Newsroom

Minister Ambrose tours Sprott Centre and announces research funding


June 24, 2014

Federal Health Minister Rona Ambrose toured the Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research on Tuesday to formally announce a major grant and mark National Sarcoma Cancer Awareness Week. Drs. Michael Rudnicki, Jeff Dilworth, Lynn Megeney and Theodore Perkins have been awarded $1.2 million by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research for a five-year study into the triggers that cause Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma (aRMS), an aggressive sarcoma cancer that develops in children and teenagers. The research team plans to investigate the hypothesis that aRMS tumours are formed by cancerous muscle stem cells. Sarcoma is a type of cancer that often attacks muscles, bones, nerves, fat and blood vessels. Close to 1,200 Canadians are diagnosed with sarcoma each year, and about 500 people die from the disease annually. Watch Minister Ambrose make the funding announcement. Read the Ottawa Sun article and government news release.

About the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) is the research arm of The Ottawa Hospital and is an affiliated institute of the University of Ottawa, closely associated with the university’s Faculties of Medicine and Health Sciences. OHRI includes more than 1,700 scientists, clinical investigators, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and staff conducting research to improve the understanding, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human disease.

Media contact
Paddy Moore
Communications and Public Relations
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
613-737-8899 x73687
613-323-5680 (cell)