History of the Group

Rapid expansion of the clinical trials programme took place in the mid-1970s and, as a result, the NCIC carried out a formal Site Review in 1977. Overall the report was favourable and continued funding was recommended. It was decided that the Programme was to be invested in a distinct Clinical Trials Group with its own Director and budget. Because Dr. Miller chose to maintain his commitment to the Epidemiology Unit, a search committee was struck to hire a half-time Group Director. Dr. J.L. Pater accepted the position in 1980 and the Group office was moved to Queen's University at Kingston.

The Group office, which comprises both operations and statistics/data management functions, was initially located on Okill Street. Increasing space requirements necessitated a second move in 1983 to the 82-84 Barrie Street; in 1994, 18 Barrie Street was established as a second site. A third location became necessary in 1999.

In 2001, Dr. Elizabeth Eisenhauer donated $3.8 million dollars to Queen's University in memory of her mother Edith, who died of breast cancer in 1970. Dr. Eisenhauer's gift included $2.5 million for the establishment of the Edith Eisenhauer Chair in Clinical Cancer Research and $1.3 million toward the construction of the Queen's Cancer Research Institute.

The terms of the Edith Eisenhauer Chair stated that the individual appointed as Chair will also hold the position of Director, NCIC Clinical Trials Group. Dr. Pater is the first holder of the Edith Eisenhauer Chair at Queen's University.

The concept of the Queen's Cancer Research Institute evolved in 2001. The Cancer Research Institute provides a home for three cancer research groups at Queen's - the Queen's Cancer Research Laboratories, the NCIC Clinical Trials Group and the Radiation Oncology Research Unit. A new building to house the institute is currently under construction. The NCIC CTG is scheduled to move all of it's operations to this new building on Queen's University campus in early 2003.