Major Research Programs

Vancouver Prostate Centre investigators are involved in large translational research programs with numerous internal and external collaborators. Some of these key programs include:

• Prostate Centre’s Translational Research Initiative for Accelerated Discovery and Development (PC-TRiADD)
  Integrating key components of translational cancer research, PC-TRiADD aims to discover molecular mechanisms of cancer therapeutic resistance; use this knowledge to discover new patent-protected drug products and biomarkers; develop new services and products; improve cancer outcomes; and promote regional growth for biotechnology. This program was funded by the Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research for 11 years.
• Terry Fox New Frontiers PPG in Targeting the Adaptive Molecular Landscape in Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer
  Our Terry Fox Research Institute (TFRI)-funded program of six highly integrated projects spans the research spectrum from discovery to treatment, with the overall objective of elucidating genomic and molecular mechanisms driving castrate-resistant prostate cancer and using this knowledge to develop new therapies targeting biologically relevant pathways in order to prolong disease control.
• Precision Cancer Drug Discovery
  The VPC’s capacities for drug discovery via structural biology have recently been expanded via a Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) Infrastructure grant and a Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Precision Cancer Drug Design (PCDD). This program aims, over seven years, to revolutionize the way we discover novel anti-cancer drugs, assisted by use of companion genomic biomarkers in a precision oncology framework.  In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the novel AI-based platform, Deep Docking, is being used as the first step in the translational research pipeline towards finding the top candidate compounds for effective antiviral therapeutics.  The in silico results will proceed through our well-established translational research pipeline from bench to bedside.
• My Precision Oncology Program (MyPOP)
  This clinical research program, made possible by Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and a generous donation by a private donor, is working towards better delivery of personalized therapeutics to patients with advanced or treatment-resistant cancer of the prostate, kidney or bladder.
• SU2C–Prostate Cancer Foundation Prostate West Coast Dream Team: Targeting Adaptive Pathways in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
  The Dream Team’s program has the goal of improving the outcomes for men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who are no longer responsive to current treatments by understanding the causes of resistance and developing new treatments to overcome them. Stand Up To Cancer (USA) and Prostate Cancer Foundation (USA) fund this highly collaborative team, consisting of a leader, co-leader, five principal investigators, two advocates and a project manager across nine research institutes.
  Click here for recent key publications
• Pacific Northwest Prostate Cancer Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (PNW-SPORE)
  Working with three other world-class institutions and focused on curing cancer, the VPC’s current project centres on oncofetal glycosaminoglycans as molecular targets in prostate cancer. A Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant is a prestigious award funded by the National Cancer Institute (USA) to promote collaborative, interdisciplinary translational cancer research.