Breast Cancer Canada Grants $2.5 Million to McPeak-Sirois Group to Expand Access to Clinical Research

Breast Cancer Canada and McPeak-Sirois Group unite to advance clinical research in Quebec, marking Breast Cancer Canada’s first multi-million dollar research investment in the province.

December 11, 2023 (TORONTO, ON) – Today, Breast Cancer Canada, a national charity dedicated to saving lives through breast cancer research, announced a new and innovative partnership with McPeak-Sirois Group for Clinical Research in Breast Cancer, one of the largest breast cancer clinical research consortiums in Canada, to expand access to clinical research in breast cancer throughout Quebec. This funding marks Breast Cancer Canada’s first major investment in Quebec research.

The $2.5 million commitment to McPeak-Sirois Group will be granted over the next five years and will support the Programme Accès-recherche Dr. André-Robidoux aiming at making clinical research more accessible to patients living outside major urban areas. The funding will amplify the geographical reach and impact of the Group while enabling regional hospitals to offer more clinical trials for the benefit of their patients.

“We would like to thank Breast Cancer Canada for this partnership which represents a major milestone for our Group. Breast Cancer Canada’s funding will allow for growth in the number of Quebec hospitals offering breast cancer clinical trials and improve access to innovative treatments to patients,” shared Dominique Johnson, Managing Director of the Group. “Our objective is to double our reach from 10 to more than 20 hospitals. This funding infusion is empowering us to reach a broader patient base and bring clinical research closer to patients.”

“We are extremely proud to partner with McPeak-Sirois Group,” said Kimberly Carson, CEO of Breast Cancer Canada. “Together, we are amplifying access to clinical trials and reaching more Canadian breast cancer patients. This partnership represents a significant step forward in our ongoing mission to improve outcomes and transform the breast cancer landscape to be personalized to each individual.”

The partnership between Breast Cancer Canada and McPeak-Sirois Group brings together the expertise and resources of two esteemed Canadian not-for-profit organizations. By leveraging their combined strengths, the aim is to drive tangible progress to increase access to state-of-the-art treatments for patients living in all regions of Quebec. Since the beginning of this partnership, the CISSS de Lanaudière has joined the Consortium as its 11th member.

Susan McPeak, co-founder of the McPeak-Sirois Group, comments: “This funding will catalyze substantial growth for our consortium, enabling the expansion of clinical trial offerings across the province of Quebec. As a former patient and clinical trial participant myself, I know how important it is to be given access to research that cares, regardless of where you live.”

Earlier this year Breast Cancer Canada launched PROgress Tracker. McPeak-Sirois Group was an early advocate for the release of the national, first-of-its-kind knowledge registry that will collect experiences over the next 10 years from people with breast cancer. The intention is to use the data to inform policy and future breast cancer management. BCC is now accepting participants who have or have had any stage of breast cancer, at any time during their journey, to register in PROgress Tracker available in both French and English.

Link to official Press Release

 

About Breast Cancer Canada:

Breast Cancer Canada (formerly the Breast Cancer Society of Canada) is a national charity dedicated to saving lives through breast cancer research. With a focus on precision oncology (personalized care), it is the only national breast cancer organization in Canada that has a clear mandate to raise money for research. The organization receives no government funding, meaning all research is funded through the generosity of donors. For more information visit, breastcancerprogress.ca.

About The McPeak-Sirois Group:

The McPeak-Sirois Group is a charitable organization whose mission is to fight breast cancer more effectively by increasing patients’ access and participation in clinical trials. The Group’s scientific committee is made up of internationally renowned scientists who oversee the selection of clinical studies offered to the consortium’s member hospitals. Co-founded in 2015 by Susan McPeak, a breast cancer survivor, and Charles Sirois, a well-known entrepreneur, the McPeak-Sirois Group is committed to promoting research that cares by bringing it closer to breast cancer patients throughout Quebec.
https://mcpeaksirois.org/en

 

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