Accelerating Brain Cancer Research
October 16, 2025 – The Cancer Research Society (CRS) is proud to announce the two recipients of the new 2025 Translational Research Grants for Brain Cancer program, organized in partnership with Brain Canada. The two selected projects are among the most promising in the field.
Brain cancers remain difficult to treat given the limited treatment options and poor outcomes for patients. This joint investment reflects CRS and Brain Canada’s shared commitment to supporting research that bridges discoveries and clinical application. Its goal is to accelerate the translation and application of new knowledge across pre-clinical, clinical and health services for both pediatric and adult brain cancers to ultimately improve patient outcomes. The program also encourages multi-disciplinary collaboration between basic scientists and clinicians to translate research into novel approaches for the study, diagnosis, and/or treatment of brain cancer.
Selected following a rigorous scientific evaluation process, each of the two funded projects will receive $1,000,000 over a three-year period:
- Dr. Robert Vanner – University Health Network
Team co-Investigators: Michael Rauh (Queen’s University), Peter Dirks (The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto), Jennifer Chan and Sorana Morrissy (University of Calgary), Federico Gaiti (University Health Network, University of Toronto)
Defining and targeting clonal hematopoiesis as a driver of glioblastoma growth. - Dr. Sheila Singh – McMaster University
Team co-Investigators: Federico Gaiti (University Health Network, University of Toronto), Jason Moffat (The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto)
GPNMB CAR-T cells as a multi-pronged immunotherapeutic approach for glioblastoma.
Support for these projects is made possible through the Canada Brain Research Fund, an innovative partnership between the Government of Canada, through Health Canada, Brain Canada, and the CRS.
Through its involvement in this program, the CRS is once again demonstrating its commitment to supporting scientific advances that can transform lives and make a real difference for people affected by this disease.