"Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent an exciting and promising new avenue for cancer research as their presence, in many malignancies studied so far, may explain the ability of tumours to proliferate, metastasize and survive traditional chemotherapy and radiation treatments. The ability to extract, culture and expand cancer stem or progenitor cell populations is central to advancing research and to enabling a rigorous investigation of the potential of cancer stem cells as targets for new, more specific, therapeutics.



Canada is the historic home of cancer stem cell research dating back to 1961, when Drs. James Till and Ernest McCullough demonstrated the existence of stem cells at the Ontario Cancer Institute- Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, Ontario. There have been many other scientific breakthroughs including:

•the discovery of CSCs in leukemia and colon cancers by Dr. John Dick;

•the identification of CSCs in brain tumours by Dr. Peter Dirks; and

•studies of the properties of leukemic CSCs by Drs. Allen and Connie Eaves, Keith Humphries, Norman Iscove and Guy Savaugeau, laying the groundwork for this field.



With its first-rate academic institutions, world-class innovative science, highly skilled scientific workforce, and supportive innovation climate, Canada offers an unparalleled environment for collaboration and growth in the field of cancer stem cell research. Come hear from our research leaders in regenerative medicine and see what Canada has to offer.

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