Vancouver, BC - The list of participants at the Terry Fox Research Institute's Inaugural Annual Scientific Meeting reads like the "Who's Who" of Canadian cancer research. More than 150 of the nation's top cancer scientists and clinicians are gathering at Vancouver's Fairmont Waterfront Hotel this weekend (May 22-24) to convene a three-day meeting that researchers and organizers hope will bring all Canadians one step closer to better outcomes for cancer patients.

The focus is on translational research - the moving of discoveries quickly from the lab into the clinic for practical application and the greatest benefit for patients. The event will transform the hotel's ballroom into a giant science lab and think-tank featuring talks and presentations on translational research projects in such areas as novel drugs and therapy, biomarkers, basic science, genetics, medical imaging, and diagnosis and screening.

Connecting these scientists together has the potential for powerful results. "In the computer industry, the power of each laptop is quite small. But when you link many small computers together in parallel you get a super computer. When there is connectivity coupled with coherence, there is potential for enormous power. Similarly, we believe that linking our researchers and clinicians together will have the same kind of effect. There is the stimulation for innovation," says Dr. Victor Ling, TFRI President and Scientific Director.

Bringing innovation into the health care system through translational research initiatives will not only improve outcomes for patients but could also result in the delivery of better health care at lower cost, adds Dr. Ling.

Significantly, the meeting is the Institute's first since its creation in October 2007. The majority of attendees are researchers funded by the Terry Fox Foundation, which established the Institute with a commitment of a minimum of $50 million over five years. The Terry Fox Foundation has provided over $400 million for cancer research in Canada following Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope begun in 1980.

The Institute has made significant progress with the establishment of four regional research nodes (BC, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec) and partnerships with national groups such as the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC) and up to 30 research, academic and health care institutes in these provinces.

To date the Institute has invested over $20 million in projects that, through translational research, seek to improve outcomes for patients affected by lung, breast, prostate, ovarian, colon cancer and leukemia. One project, a national early lung detection study begun last fall with partner the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, has study sites in seven Canadian cities.

Meeting attendees include many national and internationally renowned scientists who have received top awards for their work.

To affirm the inspiration of Terry Fox and his legacy for cancer research, the scientists will lace up their running shoes on Sunday, May 24 for an early morning run along the seawall with Darrell Fox, National Director, Terry Fox Foundation.

For more information, contact:

Kelly Curwin, Chief Communications Officer
Terry Fox Research Institute
Office: 604-675-8000 ext. 7606
Cell: 778-237-8158
www.tfri.ca

Note: Complete agenda is available.