OICR and Cancer Care Ontario Announce Funding for the Health Services Research Program to Improve the Delivery of Cancer Care in Ontario

TORONTO, July 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Tom Hudson, President and Scientific Director of the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR), and Dr. Terrence Sullivan, President and CEO of Cancer Care Ontario (CCO), announce $6 million in funding for projects in the Health Services Research Program (HSRP). The HSRP, conducted jointly between the OICR and CCO, will improve the delivery of cancer care throughout the province.

"This funding will provide Ontario's researchers with the support they need to ensure that the delivery of cancer care in the province is continually improving," said Dr. Hudson. "Additionally, we hope to provide a benchmark for other jurisdictions, specifically in important areas such as women's cancer survivorship."

Under the Program, the Women's Cancer Survivorship Team – studying the late and long-term effects of cancer drug therapy - will receive over $800,000 in funding.

Using an interdisciplinary approach, the Women's Cancer Survivorship Team, led by Drs. Geoff Anderson and Paula Rochon of Women's College Hospital, will study the complex interplay between cancer and other medical conditions in survivors of early stage breast cancer that have been treated with the latest generation of cancer drugs.

"This funding will be applied to important health services research focused on the cancer system," said Dr. Sullivan." Through the translation of these research findings, we will uncover practical ways of organizing cancer services. This will result in better overall outcomes for cancer patients."

Minister of Research and Innovation John Milloy said, "Our government supports research that delivers health and economic benefits for the people of Ontario. These initiatives are important for the sustainability of our excellent health care system and the prosperity of our province."

The projects funded include:

• CCO/OICR Health Services Research Network;
• Women's cancer survivorship team: Late effects of cancer drug therapy;
• Investigating the impact of the Colon Cancer Check: Primary care invitation pilot;
• Knowledge Translation Research Network;
• Evaluation of a health care policy intervention to change the organization and delivery of lung cancer surgery in Ontario;
• Patient and provider reported outcomes in cancer patients in Ontario;
• Case costing of cancer in Ontario;
• The Ontario Cancer Data Linkage Project.

"This unprecedented investment in cancer health services research is contributing to a future in which fewer people develop cancer, those who do are diagnosed promptly and at earlier stages, treatment is safer, more equitable, and of higher quality, and the cancer system is economically sustainable," said Dr. Craig Earle, Program Leader, Health Services Research.

About the Health Services Research Program

The Program will allow Ontario to optimize its delivery of cancer services and ensure that innovative cancer research translates into improved care. It will build research capacity by extending funding for health services research to the cancer care system.

The Program is a partnership between OICR and CCO, with $5.6 million in funding from OICR and $1 million from CCO being provided. The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer will also fund the program during its first year, with $75,000 to broaden a knowledge translation synthesis project to a national perspective.

About the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research

OICR is a centre of excellence, moving Ontario to the forefront of discovery and innovation in cancer research. OICR is making Ontario more effective in knowledge transfer and commercialization, to maximize health and economic benefits of research findings for the people of Ontario. For more information, please visit the website at www.oicr.on.ca/

OICR is an independent, not-for-profit corporation funded by the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Research and Innovation.

About Cancer Care Ontario

Cancer Care Ontario is the government's cancer advisor and provincial agency responsible for overseeing, planning, and managing the performance of cancer services from prevention to treatment to palliative care.

For more information, please visit www.cancercare.on.ca

SOURCE Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR)