The Cancer Research Society (CRS) operating grant is the principal means by which the CRS supports research activities by independent scientists or small groups of investigators.

Operating grants are usually awarded for a period of two years for a maximum amount of $60,000 per year. This amount was fixed by the scientific committee in order to fund the greatest possible number of applications. All applicants must hold an academic appointment in a Canadian university or accredited institution in order to apply for a CRS operating grant.

Different basic research categories fall within the realm of the operating grants. Some years, the CRS makes an additional call for proposals in specific fields. When this is the case, a certain amount of additional grants are attributed to these fields.

The Cancer Research Society accepts renewal requests for this program.

Ongoing research projects

• E2F-regulated microRNAs and cell cycle progression
• The fate of RNA polymerases during transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair
• The role of ubiquitination in the regulation of BRCA1 tumour suppressor function
• Functional comparisons of the antisene proteins encoded by the various HTLV viruses
• The influence of macrophages on the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment
• Role of GATA3 in prostate cancer
• Regulation of nuclear RNA polymerase biogenesis in TOR signaling
• Characterizing ERG transformation of prostatic epithelial cells
• Regulation of the mutagenic capacity of the antibody diversification enzyme AID by Hsp90
• CHES1, a forkhead DNA binding protein with tumour suppressor activities
• The role of leukocytes and inflammation in enhancing tumour metastasis
• A shed soluble form of CD200 has prognostic and therapeutic implications in CLL
• Interaction between the polymerase of the hepatitis C virus and different classes of inhibitors
• Ubiquitin pools as a potential therapeutic target in lung cancer
• HOX11 transcriptional regulation of target genes in T-ALL
• Development of sequence-targeted radiosensitizers
• NMR investigation on Ras signaling and regulatory mechanisms
• Role of p63 and SATB2 in chemoresistance in HNSCC (head and neck squamous cell carcinoma)
• Molecular and functional characterization of an AHI-1-BCR-ABL interaction complex in chronic myeloid leukemia
• Overcoming Imatinib resistance in CML with combination therapy of new ABL and ILK inhibitors
• Regulation of ribosome biogenesis by Pygopus in epithelial ovarian cancer
• Preclinical validation of ALL relapse predisposing variants in DHFR and TS genes
• Developing a B-cell model for leukemia induction by E2A-PBX1
• Control of filopodia production by elongation factor eEF1A2
• Rational design of novel molecular-targeted inhibitors of cancer cell proliferation.
• Interplay of pathways in the DNA damage response to interstrand crosslinks
• Role of MEK 1/2 signalling in chromosomal instability and colorectal cancer progression
• Involvement of IkappaB kinase-epsilon (IKKe) and IL-6 dysregulation in prostate cancer progression
• Akt isoforms in IGF-IR-induced mammary tumour growth and progression
• Role of the myeloid transcription factor Gfi1 and the Gfi136N variant in human acute myeloid leukemia
• Conditional knockout mouse models of the Deleted in liver cancer (Dlc) tumour suppressor genes
• Role of the tumour suppressor PTEN (Phosphatase and Tensin homolog deleted on chromosome Ten) in ErbB-2 induced mammary tumorigenesis
• RET receptor-Interactions with the cadherin-catenin adhesion complex
• Molecular characterization of the pseudopodia of metastatic tumour cells
• CSF1 pathway inhibitors in primary xenograft models of soft tissue tumors
• SEMA3C as a novel target for treatment of advanced prostate cancer
• Characterization of oncolytic adenovirus vectors designed to specifically infect cancer cells
• Role of the inactive tyrosine phosphatase HD-PTP in lung cancer
• Role of nodal in breast cancer metastasis
• A genome-wide RNAi screen to identify regulators of cilia assembly in mammalian cells
• Identifying signal transduction pathways regulated by malignant ascites
• Role of Spy1 in cellular senescence
• Regulation of VEGF-dependent signaling and angiogenic responses by the DEP-1 protein tyrosine phosphatase
• Extensive study of the RNA interference pathway: a new hope to battle against cancer
• Characterization of ETV6 gene targets
• Identification of gene networks mediating cancer cachexia
• Identification of Cks-SCFSkp2 substrates in drosophila
• Anti-tumour immune responses mediated by NKDC
• Deletion analysis of BRCA1 and BRCA2 loci in high risk breast and/or ovarian cancer families of French Canadian descent
• Mechanisms for the oncogenic effects of breast cancer susceptibility oncogene, RHAMM/HMMR.
• Regulation of E2F4 by Phosphorylation
• The inhibition of MyoD expression and skeletal muscle differentiation by C/EBPbeta in cancer cachexia
• Identification and characterization of novel LATS kinase substrates
• Regulation of ribosome biogenesis in cancer cells
• The Role of Tissue Factor Following Surgery in the Development of Postoperative Metastatic Disease
• Genetic control of susceptibility to colon cancer development
• The Role of Butyrophilin in the Immunomodulation of Ovarian Cancer Microenvironment
• The detection and identification of medulloblastoma
• Endocytic regulation of Notch signaling
• Aberrations in EGFR in Human GBMs: Novel Diagnostic and Biomarker Strategies
• Analysis of the cooperation of p53 with RNF8 and RNF168 in suppressing genomic instability and cancer
• Structural mechanisms of the Lfc oncogene regulation
• Investigation of a new clonal event: Chromosome-arm-specific telomere elongation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
• New prognostic markers in mantle cell lymphoma
• The good oncogene: eEF1A2 and the control of breast cancer outcome
