Million-dollar gift launches research recruitment program

Toronto, ON – The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre has launched a fund to recruit post-doctoral students, fellows and other researchers. The fund, called the TD Collaboration and Recruitment Fund, was established with a $1-million gift from TD Bank Group.

“Personalized cancer medicine has positive potential benefits for patient care and Princess Margaret Cancer Centre is at the forefront,” said Tim Hockey, president and CEO, TD Canada Trust. “We’re honoured to establish the TD Collaboration and Recruitment Fund and help the centre’s next generation of talented scientists continue innovating in cancer research.”

Tara Schorr, a spokesperson with Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, said the funding has been earmarked to support salaries for new recruits and not labs or equipment. Hard costs for labs and equipment will be met through other fundraising initiatives and from philanthropic support via the foundation and through other sources such as the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI).

She added that TD’s gift has enabled them to support their first recruit, Hansen He, who is a new scientist working in the field of epigenetics and comes from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

“This generous gift from TD provides a new generation of skilled scientists the opportunity to grow and succeed at the Princess Margaret, one of the top five cancer research centres in the world,” said Paul Alofs, president & CEO of the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. “This is a very exciting time in cancer care. The way our scientists and clinicians diagnose cancer is undergoing a major transformation as we integrate new ideas and technology that will allow us to conquer cancer in our lifetime.”