News Release

1999-127
October 30, 1999

Rock and Anderson sign MOU to establish centre of excellence in prostate cancer

VICTORIA, B.C. - Health Minister Allan Rock and Environment Minister David Anderson today signed a memorandum of understanding, creating the new Vancouver Centre of Excellence in Prostate Cancer Research.

"The Government of Canada is committed to addressing the health concerns of Canadians," said Mr. Rock. "Canadians rely on the pioneering work of dedicated researchers to understand diseases like prostate cancer and to develop better diagnosis and treatment. Our government's recent investments in research - confirmed in the recent Throne Speech - will ensure Canada remains a world leader in health research."

Mr. Anderson said: "The centre takes a Team BC approach to health research. It gives Canada - and British Columbia - the opportunity to position itself as a leader in prostate cancer treatment, research and education."

The centre is a joint initiative of the Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre, the British Columbia Cancer Agency and other key stakeholders. The agreement signed today builds on the Government of Canada's support of prostate cancer research. In February, 1999 Minister Rock announced a $15 million national contribution to prostate cancer research, with up to $10 million for the establishment of a centre of excellence in British Columbia. The remaining $5 million has been allocated to the National Cancer Institute of Canad (NCIC) for national prostate cancer research efforts.

Under the terms of the MOU:

• Health Canada will contribute a total amount of up to $10 million over five years to the centre as funding for advanced, high quality prostate cancer research. Health Canada's contribution will be paid to the centre in the form of an annual grant of $1 million for infrastructure to develop the centre and $1 million for peer-reviewed research projects.
• The centre will be governed jointly by the Presidents and CEOs of the BC Cancer Agency and the Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre.
• The centre will be directed by a Joint Program Committee comprised of representatives from the participating organizations as well as Health Canada, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Canadian Prostate Cancer Networ and the University of British Columbia.
• The centre's research projects will undergo a peer-review ranking process by the Management Committee of the Canadian Prostate Cancer Research Initiative (CPCRI) to ensure both the project's scientific merit and its compatibility with the objectives of the CPCRI.

In Canada, prostate cancer kills 4,000 men every year and is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in Canadian men. It is the second leading cause of cancer death among men after lung cancer.

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