Dr. Gleave, a native of British Columbia, is a urologist, surgeon, and Director of Clinical Research at the Prostate Centre at VGH.

“By retaining top-level researchers like Dr. Gleave, we are also able to attract others from beyond our borders, and BC will continue to lead the world in prostate cancer research and treatment,” said Minister Coell. “His appointment will benefit British Columbia in many ways and marks a huge milestone in establishing the province as a world-class centre for research.”

“Dr. Gleave is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning surgeon and scientist,” said Martha Salcudean, Chair of the Leading Edge Endowment Fund. “He is a leader in developing and applying new therapeutics for prostate cancer treatment, and his appointment will greatly contribute to strengthening the research training environment for the next generation of researchers.”

This Leadership Chair will receive a total endowment of $4.5 million, cost-shared between the Leading Edge Endowment Fund and the private sector and other donors. Matching funds of $2.25 million has been committed by VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation.

The Prostate Centre’s Translational Research Initiative for Accelerated Discovery and Development (PC-TRIADD) will be supported by this Chair and will apply state of the art genomic/proteomic approaches to the analysis and treatment of prostate cancer.

“PC-TRIADD will change the face of cancer treatment, not just in BC but world-wide,” said Dr. Gleave. “Instead of using the current ‘seek and destroy’ approach using strong, non-specific treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy, doctors will be able to target the cancer cells and use very specific methods to administer cancer-killing therapies to those cells. This funding will allow the Prostate Centre to expand its capability and provide additional positions for new researchers.”

The LEEF funding will leverage additional national and international funding that has contributed to the creation of Canada’s largest and one of the world’s top three comprehensive prostate cancer research facilities, enabling accelerated discovery, target validation, and creation of biologic-based therapeutics. It will also serve to facilitate seamless development and transfer of interventions to promote regional growth of biotechnology.

"We're delighted to have Dr. Gleave recognized and retained as a leader in UBC's research community, thanks to this remarkable opportunity offered by the B.C. Government's Leading Edge Endowment Fund," says President Martha Piper, University of British Columbia.

“The ability to quickly translate research discoveries into treatment and patient care is a hallmark of research at Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), said Ida Goodreau, President and CEO of the health authority. “The support from the Leading Edge Endowment Fund will help us to build the team that will keep BC at the forefront of prostate cancer research and continue to position us as world leaders.”

“Our donors are committed to funding projects that will achieve the greatest impact in patient care and health outcomes, said Ron Dumouchelle, President and CEO of VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. “We believe that by co-funding Dr. Martin Gleave’s position, we are keeping one of the world’s leading prostate cancer researchers right here in British Columbia.”

This is the province’s second BC Leadership Chair. An earlier LEEF Chair for ICORD Spinal Cord Research was awarded to the Rick Hansen Institute at UBC. Dr. John Steeves was appointed as the BC Leadership Chair in spinal cord research in 2002. A total of 29 chairs will be awarded by 2006.

Announcement of Prostate Research Chair

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About LEEF

The Leading Edge Endowment Fund was established in 2002, in fulfillment of the government’s New Era commitment to establish 20 permanent Leadership Chairs across B.C. The Province provided $45 million ($2.25 million for each chair) - with matching funds to be secured by post-secondary institutions from external partners - to establish some of the best-funded research chairs in Canada. An additional $11.25 million was provided in 2003 and 2004 to create nine Regional Innovation Chairs.

About the Prostate Centre at VGH

The Prostate Centre at Vancouver General Hospital is a national Centre of Excellence, Canada’s most comprehensive, and one of the world’s leading facilities for research and treatment of prostate cancer. The Prostate Centre is part of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and comes under its research umbrella, the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute. The Centre’s focus is not just prostate cancer, but other benign diseases of the prostate.