About The Research Institute

The Research Institute at CancerCare Manitoba was created in 2015 as a joint initiative of CancerCare Manitoba (CCMB) and the University of Manitoba (UM). It brings together basic discovery scientists from the former Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology (MICB) and clinical, health services, and patient experience scientists from UM and CCMB, all of whom research cancer and/or blood disorders.

The Research Institute is the most recent stage of a long and proud history of research in cancer and blood disorders in Manitoba.

• Both of CancerCare Manitoba’s predecessor organizations - the Manitoba Cancer Relief and Research Institute (1930-1957) and the Manitoba Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation (1957-1999) - included research components.
• For almost half a century (1969-2015), the Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology (MICB) was recognized for many successes in discovery-based and translational research. MICB also established several multi-disciplinary research teams (e.g., the Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia CLLuster, the Manitoba Breast Cancer Research Group) and research platforms (e.g., Manitoba Tumour Bank), which are now part of the Research Institute.

The Research Institute is governed by an advisory board consisting of members appointed by CancerCare Manitoba and the University of Manitoba.

Dr. Neil Watkins is Director of the Research Institute. Dr. Spencer Gibson is Cell Biology Lead and Dr. Marshall Pitz is Clinical Research Lead.

Three major strategic directions were identified: developing multidisciplinary teams, enhancing infrastructure platforms and identifying research themes. Multidisciplinary teams will promote research excellence by building connections with the clinical and academic partners at CancerCare Manitoba (CCMB), Shared Health, Regional Health Authorities, and the University of Manitoba (UofM). Research platforms that support basic science, translational research, clinical trials, and epidemiology will be critical to support this multidisciplinary approach. Identification of research themes such as early detection, precision medicine, and health care innovation will maximize return on investment. Flexibility will be essential in order to adapt to the rapidly changing cancer research landscape.

The Research Institute’s infrastructure includes a Research Office, lab space at CancerCare Manitoba and the University of Manitoba, and data, methodological, and analytical resources, including:

• Manitoba Tumour Bank
• Manitoba Cancer Registry
• CCMB Epidemiology Department

The Institute has five levels of membership.

1. Senior Scientists are clinical or scientific employees of CCMB who also have appointments as associate or full professors at the University of Manitoba (UM), and have at least 40% protected research time.
2. Scientists are clinical or scientific employees of CCMB who also have appointments below the level of associate professor at the UM, and have at least 40% protected research time.
3. Affiliate Scientists are clinical or scientific employees of CCMB who also have appointments at the UM, and have at least 25% dedicated research time
4. Adjunct Scientists are scientists with appointments at organizations other than CCMB or UM who conduct research on cancer or blood disorders in collaboration with members of the Research Institute.
5. Appointed Members are CCMB employees with UM appointments who have a record of productive research, but only have small amounts of protected research time.