The Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research (CFIBCR) at The Princess Margaret was created in 2004 thanks to a $25 million pledge from The Weekend to End Breast Cancer and a generous $25 million gift from the Campbell family.

CFIBCR is co-led by Drs. Tak Mak and Pam Ohashi, two world-leading cancer researchers. In 1983, Dr. Mak was the first to clone the T-cell receptor, known as the ‘Holy Grail’ of immunology. Dr. Ohashi and her lab have made strong progress in identifying key molecules and pathways that control the immune response for the purpose of developing innovative new therapies for cancer patients. In 2009 her team determined that combining interleukin-7 with a viral vaccine boosted immunity to tumours.

Dr. Tak Mak holds the Weekend to End Breast Cancer Chair in Breast Cancer Research and Dr. Ohashi has a Canada Research Chair in Autoimmunity and Tumour Immunity.

Together with an elite team of researchers, scientists, clinicians and staff, they are focused on one common goal—to eliminate breast cancer. The team is multidisciplinary and leading research in multiple areas including new drug development, new surgical techniques, and new approaches to radiation therapy that are more effective with fewer side effects.

View a video interview with Dr. Tak Mak
View a video interview with Dr. Pam Ohashi
View profiles of the principal investigators at CFIBCR and a description of their work 

View our Report on Women’s Cancers