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Osler joins the Princess Margaret Cancer Care Network to enhance local cancer services
William Osler Health System (Osler) has joined the Princess Margaret (PM) Cancer Care Network to enhance clinical expertise, research, and education in Brampton, North Etobicoke, and surrounding areas at a critical time, as cancer cases are expected to double in the next 10 to 15 years due to an aging and growing population.
This formal partnership will expand resource sharing and skill development between PM and Osler, building on a six-year collaboration focused on stem cell transplants. Osler is the fifth cancer program in Canada to join the PM Cancer Care Network, a collective of local, regional, and national partners committed to facilitating collaborative clinical care, accelerating the adoption of new technologies, engaging more patients in research through improved access to clinical trials and advancing innovations which improve patient outcomes and provide confidence and comfort that the best care can be achieved close to home.
“This partnership will provide seamless transition for patients to receive care close to home, enhance education opportunities and collaborate on clinical trials,” said Dr. Frank Martino, President and CEO of William Osler Health System. “As cancer service needs grow in our community, we are committed to ensuring quality care is available locally.”
Dr. Keith Stewart, Vice President of Cancer at University Health Network and Director of Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, said, “We are proud to announce this partnership, which will break down barriers to provide seamless access to cutting-edge clinical trials, advanced molecular testing and knowledge transfer.”
PM, one of the top five cancer research centres in the world, is proud of its record in education, research, patient care and innovation, with cancer research funding reaching more than $285-million in 2023. PM published more than 1,200 peer-reviewed publications in 2023 and its staff and scientists received numerous awards and honours. PM’s recent innovations include: early-stage cancer diagnoses through genetic testing; engaging in exciting partnerships to advance mRNA medicines to improve cancer therapies; advances in machine learning and the launch of a UHN centre in artificial intelligence. PM has one of the world’s largest clinical trials program, with more than 20 per cent of patients in clinical trials, and the largest radiation medicine program in Canada. It recently added the Halcyon linear accelerator to its fleet of state-of-the art radiation machines to deliver high-precision radiotherapy to patients.
Osler has a large and growing oncology clinical trials program that offers novel anti-cancer therapeutics and was proud to be the first to offer rapid comprehensive tumour genetic testing through next-generation sequencing (NGR). Osler’s Early Lung Cancer Detection Program is the longest-running community hospital program in Canada and is only one of three European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) designated centres for integrative palliative care in Canada. The ESMO Designated Centres Accreditation Programme, recognizes cancer centres that provide highly integrated oncology and palliative care services, with the goal of improving research, education and clinical practice by setting standards for service development.
This exciting partnership between Osler and PM Cancer Care Network represents the evolution of valuable resource and skill sharing to benefit patients from both organizations. Learn more about the partnership and Osler’s cancer care program.
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