Singapore - Ties to Terry Fox and his cancer research legacy were strengthened in Singapore in February 2012 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Terry Fox Research Institute and two leading research organizations.
TFRI President and Scientific Director Dr. Victor Ling travelled to Singapore to sign the agreement with representatives from the National University Hospital/National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NUHIS) and the National Cancer Centre of Singapore (NCCS). The agreement provides for all three parties to jointly share responsibility for and oversight of the scientific investment and research activity conducted there with funds raised from the annual Terry Fox Run held in Singapore.
"This new agreement formalizes the joint goals of the agencies involved and the donors who support the annual run to ensure that the best research projects are undertaken and supported," said Dr. Ling. "We look forward to working with our new research partners in Singapore and we thank everyone here who has helped to make this annual run a success. Together we are working to improve cancer outcomes for citizens in Singapore."
"Asia currently bears half of the world's cancer burden, and this is expected to rise within our lifetime. It is the leading cause of death in Singapore, and we need to invest significantly in understanding this disease if we are going to reverse this. This is especially so as some cancers behave differently between Asia and the West, and drug efficacy and toxicity may also differ between different populations in the world," said Dr. John Wong, director of Singapore's National University Cancer Institute.
"We are deeply grateful to the Terry Fox Run for helping raise awareness and funds for cancer research. This Memorandum of Understanding brings together the Terry Fox Research Institute, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore and the National Cancer Centre, Singapore to work on developing better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat this disease, and by doing so, do we honor Terry's memory and all those who have lost their loved ones to cancer."
"The signing of the MOU will ensure that the funds raised by the Singapore Cancer Society and the Canadian Association of Singapore through the annual Terry Fox Run will be used to maximize the benefits to cancer research locally here in Singapore. We look forward to a strong partnership going forward," said Mr. Gray.
"We commend our run organizers and supporters in Singapore for supporting Terry Fox and for helping to make a difference in continuing Terry's dream of a world without cancer," said Judith Fox-Alder, director of the Terry Fox International Run Program.
In 2011, the run raised $90,000 for cancer research. Since 1993 (and including 2011), over $3.3 million has been raised through annual Terry Fox Runs in Singapore. Funding has supported research into novel therapies for specific blood cancers, and the molecular causes of colon and kidney cancers.