BioCanRx: Call for Expressions of Interest

Sponsor

Biotherapeutics for Cancer Treatment (BioCanRx) NCE

Description

BioCanRx, Canada’s Immunotherapy Network,  is pleased to announce a Call for Expressions of Interest to bring forward their Cycle II application in June 2019 to the federal government’s Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) Program. BioCanRx was first awarded a five-year funding award of $25 million from the NCE Program, with additional contributions coming from partners in all sectors of the economy. This first NCE award ends March 31, 2020, and they are now developing their research program strategic plan as the network moves towards Cycle II. 

This Expression of Interest (EOI) is your opportunity to assemble a team and propose research for consideration, and also to shape the overall renewed research program framework in alignment with the strategic priorities identified in consultation with various stakeholder communities.

While BioCanRx has engaged in an in-depth consultation process, this EOI call is vital to gather feedback from the existing and potential new network members on the focus and intended outcome of the next-stage strategic plan, and to validate this approach for the renewal application, such that they are positioned to capture the best technologies and solutions to cancer immune oncology therapeutic development and implementation in the Canadian context. This intake of project concepts is intended to inform BioCanRx Management, our Board of Directors, and our RMC of the range of projects and technologies within the Canadian landscape which are poised to address BioCanRx priorities and initiatives in the 2020-2025 funding cycle.

The overarching goal of the Cycle II research program will focus on extending immunotherapy successes in the clinic beyond initial responders. To address this challenge, while making use of technologies in the BioCanRx pipeline or by soliciting new complimentary technology, BioCanRx will invest in projects aimed to:

1. Understand why some therapies only work in some patients and in some tumour types, and then improve therapies/trials/combinations approaches to overcome the identified limitations; and/or,
2. Develop new therapies which have not yet been tried in the clinic, but which are developed as solutions to tumour resistance.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply, the applicant must be employed by a Canadian research institution and be eligible to receive research funds from CIHR, SSHRC or NSERC.