Programs and initiatives
The following programs and initiatives are built to realize the Institute’s ambitious plans and to ensure OICR’s research will be translated to results for patients. To better understand how these programs and initiatives fit together, read about our strategy here.
Jump to: Adaptive Oncology | Clinical Translation | Therapeutic Innovation
Adaptive Oncology

Develop knowledge and approaches to monitor cancer over its lifecycle in order to enable precise and proactive clinical management.

Computational Biology
The Computational Biology Program is the scientific engine of research and analytics at OICR.
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Diagnostic Development
The Diagnostic Development Program's mission is to initiate, disseminate and nurture expertise in the development of diagnostic assays and support the rapid implementation of precision medicine.
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Genome Informatics
Genome Informatics develops new algorithms, software, databases, visualization tools and other necessary components to interpret the large and complex datasets being generated by OICR’s cancer research programs.
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Genomics
The Genomics Program provides large-scale, next generation sequencing cancer genomics capabilities to researchers in Ontario and beyond.
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Global Alliance for Genomics and Health
The Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) was formed to help accelerate the potential of genomic medicine to advance human health.
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International Cancer Genome Consortium / International Cancer Genome Consortium for Medicine
The goal of the ICGC is to generate comprehensive catalogues of genomic abnormalities in tumours from 50 different cancer types.
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Imaging
The Imaging Program accelerates translation of research findings and developments of new imaging techniques and probes of cancer into clinical practice.
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OCTANE
Ontario-wide Cancer TArgeted Nucleic acid Evaluation (OCTANE) is a new OICR-supported initiative that provides next generation sequencing-based molecular profiling at multiple Ontario cancer centres.
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Ontario Health Study
The Ontario Health Study is a landmark study with over 230,000 participants that will help researchers better understand the environmental, lifestyle, and genetic factors that cause cancer and other chronic diseases.
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Ontario Molecular Pathology Research Network
The Ontario Molecular Pathology Research Network is a province-wide network of pathologists collaborating to carry out high-quality cancer research with a clear potential for clinical impact.
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Ontario Tumour Bank
The Ontario Tumour Bank is a province-wide biorepository and data bank focused on collection of tumour-related human biospecimens.
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Translational Genomics Laboratory
The Transformative Genomics Laboratory was built to fulfill an unmet need and further the use of genomics technologies in the clinical oncology space.
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Clinical Translation

Advance cancer studies through early clinical validation, partnering with industry and the health system for downstream development and patient impact.

Acute Leukemia TRI
The goal of the Acute Leukemia TRI is to improve outcomes for patients by developing new biomarkers that can be used to better predict how patients will respond to therapy.
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Brain cancer TRI
The goal of the Brain Cancer TRI is to investigate the cellular and genetic differences (heterogeneity) of Medulloblastoma (MB) and Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) in children and adults.
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Canadian Cancer Clinical Trials Network
The Canadian Cancer Clinical Trials Network is a pan-Canadian initiative to improve the efficiency and quality of clinical trials in Canada.
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Health Services Research Network
The Health Services Research Network provides the knowledge needed to optimize the delivery of cancer services today and to ensure appropriate dissemination of health service innovations and well-evaluated technologies
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Immuno-oncology TRI
The goal of the Immuno-oncology TRI is to develop and clinically test an OICR-supported oncolytic virus treatment in combination with two cutting-edge immunotherapy strategies in order to improve outcomes for cancer patients, specifically for those with advanced metastatic cancers.
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Ontario Cancer Research Ethics Board
The Ontario Cancer Research Ethics Board is an expert central oncology REB serving almost every hospital in Ontario that conducts cancer clinical trials.
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Ovarian Cancer TRI
The goal of the Ovarian Cancer TRI is to better understand how ovarian cancer develops, what causes resistance to current therapy and how ovarian cancer can be better targeted with new therapies.
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Pancreatic Cancer TRI (PanCuRx)
PanCuRx seeks solutions to the high fatality rate of pancreatic cancer by generating new knowledge about genetic and biologic subsets of disease, mechanisms of tumorigenesis and tailored treatment options.
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Therapeutic Innovation

Validate novel cancer drug targets and advance slective therapeutic candidates through pre-clinical development

Cancer Therapeutics Innovation Pipeline
CTIP supports the local translation of Ontario discoveries into therapies with the potential for improving the lives of cancer patients
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Drug Discovery
The Drug Discovery Program helps efficiently translate discoveries made in Ontario’s labs into novel oncology therapies.
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