Innovation Profile: Ontario Cancer Biomarker Network and York University
The Ontario Cancer Biomarker Network has created an entrepreneurial model of research collaboration that harnesses Ontario's superb scientific strengths and accelerates the commercial potential of biomarkers. Founded in 2005 with funding from the Government of Ontario's Ministry of Research and Innovation and the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, the Network offers industry one-stop shopping in one of the world's most comprehensive mass spectrometry venues. Read full profile below. View video clips of:
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Dr Ken Evans | Dr Michael Siu Director, Centre for Research in Mass Spectrometry, York University |
Bringing the Best Minds Together to Lead in Personalized Medicine
The Ontario Cancer Biomarker Network has created an entrepreneurial model of research collaboration that harnesses Ontario's superb scientific strengths and accelerates the commercial potential of biomarkers. Founded in 2005 with funding from the Government of Ontario's Ministry of Research and Innovation and the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, the Network offers industry one-stop shopping in one of the world's most comprehensive mass spectrometry venues.
"Within the central research facility at MaRS, the Biomarker Network enjoys a number of different technologies, including a comprehensive, state-of-the-art capability in mass spectrometry. In addition, we have a number of partner labs that cover the full gamut of biomarker research - genomic, proteomic and imaging research," says Dr Ken Evans, CEO of the Ontario Cancer Biomarker Network. Working on over 60 research collaborations, the Biomarker Network includes members from 15 research institutions across Ontario.
Biomarkers are revolutionizing cancer medicine. Essentially protein or gene signatures of disease, they allow doctors to better predict and monitor the progress of different types of
cancer and to more accurately target drugs tailored to each individual.
Ontario is uniquely positioned to be a world leader in this new and burgeoning field of personalized medicine. The province offers some of the most highly cited biomarker scientists in the world, leading edge technologies, sophisticated informatics, supercomputing facilities, and a strong history of clinical trials and drug development R&D.
"It's a tremendously exciting place to work," adds Dr Evans. "There's a strong culture of collaboration and, partly through government and industry investment, we have an enormous amount of technology and expertise that puts us on the world stage. Some of the finest scientists in the world are located right here."
One of those scientists is Dr Michael Siu, Chair of the Biomarker Network and holder of the prestigious NSERC-MDS Industrial Chair in Analytical Technologies at York University. One of the founding members of the Biomarker Network, Dr Siu says, "It is extremely important for York University to be a part of this team because we cherish the chance to be able to work collaboratively with the best minds in Ontario."
Dr Siu is Director of York's Centre for Research in Mass Spectrometry, just one of the many labs that participate in the Biomarker Network across Ontario. Working on a diverse range of mass spectrometry applications from protein biomarkers to environmental pollutants to atomic ions, the Centre is one of the largest and most advanced facilities of its kind in the world. Core to the Centre's philosophy, is its close affiliation with industry. One such partnership is with MDS Inc., a leading mass spectrometry and medical devices company. "Cancer is a very complex disease so it is important to have the most sensitive instruments. We are actively working with MDS to develop the next generation of mass spectrometric tools. It's a win-win situation."
Dr Evans believes that having the Ontario Cancer Biomarker Network headquartered in Toronto's MaRS Centre provides an added benefit to industry, "Toronto is the most ethnically diverse city in the world. This makes it a fantastic place to do research because the population is really representative of the world. Genes and proteins associated with disease may be unique to a particular ethnic group and that's something we can study here. It's an unusual phenomenon."
© 2011 Toronto Region Research Alliance