The Canadian Cancer Society adopted a nationwide strategic plan in 2010 that clearly articulates the organization’s three long-term goals, or Ends, to reduce cancer incidence rates for Canadians (End 1), to reduce cancer mortality rates for Canadians (End 2), and to improve the quality of life for Canadians living with and beyond cancer (End 3).
Prevention and risk reduction (End 1) development committee
The prevention and risk reduction committee provides expert advice on the End 1 research program with an emphasis on prevention research capacity building. The group is also charged with developing effective knowledge translation strategies to integrate and share evidence about the causes of cancer, risk factors and behaviour change to improve cancer prevention programs and policies. The committee has a direct linkage to
ACOR and is composed of experts from Canada and the United States. Current members include scientists across different research disciplines related to the Society’s prevention and risk reduction priorities, Society staff at national office and divisions leading prevention programs and advocacy work, as well as cancer control policy staff.
Terms of reference
Background and purpose
The Canadian Cancer Society’s strategic plan calls for leadership in research to better prevent cancers and to make a relative increase in resources dedicated to prevention and risk reduction research.
The Prevention and risk reduction committee provides expert advice to CCSRI’s research programs and is instrumental in helping the Society achieve its strategic goals by supporting research that improves policy and practice related to tobacco control, occupational and environmental carcinogens, obesity, healthy eating and physical activity, and fundamental research to improve our understanding of cancer etiology and prevention. Similarly, experience in programs, advocacy and the policy environment informs research directions.
The overarching goals of CCSRI’s prevention and risk reduction program are:
- to build Canadian capacity in gap areas of risk reduction research
- to facilitate knowledge translation in the research-policy-practice continuum
- to integrate CCSRI’s central research programs and major initiatives with the Society’s program, policy and advocacy activities to form a more cohesive impactful research program
- to establish the Society as a national leader in research to reduce cancer incidence for Canadians
Size and composition
- 12-16 members
- Chair, who will usually be a member of ACOR
- 1-2 senior representatives of the Canadian Cancer Society divisions
- CCS senior leadership staff who work in the areas of research, programs and policy
- additional experts may be added ad hoc, as needed
Membership skills and expertise
Members must have expertise, skills and experience in cancer prevention and risk reduction broadly representing the areas of tobacco control, occupational and environmental carcinogens, obesity, healthy eating and physical activity, screening, cancer etiology and the fundamental causes of cancer, research, knowledge translation and exchange, evidenced-based policy decisions, health services, and prevention program delivery.
Staff support
Staff support is provided by the CCSRI Senior Manager, Research Programs with additional support from the Director, Research and Assistant Director, Operations, CCSRI and Vice-President, Research and Policy.
Functions
The prevention and risk reduction committee provides specific advice to inform research programs and activities in the following areas:
- research funding mechanisms for End 1 priorities: tobacco control, occupational and environmental carcinogens, obesity, healthy eating and physical activity and the support of fundamental research to improve our understanding of cancer etiology and prevention
- research funding mechanisms to promote the integration of the Society’s research, policy, and practice activities
- research funding mechanisms to support multi-sector and/or multi-disciplinary research
- ongoing evaluation of End 1 cancer research programs and impacts
- knowledge translation activities to promote collaboration within the research-practice-policy communities and adoption of new knowledge generated by End 1 research
- development of partnerships with external organizations to leverage resources, as appropriate
Terms and appointments
Members are appointed by the President and CEO with advice from the committee Chair, the ACOR Scientific Chair and senior CCSRI staff. Each term of appointment is 3 years in duration, renewable for a further term.
The Chair is appointed by the Society’s President and CEO with advice from the Scientific Chair of ACOR, the Vice-President, Research and Policy and Director, Research, CCSRI. The Chair and at least one other member are usually full members of ACOR.
The outgoing Chair is invited to remain as a full member of the committee for one additional year as the Past Chair.
Operating mode
- one 1 day in-person meeting per year
- other meetings may be convened by teleconference or other appropriate technology as necessary
- a simple majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum.
Conflict of interest
All Canadian Cancer Society funding recommendations are made by the Advisory Council on Research (ACOR) to the President and CEO. All committee members adhere to CCSRI conflict of interest policies. Committee members are not precluded by conflicts of interest from applying for research funding opportunities offered by CCSRI.
