A key component of the Cancer Stem Cell Consortium (CSCC) strategic plan is the establishment of a network of technology and resource platforms across Canada and California, which would establish, or increase access to, important stem cell resources and technologies. To advance this initiative a group of scientists developed a proposal in 2009 describing the resources and technologies needed by the cancer stem cell research community. Consultations in the summer of 2010 confirmed the community’s interest in and need for access to these resources and technologies through a coordinated mechanism.

The first step to launching this initiative will be a workshop to be held in the spring of 2011.  The main objectives of the workshop will be to assess the needs of the cancer stem cell research community, determine what is currently available, identify the gaps and develop an implementation plan, including identification of funding sources.  A Committee is currently being struck to organize the workshop. As the plans progress details of the workshop will be made available on the CSCC website at: www.cancerstemcellconsortium.ca.

For more information about the C4Resource initiative, or to indicate your interest in participating in the spring 2011 workshop, contact:

Cindy L. Bell, Ph.D.
Interim Executive Director, CSCC
Email:  cscc@genomecanada.ca
Phone:  (613) 751-4460 ext 118

About the Cancer Stem Cell Consortium (CSCC) The Cancer Stem Cell Consortium is a not-for-profit corporation that was incorporated in 2007 to coordinate an international strategy for cancer stem cell research and related translational activities.  The strategy will allow the biomedical community to move quickly and effectively from discoveries to application in the clinic; establish partnerships among organizations from Canada, California and other jurisdictions to accelerate and synergize research and translation opportunities related to cancer stem cells; and secure investments from governments, private foundations and the private sector for sustained and stable research funding.  Current Consortium members include:  Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Genome Canada, Michael Smith Foundation for Medical Research, National Research Council of Canada, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) and the Stem Cell Network.