I wrote a piece for our Campbell Family Institute website dated January 9th, 2009 which deserves updating (See original document by clicking here). The original piece was written at the height of much of the uncertainty and stress generated around the economic decline caused, in part, by the financial services meltdown. The original call to action was a hopeful attempt (and being hopeful was difficult in January of 2009!) at generating interest and support for the cancer research community in Canada. The Campbell Family have very generously supported the outstanding cancer research institute at Princess Margaret which bears the family name. The call to action was based on the excellence of discovery science related to conquering cancer being done in centres across Canada plus a plea to bring “massive resources against the limited objective” of conquering cancer with a “made in Canada” solution.

On Sunday March 21st, the US Congress finally approved the new health care plan many are calling “Obamacare”. The recognition of the importance of new models of health care funding and delivery is evident from the front page stories around the world. This is good news for the US and the citizens not covered by health care insurance or with “pre-exsisting conditions”, etc. To a degree, it is also a call to action for the US government and health care industry. Cancer is a leading cause of death in the US and one of the most expensive diseases to treat as well. This legislation and focus on health care in the US brings me back to my initial “call to action” for Canada.

Canada can be world leaders in cancer reseach and clinical innovation to treat this disease. Canada already has established itself in the world of cancer research. Now we need a similar “call to action” from voters, employers, governments and the scientific community to “focus and conquer cancer”. The basic advice of any strategist with a winning plan calls for “massive resources against limited objectives”. Canada is a small country but has incredible basic discovery scientists working in the cancer fields of discovery, technology, medicine and new drug development. I hope some “critical mass” from opinion leaders can start to form around the idea that Canada can be a world beater in cancer research.

Vision, focus, aspiration, tenacity and hard work got the health care plan through the Senate and congress in the US. Canada can benefit from the same kind of vision, focus, aspiration and hard work in a common goal……the common goal that “Canada Can Conquer Cancer”.