$2.4 Million Grant Funds Cancer Research: Discovering Origins & Behavior
Researchers on Vancouver Island have received a generous $2.4 million grant from the Terry Fox Research Institute to further their study on the origin and behavior of cancer. The project, known as the Spatial Metabolome Hubble Project, aims to shed light on the complex nature of cancer cells and their interaction with the immune system.
Led by Dr. Julian J. Lum of the Deeley Research Cancer Centre, the Terry Fox New Frontiers Program Project Grant will support three research projects over the next four years. In addition, the funding will also be used to establish the Spatial Metabolomics Hub, a specialized facility located at the University of Victoria and Vancouver Island University campus in Nanaimo.
At the heart of this research is the examination of cellular metabolism within tumor tissues using advanced imaging technology. By analyzing how cellular metabolism changes in different areas of a tumor, the scientists hope to uncover why certain immune cells are more or less active in specific parts of the tumor.
Dr. Lum expressed his excitement about the project, stating, While we are exploring a relatively new and small space in omics research, we hope our success will inspire other groups across Canada to dream big, like Terry himself, and come together to propose groundbreaking research that will fundamentally change the paradigms of how we approach cancer as a disease.
The focus on metabolites stems from the knowledge that cancer cells adapt to nutrient deficits. The researchers aim to create high-resolution metabolic cancer images, akin to stars in space, in order to gain a deeper understanding of how cancers manipulate metabolism to disarm the immune system.
The funding will support research in various areas of cancer, including ovarian cancer, the environment surrounding pancreatic cancer cells, and how tumor cells cope with metabolic stress in specific types of cancer. Dr. David Goodlett, director of the University of Victoria’s Genome BC Proteomics Centre, and Dr. Kyle Duncan, a chemistry professor at Vancouver Island University, will lead the Spatial Metabolomics Hub.
This generous grant not only provides a substantial boost to cancer research on Vancouver Island but also highlights the importance of collaboration and shared knowledge in tackling the complexities of cancer. With renewed funding and cutting-edge technology at their disposal, the research team aims to make significant strides in unraveling the origins and behavior of cancer cells, bringing us closer to more effective treatments and improved patient outcomes.
In conclusion, this $2.4 million grant from the Terry Fox Research Institute will enable researchers on Vancouver Island to delve deeper into the mysteries of cancer. Through their study of cellular metabolism and the behavior of cancer cells, they hope to uncover groundbreaking insights that will revolutionize our understanding and treatment of this devastating disease. With their advanced imaging technology and the support of the newly established Spatial Metabolomics Hub, the researchers are poised to uncover the secrets of cancer and make strides towards improving patient care.
