The Joe Doupe Young Investigator award is given to a health scientist that demonstrates excellence in research training and has accomplished a significant and innovative study in the initial stages of their independent academic appointment.

Chimeric Antigen Receptor modified T cells (CAR-Ts) are a powerful new tool for treating cancer. Because CAR-T therapy is very personalized (requiring genetic engineering of the patient’s own cells), there is considerable infrastructure and expertise required to manufacture and deliver this treatment safely and successfully.

Currently, the pharmaceutical model for centralized manufacturing of CAR-T cells is not sustainable in Canada and has limited access to this potentially life-saving treatment. Our team has developed a program for domestic biomanufacturing of CAR-T cells, working to build a pan-Canadian network for manufacturing and clinical access to Canadian CAR-T clinical trials. This is the story of how we started, how we built this platform, and how Canadians are benefitting from it.