One of the three pillars of Bladder Cancer Canada’s (BCC) mission is to “fund research which pursues the diagnosis, treatment and elimination of bladder cancer.” Although bladder cancer is the 5th most common cancer in Canada, it ranks only 20th in research out of the 24 most common cancers. Because research funding into this disease lags almost all other cancers, we will have committed over $1.1 million in funding by the end of 2017.
In 2016, Bladder Cancer Canada (BCC) funded over $200,000 in research. Since BCC supported its very first $25,000 grant in 2012, we have funded over $561,500 in research with an additional $267,500 in matched funds for a total of $829,000. By the end of 2017, we expect to have funded over $1.1 million dollars in bladder cancer research. This incredible milestone has been made possible because of BCC’s supportive donors and valued research funding partners.
Celebrating a Five-Year Partnership
Since 2012, BCC has been co-funding bladder cancer research with the Canadian Urologic Oncology Group (CUOG). Over the past five years, $180,000 has been provided to fund 18 Canadian-based research projects. We thank CUOG for their continued partnership and matching funds each year with BCC.
New in 2017
In 2017, BCC will be co-funding a $120,000 grant for bladder cancer research in partnership with the Cancer Research Society over a 2-year period. Letters of intent to apply were submitted by December 5, 2016 and final applications were due by February 16, 2017. Award winners will be announced in August. In 2017, the Cancer Research Society expects to fund 166 projects valued at $13.8 million in quality Canadian research. We look forward to sharing more details about the bladder cancer grant as it unfolds.
New in 2017
In 2017, BCC will be co-funding a $50,000 grant for bladder cancer research in partnership with the Canadian Urological Association Scholarship Foundation (CUASF). The CUASF is a scholarship fund that was set up by the Canadian Urological Association and its Members, and has a long and successful history. Since 1973, the CUASF has awarded over 107 scholarships and grants and has helped foster the research careers of hundreds of young urologic investigators.
Three Organizations Partner For Success
On November 11, 2016, BCC representatives, Ken Bagshaw, David Guttman and Stephen Wilson, as patient advocates, attended a day-long meeting in Toronto co-funded by BCC and the Canadian Urologic Oncology Group, with organizational support donated by the Canadian Urological Association. The meeting brought together leading urologic oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and a GU pathologist (shown right) from across Canada to discuss and formulate quality indicators in the diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of bladder cancer in pursuit of enhanced care and treatment of bladder cancer patients. This discussion builds on the White Paper published by CUA in December 2015 setting out recommendations which the same group of medical professionals developed in the first Quality of Care meeting held in November 2014.
