just north of Toronto’s financial district. OICR funds research in other affiliated labs and institutions located in Hamilton, Kingston, London, Ottawa, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Toronto and Waterloo.