Current membership
Siân Bevan, Toronto
Deborah Bowen, Seattle, WA
Angela Brooks-Wilson, Vancouver
Paul Demers, Toronto
Eduardo Franco, Montreal
Christine Friedenreich, Calgary
Carolyn Gotay, Vancouver (Chair)
David Hammond, Waterloo
Barbara Kaminsky, Vancouver
Jon Kerner, Toronto
Robert Nuttall, Toronto
Louise Parker, Halifax
Rowena Pinto, Toronto
Barbara Riley, Waterloo
Jill Tinmouth, Toronto
Basic biomedical and translational (End 2) development committee
A sub-committee of the current
Advisory Council on Research (ACOR) advises CCSRI staff on the End 2 research program. Additional experts may be added to the committee membership as needed. Dr Cal Roskelley, Scientific Chair of ACOR, is the current Chair of the End 2 development committee.
Terms of reference
Background and purpose
The Canadian Cancer Society’s strategic plan calls for a sustained effort in research to reduce cancer mortality rates by supporting excellence and stimulating innovation in basic biomedical and translational research.
The basic biomedical and translational development committee provides expert advice to CCSRI’s research programs and is instrumental in helping the Society to achieve its strategic goals by supporting research that improves screening, early detection, diagnostic and treatment options, and fundamental research to improve our understanding of cancer biology.
The overarching goals of CCSRI’s basic biomedical and translational program are:
- to sustain the excellence of the basic biomedical, translational and clinical research communities in Canada
- to support innovative and impactful research with open grant competitions
- to support a scientific idea development ‘pipeline’ in Canada
- to leverage Canada’s strengths in End 2 research to decrease cancer incidence rates and enhance quality of life for cancer patients, in addition to improving cancer mortality rates
- to integrate CCSRI’s central research programs and major initiatives with the Society’s program, policy and advocacy activities to form a more cohesive impactful research program
Size and composition
- 6-8 members, drawn from the current ACOR membership with expertise in biomedical, translational and clinical research
- Chair, who will also be a full member of ACOR
- 1 senior representatives of Canadian Cancer Society divisions, as needed
- additional experts may be added ad hoc, as needed
Membership skills and expertise
Members must have broad expertise, skills and experience in areas of research related to cancer biology, screening, early detection, diagnosis and treatment to advance cancer care.
Staff support
Staff support is provided by the CCSRI Senior Manager, Research Programs with additional support from the Director, Research and Assistant Director, Operations, CCSRI and Vice-President, Research and Policy.
Functions
The basic biomedical and translational committee provides specific advice to inform research programs and activities in the following areas:
- research funding mechanisms for End 2 priorities: screening, early detection, diagnosis and treatment and the support of fundamental research to improve the understanding of cancer biology
- research funding mechanisms to support multi-sector and/or multi-disciplinary research
- ongoing evaluation of End 2 cancer research programs and impacts
- knowledge translation activities to promote the research-practice-policy continuum and adoption of new knowledge generated by End 2 research
- development of partnerships with external organizations to leverage research resources, as appropriate
Terms and appointments
Members are appointed by the President and CEO with advice from the committee Chair, the ACOR Scientific Chair and senior CCSRI staff. Each term of appointment is 3 years in duration, renewable for a further term. The Chair is appointed by the Society’s President and CEO with advice from the Scientific Chair of ACOR, the Vice-President, Research and Policy and Director, Research, CCSRI. The Chair is usually a full member of ACOR.
The outgoing Chair is invited to remain as a full member of the committee for one additional year as the Past Chair.
Operating mode
- meetings to be convened either in-person, by teleconference or other appropriate technology as necessary
- in-person meetings not to exceed 1 per year
Conflict of interest
All Canadian Cancer Society funding recommendations are made by the Advisory Council on Research (ACOR) to the President and CEO. All committee members adhere to CCSRI conflict of interest policies. Committee members are not precluded by conflicts of interest from applying for research funding opportunities offered by CCSRI.
