ECRI is home to 19 scientists, 12 associate scientists, and 9 early career scientists whose research covers a range of disciplines including medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology, hematology oncology, nursing, clinical chemistry, biostatistics, psychology, health policy, and computer engineering.
Our Vision
Be the national leader of innovative and sustainable solutions that will put research into action for the benefit of people affected by cancer.
Our Mission
To improve the lives of people affected by cancer.
Expandable List
ECRI was inaugurated in July 2011. The time was ripe to form a cancer research institute. There were a number of strong and successful cancer research groups at the Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre and McMaster University. The new McMaster Department of Oncology had recently been established (2006) and would serve as a home to support the new institute. The aim was to grow the research enterprise and a proposal was submitted in April 2011. The founding Scientific Director was Dr. Mark Levine and the founding Director of Operations was Ms. Anne Snider.
The Institute started with three core programs of research: clinical trials led by the Ontario Clinical Oncology Group, health services research led by the Supportive Cancer Care Research Unit and the Program in Evidence-Based Care, and translational research. There were 16 inaugural ECRI scientists from across departments within the Faculty of Health Sciences: Oncology, Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Pathology & Molecular Medicine and Nursing. Five scientists held research chairs: Endowed (1), CRC (1), CCO (1), and OICR (2).
A seminal event in ECRI’s early days was an external review (PDF) conducted by Dr. Simon Sutcliffe, an eminent cancer leader in Canada. He commended ECRI’s success and provided strategic advice for the institute to move forward in the next five years by embracing a problem-based approach to prioritize cancer challenges through the use of fluid, interdisciplinary teams led by ECRI researchers, including collaborators across multi-disciplinary domains.
A five-year progress report (2011-2016) (PDF) was submitted to the governing board in the fall of 2015. It described the substantial progress made in meeting ECRI’s goal of conducting research that impacts the lives of people affected by cancer. Researchers benefitted from the consolidation and co-location of their activity and purpose within the research institute. Notable successes over the first five years included $55 million in research funding and 669 publications by ECRI researchers.
Over the next 5 years (2016-2021), ECRI expanded, its research thrived and foundations for future research were established. The Institute has three internationally recognized research programs: the OCOG Trials Group (previously led by Dr. Levine and now led by Dr. Wright), Breast Cancer Radiotherapy Trials (led by Dr. Whelan) and Palliative Care (led by Dr. Seow). Other research themes include surgical oncology, survivorship, and translational research. Between 2016-2021, ECRI researchers were awarded $65 million in grant funding and had 839 publications. A new endowed chair in data science and artificial intelligence was recruited. New research opportunities in digital health, including virtual care and remote monitoring and using artificial intelligence to build a learning health system, were pursued. Two ECRI scientists have successfully commenced initiatives in translational research and there is a commitment to establish strong collaborations with the new Centre for Discovery in Cancer Research at McMaster University. In January 2022, a five-year progress report (2016-2021) (PDF) was submitted to ECRI’s governing board and it was well received.
Dr. Levine fulfilled his dream of establishing a cancer research institute embedded within a tertiary academic regional cancer centre. Through his leadership over the past decade, ECRI has grown through its formative years, gained traction, and demonstrated resilience through the pandemic. In June 2022, Dr. Levine stepped down and Dr. Greg Pond became the new Director.
Governance Structure
ECRI’s Governance Structure ensures organizational excellence in all aspects of its research and business operations and supports the strategic research priorities of HHS and McMaster University.
Become an ECRI Scientist
The ECRI Scientist Membership process supports the breadth and depth of ECRI’s research by ensuring a cadre of highly qualified individuals with established or plans to establish independent research programs, a commitment to collaboration and collegial exchange of ideas, and support of mentorship and building the next generation of researchers.