• Exploring the Cten-DLC1 signaling axis for cancer intervention
• Rational Design of Novel Molecular-Targeted Inhibitors of Cancer Cell Proliferation
• Characterizing cell-based models for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
• Mechanisms of Trk-Dependent Cell Death in Human Brain Tumors
• Role of MEK-ERK1/2 signaling in the initiation, genetic instability and maintenance of colorectal cancer
• Characterization of BHV-1 as a potent oncolytic virus for the treatment of multiple cancer types
• Role of Akt family signaling in ErbB2 mammary tumour progression
• Autocrine motility factor as a targeted delivery agent for breast cancer treatment
• Molecular detection of lymph node metastasis in uterine cervical carcinoma
• Beta-catenin as a mediator of three-dimensional tumor growth
• The role of Periostin/OSF-2 in ErbB2-driven tumorigenesis
• Role of neurotensin receptor in cancer chronic pain
• Functional relationship between EGR-1 and MMP-9 during lymphoma progression
• Assessment of novel markers with potential prognostic significance in ovarian cancer
• Evaluating the contribution of BRCA1 and BRCA2 in French Canadian ovarian cancers cases
• Hedgehog target genes and medulloblastoma proliferation
• Development of bifunctional antiandrogens that suppress oncogenic activation of the androgen
• The role of Ku protein in breast tumorigenesis: implications for therapy
• Targeting RAD51/PALB2/BRCA2 homologous recombination proteins as an anti-cancer approach
• Identification of protein partners required for YB-1 to confer chemoresistance in breast tumors
• Tumour-induced osteoclast resistance to bisphosphonate action
• Biological impact of the loss of Hoxa5 function in mammary gland development and tumorigenesis
• A small molecule approach to rewiring Erb2 signalling in breast cancer
• Role of histone H3K27 demethylase JMJD3 in estrogen-dependant transcription and breast cancer
• Interactions between brain tumour cells and the immune system
• Role of PARP-3 in epigenetic transcriptional regulation in neuroblastoma
• The contribution of specific protein arginine methyltransferases and their substrates to breast cancer tumorigenesis
• The role of the retinoblastoma protein in TGF-beta induced growth arrest
• A novel ubiquitin signaling pathway in the regulation of BRCA1 (Breast Cancer 1, early onset) tumor suppressor function
• Small molecule inhibitors of HPV E6-mediated degradation of P53
• Characterization of the hypomethylation status of the RUNX1 and RUNX2 genes in advanced ovarian cancer: possible role of RUNX1 and RUNX2 in ovarian cancer progression, invasion/metastasis and chemoresistance
• Gata3 and the Androgen Receptor Response in Prostate Cancer
• Identification of novel biomarker in multiple myeloma therapy resistance
• Identification of the natural regulator of telomerase: possible role in controlling telomerase expression in cancer cells
• The Role of PRMT1 Alternatively Spliced Isoform v2 in Breast Cancer Pathogenesis
• Roles of cancer-associated kinases in cell cycle progression
• Nuclear telomere architecture as biomarker in glioblastomas
• Studying autophagy as a complemetary therapeutic target in antivascular tumor therapy
• Prognostic markers of prostate cancer recurrence after prostatectomy
• The effect of GVHD on the peripheral niche regulating lymphocyte homeostasis
• Regulation of the mutagenic capacity of the antibody diversification enzyme AID by Hsp90
• Identification and characterization of agents that enhance sensitivity to chemotherapy
• Structural investigation on Ras Signaling and regulatory mechanisms
• Regulation of Met signaling by Socs1 in hepatocellular carcinoma
• Regulation of PAR-6 levels during cell polarity establishment and maintenance
• Identification of molecules that will inhibit chemoresistance conferred by YB-1 in breast tumors
• Regulatory T cell therapy for graft versus host disease
• Mechanisms of anti-angiogenic role of ING4 in human melanoma
• Mechanisms of action of full antiestrogens in breast cancer cells
• Delineating the role of the mismatch repair pathway in suppressing colon carcinogenesis
• Role of the transcription factor Gfi1 and the Gfi136N variant in Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
• Molecular Characterization of the Pseudopodia of Metastatic Tumor Cells
• Role of Cbl in Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia
• Analysis of new negative regulators/candidate tumor suppressors in EGFR/Ras/MAPK signaling
• Regulation and Function of the RSK Family in Breast Cancer
• Regulation of the pro-invasive properties of neuroblastoma-initiating cells by membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase
• Defining Mechanisms by which CCN3 Promotes the Formation of Osteolytic Bone Metastases
• Targeting of tumor vaccine antigens to MHC II by-products and chaperones expressed on antigen-presenting cells
• A cell model for MAGE over-expression in cancer progression and chemotherapy resistance
• Role of retinoic acid synthesis in mammary gland development and tumorigenesis
• Assessing the contribution of spindle assembly checkpoint genes to colorectal neoplasia
• Notch4 as potential target in breast cancer stem cells
• Molecular Characterization of the Role of CSB in Tumorigenesis
• CD73-mediated chemoresistance in triple negative breast cancer
• Identifying the PI 4-kinases that drive oncogenic GOLPH3 signaling in Drosophila
• Function and regulation of the protein tyrosine phosphatase DEP-1 in angiogenesis and tumor progression
• Activation of beta-catenin in Wnt signaling
• Metabolic role of the tumor suppressor gene HD-PTP in lung tumorigenesis
• The role of TGF-beta signalling in epigenetic stability
• A multimodal genomic analysis strategy to identify novel breast cancer genes
• Link between osteolysis and pain during breast cancer metastases to bone