Quality of life (End 3) development committee
The quality of life committee provides expert advice on the End 3 research program. Because of the significant investment the Society makes in delivering programs and information to Canadians on a cancer journey, the committee also recommends ways to direct and utilize research evidence to inform focused quality of life program delivery, public policy and advocacy efforts. The committee has a direct linkage to ACOR and is composed of expert scientists from Canada and the United States. Current members include scientists across different disciplines related to the Society’s quality of life priorities, Society staff at national office and divisions leading quality of life programs and advocacy work, as well as cancer control policy staff.
Terms of reference
Background and purpose
The Canadian Cancer Society’s strategic plan calls for focus in quality of life to have the most impact. Through research, the Society can contribute to the delivery of evidence-based programs and advocacy, while experience in programs, advocacy and the policy environment can inform research directions.
The quality of life committee provides expert advice to develop CCSRI’s research programs and is instrumental in helping the Society to achieve its strategic goals by supporting research that improves supportive care, survivorship and end of life care, and fundamental research to improve our understanding of the cancer journey.
The overarching goals of CCSRI’s quality of life program are:
- to determine priority research areas and provide targeted competitions in quality of life research
- to use research findings to provide an evidence base to focus programs and services to enhance the quality of life for cancer survivors and their families
- to integrate CCSRI’s central research programs and major initiatives with the Society’s program, policy and advocacy activities to form a more cohesive impactful research program
Size and composition
- 10-12 members
- Chair, who will usually be a member of ACOR
- 1-2 senior representatives of the Canadian Cancer Society divisions
- CCS senior leadership staff who work in the areas of research, programs and policy
- additional experts may be added ad hoc, as needed
Membership skills and expertise
The membership must have expertise, skills and experience in understanding the cancer journey, broadly representing the areas of supportive care, survivorship and end-of-life care, research, evidenced-based policy decisions, health services, and quality of life program delivery.
Staff support
Staff support is provided by the CCSRI Senior Manager, Research Programs with additional support from the Director, Research and Assistant Director, Operations, CCSRI and the Vice-President, Research and Policy.
Functions
The quality of life committee provides specific advice to inform research programs and activities in the following areas:
- research funding mechanisms for End 3 priorities: to improve the understanding of the cancer journey by making improvements in supportive care, survivorship and end-of-life care
- research funding mechanisms to promote the integration of the Society’s research, policy, and practice activities
- research funding mechanisms to support multi-sector and/or multi-disciplinary research
- ongoing evaluation of End 3 cancer research priorities as new evidence emerges
- knowledge translation activities to promote the research-practice-policy continuum
- development of partnerships with external organizations to leverage research resources, as appropriate
Terms and appointments
Members are appointed by the President and CEO with advice from the committee Chair, the ACOR Scientific Chair and senior CCSRI staff. Each term of appointment is 3 years in duration, renewable for a further term.
The Chair is appointed by the Society’s President and CEO with advice from the Scientific Chair of ACOR, the Vice-President, Research and Policy and Director, Research, CCSRI. The Chair and at least one other member are usually full members of ACOR.
The outgoing Chair is invited to remain as a full member of the committee for one additional year as the Past Chair.
Operating mode
- one 1 day in-person meeting per year
- other meetings may be convened by teleconference or other appropriate technology as necessary
- a simple majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum.
Conflict of interest
All Canadian Cancer Society funding recommendations are made by the Advisory Council on Research (ACOR) to the CCS President and CEO. All committee members adhere to CCSRI conflict of interest policies. Committee members are not precluded by conflicts of interest from applying for research funding opportunities offered by CCSRI.
Current membership (May 2015)
Shabbir Alibhai, Toronto
Lynda Balneaves, Toronto
Siân Bevan, Toronto
Michael Brundage, Kingston
Mélanie Champagne, Montreal
Harvey Max Chochinov, Winnipeg
Lise Fillion, Quebec
Eva Grunfeld, Toronto
Jeffrey Hoch, Toronto
Dan Holinda, Calgary
Gabriel Miller, Ottawa
Patricia Parker, New York
Jolie Ringash, Toronto
Gary Rodin, Toronto
Zeev Rosberger, Montreal (Chair)
Lillian Sung, Toronto