Let's work together to TERMINATE cancer -- California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, left, talks with Canadian Health Minister Tony Clement, right, as Robert Klein, center, looks on at the BIO 2008 International Convention in San Diego Wednesday, June 18, 2008. (CPimages.com PHOTO/Canadian Institutes of Health Research)

SAN DIEGO (June 18, 2008) - Canada and California, two world leaders in the area of cancer stem cell research, will join forces to gain a better understanding of the role cancer stem cells play in the development of the disease.

"This is an historic agreement. Now we are working together across borders, bringing together the best minds from both countries with the goal of learning how to prevent and treat cancer for the benefit of all of our citizens," said Tony Clement, Minister of Health. "I am proud to announce Canada will contribute more than $100 million to the Cancer Stem Cell Consortium (CSCC), which will work with the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) in this exciting new partnership."

"California is committed to being a leader in stem cell research, but no one state or nation should do this alone," stated Governor Schwarzenegger. "Entering into collaborations such as this, which bring together leading medical research capabilities, have great potential in improving the lives of not only Californians, but people around the world."

The three-year agreement lays the foundation for CIRM and CSCC to explore collaborative approaches to evaluate, fund and monitor cancer stem cell research projects.

The announcement was made at the BIO 2008 International Convention in San Diego, California by Canadian Health Minister Tony Clement, Dr. Alan Trounson, President of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), Robert N. Klein, Chairman of the Governing Board of CIRM and Dr. Martin Godbout, CEO of Genome Canada and Chairman of the Board of the Cancer Stem Cell Consortium.

The first potential area for collaboration under consideration is the upcoming CIRM Disease Team grants. These grants will provide an opportunity for researchers in California and Canada to collaborate, broadening the potential pool of expertise that can be applied toward research in a specific area.

The Disease Team Awards will support multi-disciplinary teams of scientists in pursuit of therapies for specific diseases. The goal is to fund the work of disease teams that would result in therapy or diagnostics for a particular disease or serious injury. Request for Applications (RFA) for these grants will be issued by CIRM in October with grants announced in June 2009. Successful proposals will likely include a description of a path to an Investigational New Drug filing at the end of the four-to-five year grant.

"Canadian researchers have been at the forefront on stem cell research and Drs. James Till and Ernest McCullough received the Lasker Prize for work, which pioneered the field. By working together across borders and bringing together the top scientists from both countries to tackle cancer stem cell research, I believe we will be able to shorten the time to bring great improvements to the lives of those affected by cancer," said the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health for Canada.

"One of CIRM's primary goals is to accelerate the field of stem cell research as a whole. In some instances we can do this more effectively through collaborations that involve the best scientific endeavors, regardless of geography" said Dr. Alan Trounson, President of CIRM. "Through this relationship, CIRM money will continue to be earmarked only for research that takes place within California, but our funding can be significantly leveraged to accelerate the clinical benefits for patients. Coordinating our joint efforts in cancer stem cell research through collaborative programs with our colleagues in Canada will enhance the opportunities to contain and to prevent recurrence of certain cancers."

"We are excited about the opportunities presented by this international collaboration with our Canadian colleagues," stated Robert N. Klein, Chairman of the Governing Board of CIRM, the state stem cell agency." Coordinating scientific efforts should shorten the time that it takes to drive discoveries into the clinic and to patients. We hope to enter into several agreements with other nations to significantly expand this vital stem cell research and extend our ability to accelerate the field."

"Cancer stem cells have recently been a focus of much research as a possible cause of cancer recurrence and many of the most important discoveries linking cancer stem cells to cancer have been made by Canadian and Californian researchers. An international collaboration involving Canada and California, with a focus on cancer stem cells, can be expected to raise research in this field to a much higher level." said Dr. Jim Till, the President of the CSCC. "International coordination and collaboration should ensure that Canadian funds will be used to support Canadian research of the very highest quality."

The Canadian partners in CSCC (Canada Foundation for Innovation, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Stem Cell Network, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research and Genome Canada) are expected to make an initial investment of more than $100 million Canadian dollars in the collaboration, with Genome Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Ontario Government through the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, having already confirmed commitments of up to $30 million each for cancer stem cell research. CIRM will support the collaboration through its existing programs.
No funds awarded through this collaboration will be used for research involving human reproductive cloning or any other matter that is prohibited by California law or CIRM regulations for CIRM grantees or Canadian law or CSCC's Members' regulations for CSCC grantees.

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Attachment:
Backgrounder

Contacts

California

CIRM:
Ellen Rose, 650-387-8746 (mobile)

Canada

Canadian Minister of Health Office:
Laryssa Waler, 613-954-1592

Canadian Consulate:
Marc Lepage, 415-834-3184 x 3200;
415-264-1570(mobile)

David Coulombe
Media Specialist,
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Phone: 613-941-4563
Cell: 613-808-7526