Toronto (March. 13, 2011) - The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation is very pleased to announce that a $5 million gift from Wallace and Margaret McCain will be used to establish The Wallace McCain Centre for pancreatic cancer at Princess Margaret Hospital. The centre will further The Princess Margaret's groundbreaking research into the causes and treatments of pancreatic cancer, as well as help establish a rapid diagnosis program.

Wallace McCain, born in Florenceville, New Brunswick, co-founded McCain Foods Limited in 1956. The highly successful entrepreneur was inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame in 1993. He received the Order of Canada in 1995, the same year the company bought Maple Leaf Foods. Mr. McCain was promoted to Companion in 2008. Margaret McCain was the first woman to be named Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick. Mr. McCain, a pancreatic cancer patient, and his wife currently reside in Toronto.

Each year, approximately 4,000 Canadians are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Because of the location of the pancreas, tumours are difficult to detect and it is often the case that this type of cancer is discovered at a more advanced stage when treatment options are limited.

The pancreatic cancer research program at The Princess Margaret, headed by Dr. Malcolm Moore, is internationally acclaimed. Existing programs in cancer genetics, surgical therapy and drug development will now be further extended by Dr. Moore and his staff. Included is the establishment of a rapid diagnosis program, which will dramatically increase the speed of diagnosis for patients and provide personalized cancer medicine care to approximately 60% more patients each year.

Dr. Malcolm Moore, Chief of Medical Services at The Princess Margaret, stated, "We are so appreciative of this generous gift from Wallace and Margaret McCain as it will allow us to give patients the best chance possible to fight this deadly disease. We will be able to do biopsies on-site and provide patients with information about their cancer and treatment options more quickly. And, we will be able to accelerate research into more targeted treatments, or 'personalized' medicine. In addition, we will be able to create a valuable tissue resource that will help researchers better understand the disease." Dr. Moore will serve as director of The Wallace McCain Centre for pancreatic cancer.

Paul Alofs, President and CEO of The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation, commented, "Amazing things are happening at The Princess Margaret, and it's because of people like Wallace and Margaret McCain. We are so thankful to Wallace and Margaret McCain for their generosity and for partnering with us to make a serious difference in the lives of those living with pancreatic cancer. They are not only affecting individual lives but those of entire families whose loved ones have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer."

Picture of McCain Family 


The $5 million gift from Wallace and Margaret McCain will transform treatment for patients of pancreatic cancer, the fourth-leading cause of cancer death in both men and women. More details on The Wallace McCain Centre for pancreatic cancer will be announced at a later date.

About The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation

The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation at University Health Network raises funds for breakthrough research, exemplary teaching and compassionate care at Princess Margaret Hospital and its research arm, the Ontario Cancer Institute, which includes The Campbell Family Cancer Research Institute and The Campbell Family Breast Cancer Research Institute. More information about the Foundation can be found at www.thepmcf.ca.

About Princess Margaret Hospital

Princess Margaret Hospital and its research arm, the Ontario Cancer Institute, which now includes The Campbell Family Cancer Research Institute and The Campbell Family Breast Cancer Research Institute, have achieved an international reputation as one of the top 5 cancer research centres in the world. Princess Margaret Hospital is a member of University Health Network, which also includes Toronto General Hospital and Toronto Western Hospital. All three are research hospitals affiliated with the University of Toronto.

Media Contact

Phone: 416 340 4636
Email: UHN.News@uhn.ca

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