Cancer Care Manitoba Foundation

"We want to identify the mutated genes that cause cancer, and see if we can design therapies that specifically exploit those mutated genes. Our research will support novel drug therapies and targets," he explains. "If cancer is represented by Diet Coke, we're looking for the Mentos. We're looking for something that can cause an explosion and kill the cancer." Dr. McManus's team has identified defects in numerous genes, including RAD54B, that cause abnormal chromosome numbers. These abnormalities are known to drive tumour development. With this discovery, they are now working to identify and validate a drug that can selectively kill RAD54B- defective colorectal cancer cells. CancerCare Manitoba Foundation's operating grants and studentships support two PhD students, four full-time masters students, an undergrad research assistant, and two technicians in Dr. McManus's lab. "Our research is hugely impacted and accelerated by the studentships funded through the Foundation. We wouldn't be anywhere near where we are right now without them," says Dr. McManus. "We need to train the next generation of researchers. It's all about paying it forward." Laura Thompson is one of those researchers. The fourth-year PhD student has been recognized for her work in identifying the genes responsible for chromosome stability. Her position is paid for via a two-year award supplied by CancerCare Manitoba Foundation and Research Manitoba. The resources available at CancerCare Manitoba, which include patient samples from the tumour bank, have greatly assisted Thompson in her groundbreaking research. "If we understand how chromosome instability occurs, we can better treat these cancers," she says. "At CancerCare Manitoba I've had a lot of opportunities I might otherwise not have had. I've been able to perform excellent research in this lab." Dr. McManus's team of research students has received national and international attention for their work, presenting their findings worldwide and publishing in peer-reviewed journals. "Grad students are very important for driving the research forward in the lab. We perform the experiments, collect the data, and analyze the data," says Thompson. "Funding is critical. We need funding for all of our grad students, and it's important to get funding from outside sources. The quality of the work we do wouldn't be possible without it." Thanks to your donations, CancerCare Manitoba continues to attract and retain young researchers like Thompson, who are our greatest hope in the fight against cancer. Together, we can—and are— making a difference. C O V E R S T O R Y C O N T ' D Meet CancerCare Manitoba Researcher Dr. Kirk McManus was born and raised in Winnipeg. He graduated from Fort Richmond Collegiate in 1991 and from the University of Manitoba in 1995 with an honours Bachelor of Science degree. In 1999 he completed his Masters of Science degree in human genetics. He then headed west for his PhD, graduating from the University of Alberta's Cross Cancer Institute in 2004. He undertook his five-year post-doctorate work at the University of British Columbia at the Michael Smith Laboratories. The Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology, now the Research Institute in Oncology and Hematology, recruited Kirk to come back to Winnipeg in 2009. A major attraction for Kirk to return home to Manitoba was the research start-up package available for his lab. This start-up package and his salary for the first two years were funded by CancerCare Manitoba Foundation. Since 2009 the Foundation has also provided operational grants and funding for Dr. McManus's research students. An interesting fact about Dr. McManus… he originally started studying genetics because he had aspirations of leading a Royal Canadian Mounted Police forensics lab. As he moved through his studies he realized the impact his work could have on medical science. Manitobans are very fortunate he is at CancerCare Manitoba as they are benefitting from his team's groundbreaking chromosomal instability cancer research. Kirk and his wife Jacki have two daughters, Kaylee (11) and Lily (8). He is an active member of the Whyte Ridge community. DR. KIRK McMANUS, PhD "It's all about paying it forward." 3

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