TORONTO, ON –
New research grants announced today by the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) are bringing together the research community and the labour movement to drive risk reduction and cancer prevention efforts that could save and improve the lives of workers in Canada. The announcement was made in partnership with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research-Institute of Cancer Research (CIHR-ICR) and 14 workers’ compensation boards and labour unions from across the country.
The grants program – called the CCS Workplace Cancer Research Grants: Preventing Occupational Cancers – is funding 7 promising research projects that aim to lower the chances of people getting cancer due to various factors related to their jobs. By working with organizations that represent people directly affected by workplace cancers, this program will bring a much-needed focus to understanding workplace cancers, and ultimately help educate employees and employers on how to prevent them.
Workplaces can pose a significant risk to health through repeated exposure to carcinogens and other risks, including asbestos, solar UV, diesel exhaust, crystalline silica, radon and shift work. Each year, an estimated 10,000 workers in Canada are diagnosed with occupation-related cancers. All of these cancer cases could have been prevented.
In 2021, recognizing that workplace cancer research receives less than 1% of cancer research funding in Canada, CCS collaborated with partners in health care, business, industry and labour unions to establish the Workplace Cancer Research Fund to prevent cancer cases among workers.
“With about 27 people in Canada per day being diagnosed with workplace-related cancer, we must invest in more research that can prevent these cancers and save their lives,” says Dr Stuart Edmonds, Executive Vice President, Mission, Research and Advocacy at CCS. “This unique grants program is addressing a critical funding gap and uniting the research and labour communities to transform the future of occupational cancers so more people can live longer, healthier lives.”
Thanks to the research fund, as well as matching funding from CIHR-ICR, 7 promising and innovative projects have been selected for a total investment of $1.38 million. Among them are projects that aim to reduce carcinogen exposure for the more than 100,000 dental workers in Canada, prevent cancer for the nearly 1 million people who are exposed to diesel engine exhaust at work in the country and understand how gut bacteria and changes may cause cancer in the 1.8 million night-shift workers here in Canada.
“Understanding the science behind workplace-related cancers is key to developing robust and equitable cancer prevention guidelines for the diverse workforce in Canada. CIHR-ICR is thrilled to be co-investing in this important initiative that aims to support cancer prevention research and a future without workplace-related cancers”, says Dr Fei-Fei Liu, Scientific Director of CIHR-ICR.
For Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, the grants will not only increase what we know about occupational cancers, but they will advance how we can prevent these cancers to reduce cases among Canada’s workforce.
“No worker should be exposed to carcinogens at work or get cancer because of it", she says. "Workers are counting on this research to improve our understanding of how to eliminate the risks of workplace cancers, so we can live in a world where work is truly safe, and where no one suffers as a result of doing their job.”
This partnership between CCS, CIHR-ICR and the workers’ compensation boards and labour unions in Canada is an important investment that will bring much-needed focus to workplace cancers and how to prevent them. Together, we can improve health and save lives.
To learn more about the CCS Workplace Cancer Research Grants and the funded projects, visit cancer.ca.
Our current partners:
• Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions
• Canadian Labour Congress
• Canadian Union of Public Employees
• International Union of Operating Engineers
• Labourers International Union of North America
• National Union of Public and General Employees
• NL Teachers Association
• UNIFOR
• Public Service Alliance of Canada
• United Food and Commercial Workers Union
• United Steelworkers District 6
• Workplace Safety and Insurance Board
• WorkSafe BC
• WorkSafe Saskatchewan
-XX-
About the Canadian Cancer Society
The Canadian Cancer Society works tirelessly to save and improve lives. We raise funds to fuel the brightest minds in cancer research. We provide a compassionate support system for all those affected by cancer, across Canada and for all types of cancer. Together with patients, supporters, donors and volunteers, we work to create a healthier future for everyone. Because to take on cancer, it takes all of us. It takes a society.
Help us make a difference. Call 1-888-939-3333 or visit cancer.ca today.
About the CIHR Institute of Cancer Research (CIHR-ICR)
The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) funds cancer research in Canada based on internationally accepted standards of excellence, which bear on preventing and treating cancer, and improving the health and quality of life of cancer patients. CIHR is one of the leading cancer research funders in Canada.
For more information, please contact:
Rogelio Velez
Research Communications Specialist
Canadian Cancer Society
403-606-829
rogelio.velez@cancer.ca