Calgary Researcher Awarded Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada Research Grant

Posted June 30, 2009 

Dr. J. Gregory CairncrossBrain Tumour Foundation of Canada is assisting Canadian research nationally in the mission to find a cause of and cure for brain tumours with the announcement of its annual grants-in-aid program recipients.  Dr. J. Gregory Cairncross was awarded one of six grants from the organization for his work in developing new therapies for Glioma tumours on June 15th, 2009.

Cairncross, at the University of Calgary, Faculty of Medicine was awarded $25,000.00 towards brain tumour research from Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada.  The grant is for research work that will explore new therapies for a specific type of brain tumour called a Glioma.  The research will focus on targeting the precise cells that appear to drive tumour growth.

 “We are very excited by the potential for all of the research that will be conducted as a result of these funds,” says Susan Marshall, Executive Director of Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. “Our vision is to find a cure for brain tumours and to improve the quality of life for those affected and we hope this year’s research will be another step on this journey,” continues Marshall.

This year, there were 34 applicants to the Research Grant program with six grants, totaling more than $145,000 awarded.  Since its inception in 1982, Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada has directed $2.3 million to brain tumour research.

Cairncross is a member of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI) and an associate member of the Alberta Cancer Research Institute (ACRI.  He is Professor and Head of the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Calgary and Director of the Clark H. Smith Brain Tumour Centre in Calgary,