Inspired by Terry Fox's legacy, Canadian cancer centres join forces for the first time

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. (FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019) – Inspired by the legacy of Terry Fox, today the Terry Fox Research Institute and partners launched a new national network to bring together, for the first time, leading cancer hospitals and research universities across Canada to accelerate precision medicine for cancer patients. The Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres network is named in honour of Terry’s journey to raise funds for cancer research, which began in St. John’s on this day 39 years ago.

“Terry said the Marathon of Hope must continue without him and he would be very proud to see this happening in this highly collaborative and inspired way,” said Darrell Fox, on behalf of the Fox family. “We are grateful to the millions of Canadians who have kept his dream alive and to the research and funding partners that are making this precision medicine network possible. You are bringing new hope to cancer patients.”

The network will be created with the support of up to $150M over five years from the Government of Canada, announced as part of Budget 2019 on March 19. Five regional consortia, representing cancer research and care institutions in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, the Prairies and Atlantic Canada, are expected to participate in the network once fully operational.

Dr. Victor Ling, president and scientific director of the Terry Fox Research Institute, said that under this new Terry Fox research network centres and researchers will form a Team Canada of Cancer Research, sharing knowledge, harnessing technology and championing collaboration. “We will apply new technologies such as genomics, advanced imaging and artificial intelligence, so that no matter where they live in Canada, cancer patients will have access to precision medicine – so the right treatment can be given to the right patient at the right time.”

The federal investment will be matched with funds raised by the network partners, their foundations and The Terry Fox Foundation. With funding from TFRI and regional partners, pilot projects for precision medicine are already under way in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec.

“This announcement today of the creation and kickoff of the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres by the Terry Fox Research Institute is historic,” said Dr. Brad Wouters, executive vice-president, science and research, University Health Network (Princess Margaret Cancer Centre) in Toronto and a network partner in Ontario. “The federal government’s investment in this initiative means that Canadians across the country, patients and researchers are going to be able to come together to institute a new era of precision medicine, a new era of co-operation and, most of all, an opportunity to create real impact on our progress against this disease.”

“We are delighted with the federal government’s momentous decision to invest in world-class cancer research by collaborating with the Terry Fox Research Institute and the major cancer centres across Canada,” said William Pristanski, Board chair of The Terry Fox Foundation. “This network will bring us closer to achieving Terry’s dream of a world without cancer.”

ABOUT THE MARATHON OF HOPE CANCER CENTRES NETWORK:

The Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network is the realization of a long-standing vision of the Terry Fox Research Institute. Inspired by Terry Fox and his Marathon of Hope, the network represents a powerful collaborative platform that will close the gap between research in the lab and patient care in the clinic. Just as Terry Fox united Canadians with his run and dream to end cancer, the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres will unite our cancer researchers to pursue that same goal with precision medicine. www.marathonofhopecancercentres.ca

ABOUT THE TERRY FOX RESEARCH INSTITUTE

The Terry Fox Research Institute (TFRI), established in 2008, invests in world-class, collaborative cancer research teams and partnerships. Together with its research and funding partners, TFRI is working to inspire the transformation of cancer research in this country by bringing together leading cancer research and treatment organizations in Canada and empowering them under the framework of the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network. www.tfri.ca

ABOUT THE TERRY FOX FOUNDATION

The Terry Fox Foundation maintains the vision and principles of Terry Fox while raising money for cancer research through the annual Terry Fox Run, National School Run Day and other fundraising initiatives. To date, over $750 million has been raised worldwide for cancer research in Terry Fox’s name. The first Terry Fox run was held in 1981, with The Terry Fox Foundation being created in 1988. Its national headquarters are located in Burnaby, BC and it has offices in 9 provinces. www.terryfox.org

MEDIA CONTACT: Kelly Curwin, Chief Communications Officer, Terry Fox Research Institute kcurwin@tfri.ca; o: 604-675-8223; c: 778-237-8158