TD Bank Group Donates $100,000
TD Bank Group donates $100K to the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation, revolutionizing access to Clinical Trials for Local Cancer Patients using Artificial Intelligence.
Windsor, ON TD Bank Group (TD) is donating $100,000 to fund the addition of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to the Clinical Trials Navigator (CTN), which is made possible by the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation, alongside Clinical Research Director, Dr. Caroline Hamm of WE-Spark Health Institute’s Cancer Program.
AI will dramatically increase access to clinical trials for cancer patients in our region.
With this investment, over 30 patients per week could be assessed for eligibility into clinical trials, compared to just four patients per week reviewed with current technology. Time is also of the essence for clinical trials; currently, 1/3 of cancer patients with access to trials are too late in their cancer journey, making them ineligible. Assessing more patients sooner will get more local patients into these clinical trials, which in turn means treatments can be approved and made available faster.
“Navigating clinical trials is time consuming for patients and health care professionals. The Clinical Trials Navigator service, a locally grown solution, has been effective in improving access for people undergoing cancer treatment” explains Dr. Caroline Hamm. “What many don’t realize is that it is still an extremely time consuming process. This commitment from TD will significantly improve access to clinical trials by using artificial intelligence to decrease the time spent finding trials and most importantly, it will save lives.”
In fact, in 2018, only 8% of cancer patients in Ontario were recruited to clinical trials, and in community hospitals like Windsor Regional Hospital that number drops to fewer than 2%. (Ontario Institute for Cancer Research: oicr.on.ca).
“Through the TD Ready Commitment, TD’s corporate citizenship platform, we are committed to helping increase investment in research, technology, and innovative health care solutions that improve access to care for all,” says Robert Rumfeldt, District Vice President, TD Commercial Bank. “We are proud to provide this funding to the Windsor Cancer Centre for the innovative Clinical Trial Navigator (CTN) program that Dr Caroline Hamm and team are leading that will help make a difference in the lives of people right here in our local community.”
The AI funded by TD would bring equitable access to clinical trials in smaller centres such as the Windsor Regional Cancer Centre. The second phase is slated to begin in Summer 2022 and will serve patients across Essex, Kent, and Lambton counties.
About the TD Ready Commitment
Change is a fact of life. It can renew our perspective of the world or how we act within it. While change helps some of us get ahead, it can leave others behind. To help create the conditions so everyone has the chance to succeed in a changing world, TD is targeting C$1 billion by 2030 towards community giving in four areas that support change, nurture progress and contribute to making the world a better, more inclusive place. That is the TD Ready Commitment. Learn more at td.com/readycommitment.
About the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation
The Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation is driven by a promise to serve our cancer community, and serves as the official fundraising arm for the Windsor Regional Cancer Centre, fulfilling requests of the Windsor Regional Cancer Program. Requests include the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment, patient amenities, and initiatives, such as the Patient Assistance Fund, and our Seeds4Hope program.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation
Brandy Coulsey, Marketing and Communications Manager
519-254-5577 xt. 58559
bcoulsey@windsorcancerfoundation.org
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