A rich history of cancer research pioneers and groundbreaking discoveries

Foundation

The Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, originally the McGill Cancer Centre (MCC), was founded in 1978 following the bequest from Sir Mortimer B. Davis. Its mandate was, and still remains: to serve as a center for revolutionary cancer research in the Faculty of Medicine, fostering a dynamic and interdisciplinary approach to cancer research.

Dr. Phil Gold: our inaugural director

McGill University’s tradition of research into the basic nature of cancer extends back to 1965, when Dr. Phil Gold and his colleagues from the Faculty of Medicine discovered the carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA). Today, CEA is the most frequently used antigen for diagnosing cancer. Dr. Gold was a pioneering cancer researcher and the Cancer Centre’s first Director.

Recognition by the University senate

The success and excellence of the Centre and its researchers were first officially recognized by the University senate in 1988. The senate supported the expansion of the Centre’s research efforts and appointed an academic Chair for its then Director, Dr. Clifford P. Stanners. Under the esteemed 12-year administration of Dr. Stanners, research conducted at the Centre was largely focused towards discovering vital information surrounding the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of cancer.

Research center designation

In 1993, further acknowledgment came by means of the continued core support and a “research center designation” by the Fonds pour la Formation et l'aide à la recherche du Québec (FCAR).

Building a superior research space

Dr. Michel L. Tremblay succeeded as Director in July 2000 with aspirations of building a superior research space and increasing the Centre’s staff. His mandate to oversee the necessary expansion of the Centre resulted in the doubling of both research space and staff over the next ten years. Multidisciplinary research approaches were integrated to ensure an accelerated rate of discovery of molecular targets that ultimately resulted in the production of new drugs against cancer.

Key support

In 2002, the Centre’s members joined the Molecular Oncology Group of the Royal Victoria Hospital, obtaining a new standing with the Fonds de Recherche en santé du Québec (FRSQ), as FRSQ research group. In addition, the Centre also received a consortium training grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to support its internationally recognized graduate and postdoctoral training in cancer research, further acknowledging the success of the Centre’s training programs.

Rosalind & Morris Goodman major donation

The Centre’s research efforts were greatly supported in 2008 thanks to a remarkable donation from Rosalind and Morris Goodman. The Goodman family’s generosity resulted in the Centre being renaming the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre in their honour. To this day, their support continues to uphold the Centre’s endeavour to make cancer a disease of the past.

Morag Park reappointed Director of the Centre

Morag Park, PhD, has been reappointed Director of the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre (GCRC). She first took on this role in 2013, and during her first term as director, was instrumental in enhancing the Centre’s reputation by securing funding and recruiting top young scientists from around the world.

The GCRC receives institute designation

The GCRC has served as a hub for cancer research within the McGill community. It has now taken the next step in its evolution, having received McGill Senate approval to become an Academic Institute in February 2020 and, in May 2021, officially becoming the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute.