PROCURE and the Cancer Research Society announce a $4.5 million investment for the PROCURE Biobank/Cancer Research Society Partnership to advance prostate cancer research

MONTREAL, Oct. 8, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - PROCURE and the Cancer Research Society today jointly announced the PROCURE Biobank/Cancer Research Society Partnership to fund a biobank specializing in prostate cancer. This partnership, which represents a new investment of $4.5 million over five years, will provide additional support for prostate cancer research initiatives.

In Canada, it is estimated that one in seven men will develop prostate cancer over their lifetime and that one in 27 will die of it. In 2013, about 23,600 Canadian men, including 4,800 in Quebec, will be diagnosed with prostate cancer¹.

"The financial support announced today will allow us to achieve greater impact: we will provide researchers in the Canadian and international scientific communities with biological samples and data for innovative, large-scale projects against prostate cancer," said Cédric Bisson, Chairman of the Board of PROCURE.

"The PROCURE Biobank/Cancer Research Society Partnership is an important contribution to scientific advancement," added Andy Chabot, President and CEO, Cancer Research Society. "This partnership underscores our mission to fund research on all types of cancer."

The Partnership is also generously funded by three local family foundations. The Mirella & Lino Saputo Foundation, the Lemaire Family Foundation and the Antonopoulos Group are all contributing to the efforts to conquer prostate cancer.

"We're proud to be part of the Partnership and to support the biobank, which aims to accelerate research that will identify key elements in prostate cancer, as well as prevent and cure it," said Alain Lemaire, Executive Chairman of the Board of Cascades.

"We had no doubt that we had to take part in this project, which highlights the expertise of Quebec's scientific researchers and, hopefully, will find a cure for this disease," added Lino Saputo, Chairman of the Board of Saputo Inc.

"This is an inspiring and innovative project. For our family, it was only natural to get involved and contribute to scientific advances that will make it possible to put an end to this form of cancer," concluded Costa Antonopoulos, Co-founder of the Antonopoulos Group.

About PROCURE
Founded in 2003, PROCURE's mission is to provide science and humanity with the means to help prevent and cure prostate cancer. It is the only charitable organization in Quebec to be devoted entirely to the fight against this form of cancer. The biobank, which PROCURE created in 2007 in collaboration with the four Quebec University-based hospital systems (CHUM, CHUS, CHUQ and MUHC), is aimed at accelerating breakthroughs in prostate cancer research. PROCURE also offers the public and healthcare professionals a comprehensive bilingual website (www.procure.ca) with regularly updated information. PROCURE also contributes to supporting patients and their caregivers, providing the services of a urology nurse upon request.

About the Cancer Research Society
Founded in 1945, the Cancer Research Society is a national not-for-profit organization whose sole mission is to fund research on all types of cancer, thereby contributing to the advancement of science aimed at preventing, detecting, and treating this disease. Over the past 20 years, the CRS has allocated $113 million to nearly 900 cancer research projects across the country, including $41 million in the past five years. The Society is already very active in funding prostate cancerprojects, which currently represent 22% of its total investmentsin Canada.

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¹Advisory Council on Research, Canadian Cancer Society: Canadian Cancer Statistics, 2013

SOURCE: Cancer Research Society

Source: 
Nathalie Labelle
PROCURE 
514-341-3000, ext. 2
Cell: 514-571-9412
[email protected]

Nathalie Giroux
Cancer Research Society
514-861-9227, ext. 248
Cell: 514-910-0769
[email protected]

Information: 
Anne-Marie Caron
Morin Relations Publiques
514-289-8688, ext. 234
Cell: 514-799-4926
[email protected]