October 2, 2025
MONCTON, N.B. – Cancer patients and families across New Brunswick and the Maritime provinces will soon benefit from faster diagnoses, more personalized treatments, and shorter wait times, thanks to a unique, $1.75-million funding partnership that is bringing two pieces of cutting-edge technology to the Atlantic Cancer Research Institute (ACRI).
This significant increase in genomic testing capacity represents more than just new equipment - it represents hope for patients and their families, both in urban and rural areas. Faster, more accurate diagnoses allow treatments to begin sooner, while personalized therapies improve the chances of success. This investment will directly enhance the lives of cancer patients, survivors, and their families by providing earlier answers, more precise care, and renewed hope.
The research team at the nationally recognized cancer genomics and precision medicine centre celebrated the partnership at their Moncton location, with representatives of each of the funders in attendance, including those from Fondation CHU Dumont, the Government of New Brunswick, ResearchNB and the Terry Fox Research Institute.
“This funding made available to purchase this equipment was made possible thanks to an initial, transformative million-dollar gift from an anonymous donor, whose bold vision is dedicated to advancing cancer research for the benefit of all New Brunswickers,” said Michael Cantwell of the CHU Dumont Fondation. “Today’s announcement shows how philanthropy, along with organizations – public and private – can work together for the benefit of all of the people in this province”.
Researchers at ACRI will now have access to the Illumina NovaSeq X Plus and the Illumina NextSeq 2000, two pieces of equipment that are faster than their predecessors, offer more accurate data generation at a lower cost, and are ideally suited to help advance the work of provincial researchers in the field of genomics.
“ACRI is a leader in the field of genomics research; therefore, upgrading our team’s access to sequencing technologies will deliver faster, more accurate results, support groundbreaking studies, and most importantly improve the lives of patients and their families,” said Stephen Lewis, Scientific Director at ACRI. “It will strengthen our ability to help patients with inherited health conditions through rapid and accurate sequencing of their genetic information.”
The Government of New Brunswick provided $400,000 through ResearchNB in support of the initiative.
The new equipment will support the genomics boom in academia, federal and provincial agencies as well as the private sector, including universities across Atlantic Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Environment Canada, Canadian Food Inspection Agency as well as various New Brunswick bio-industries. In addition, it will support the deployment of clinical trials in New Brunswick by providing genomics capabilities that are in demand by pharmaceutical companies.
“This state-of-the-art equipment is a game changer for ACRI and for New Brunswicker’s seeking medical treatment,” said Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Training Jean-Claude D’Amours. “It will also build capacity in our research ecosystem and increase ACRI's chances to participate in large-scale national genomic projects that can drive innovation in healthcare, personalized medicine and population health.”
ACRI is a designated sequencing centre for Pan-Canadian initiatives such as the Terry Fox Research Institute’s Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network. To continue advancing precision oncology for the benefit of cancer patients, the centre needed to transition to the latest cutting-edge technology, a goal now made possible through this new equipment. To support the ACRI's genomic sequencing efforts, the network awarded $350,000 toward the initiative.
“The Atlantic Cancer Research Institute is at the forefront of sequencing technology, driving breakthroughs that are transforming care for patients with cancer and other diseases,” said Dr. Rodney Ouellette, Senior Researcher, Founder of ACRI, and Lead Investigator with the Terry Fox Research Institute. “With the exceptional talent we have here in New Brunswick, we play a vital role in advancing precision medicine—discovering unique biomarkers and developing more targeted therapies that bring real hope for improved patient outcomes.”
ACRI will be allocating an additional $145,000 per year to its next-generation sequencing platform to support the operation of these two new pieces of equipment.
“Investing in this level of technology transforms our ability to provide care,” said Dr. France Desrosiers, President and CEO of the Vitalité Health Network. “It means faster answers for families, better care for patients, and greater chances of survival. It also positions our healthcare teams as leaders in genomic medicine, right here in Atlantic Canada.”
Both pieces are now on-site in Moncton at the NB Centre for Precision Medicine and are expected to be up and running in the next month.
“Research is at the foundation of a thriving economy in New Brunswick,” said Candice Pollack, CEO, ResearchNB. “It leads to new ideas, products, and projects that make our businesses more productive, our healthcare system more innovative, and our environment more resilient. Investments like these are helping to power N.B.’s research ecosystem forward and position our province as a national leader. At ResearchNB, we’re proud to play a key role as a funder, connector, and champion for research that drives meaningful impact for the benefit of all Atlantic Canadians.”
For more information, visit https://atlanticcancer.ca.
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Erin McPhee
Global Public Affairs
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