Breast Cancer Canada Translational Research Unit

Translational research provides a much needed bridge of communication between highly specialized research scientists and physicians. Researchers working in labs with microscopes and tissue samples and physicians who directly interact with patients speak very different languages. It is vital that cutting edge research arrives to physicians in a useable format. It is also essential that information gathered from physicians get to researchers.

The translational process involves identifying current significant research projects and taking the knowledge and learning of these studies and applying it directly to the patient level. Fundamentally, it puts valuable theories into practice - a progression absolutely necessary in finding a cure.

Translational research is central to the research strategy of the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre. Our research program is linked to the Western University and the London Health Sciences Centre research community, and is multi-disciplinary and multi-departmental.

History of the Unit

The Breast Cancer Canada Translational Research Unit was originally established in honour of Pamela Greenaway Kohlmeier, daughter of Lawrence and Kay Greenaway and wife of Guy Kohlmeier. Pamela died of breast cancer at age 38, which led her family to form Breast Cancer Canada to raise funds for breast cancer research.

The Unit was created in 1998, through a partnership between the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre and a $1 million donation from Breast Cancer Canada to the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre. The partnership between the BCC and Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre has flourished since then. The BCC renewed its commitment to the Unit in 2004 and again in 2009, providing over $5.2 million to support our work.

In 2014 the BCC announced a further 10 year, $5 million commitment to the Unit, bringing BCC support to the Unit to $10.2 million.

This gift was celebrated on September 10, 2014.

On December 16, 2020, the Breast Cancer Canada made a $2.5 million commitment through 2030 for breast cancer research.

In celebration of this, BCC CEO Kimberly Carson said, "Today, we are delighted to announce the renewal of our funding commitment and the continuation of our support of the outstanding team of breast researchers at London Health Sciences Centre. BCC is proud to have supported LHSC and to have shared in their breast cancer research accomplishments for almost 25 years. We look forward to the advancements in breast cancer research and to improving the lives of breast cancer patients with this renewed commitment."

Other community groups have joined in supporting the Unit, including Alan Frew and the Rose in My Book group, Theresa Carriere and her OneRun team, the Southwestern Ontario Women's Charity Cashspiel, Fore the Cure, Strokes for Cancer, the Belmont Golf Tournament and many others. We are grateful for such strong community support for our Unit.

We would be delighted if you also want to support our Unit.

Graduate Studentships

A major goal of the Breast Cancer Canada Translational Research Unit is to encourage and support trainees who are carrying out translational breast cancer research. By encouraging bright trainees to focus their research attention in this area, we hope to increase the number of highly qualified researchers who are working to solve the problem of breast cancer. You can read about some of the research being carried out by these talented young researchers on the BCC Pink Link blog page.