Canadian Cancer Research Alliance

What Canadian Cancer Research Alliance does

The Canadian Cancer Research Alliance (CCRA) is a not-for-profit coordinating alliance of organizations that work strategically to coordinate and collaborate on most of the cancer research conducted in Canada. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, CCRA brings together over 40 member organizations including federal research funders (CIHR's Institute of Cancer Research), provincial cancer agencies, charitable organizations (Canadian Cancer Society, Terry Fox Research Institute, Alberta Cancer Foundation), and disease-specific groups. Since 2008, the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, steward of the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control, has provided secretariat and administrative support to CCRA from its Toronto office. CCRA is not a registered charity and cannot accept donations; its operating costs are effectively underwritten through its secretariat arrangement rather than through commercial revenue.

CCRA's core offerings consist of three programmatic lines. First, it operates the Canadian Cancer Research Survey (CCRS), an annual investment report capturing cancer research funding data from over 40 organizations covering 2005 to 2022, representing approximately 50% of overall Canadian cancer research investment ($526M tracked in 2022, $7.4B cumulatively over 2005-2019). This data is exposed through five interactive Tableau-based investment tools (Annual Snapshot, Funder Profile, Ranked Results, Time Trends, Mapped Results) and six specialized visualizations covering childhood/adolescent cancers, risk and prevention, translational research, survivorship, metastatic breast cancer, and palliative care. Second, CCRA organizes the biennial Canadian Cancer Research Conference (CCRC), which has run since 2011 and rotates across Canadian cities (Calgary 2025, Montréal 2027). Third, CCRA administers an awards program initiated in 2011, expanded in 2025 to include Indigenous-focused categories, alongside a Patient Involvement in Cancer Research Program (PIP). A portion of CCRS data is submitted annually to the International Cancer Research Partnership's global database.

CCRA's customer base is institutional rather than commercial. Its primary members are cancer research funders (government agencies, charities, foundations) who benefit from coordination, reduced duplication, and shared investment analytics. Secondary stakeholders include researchers, trainees, clinicians, decision-makers, and patient research advocates who participate in conferences, awards, and PIP. CCRA's value proposition centers on its unique position as the recognized national coordinating body, its longitudinal funding dataset, and its biennial convening function. Distribution occurs through the CCRA website (ccra-acrc.ca), LinkedIn, Bluesky, the biennial conference, and regular news updates. The organization has no patents, no AI/ML technology stack, no pricing model, and no product revenue.

Name

Canadian Cancer Research Alliance

Legal name

Canadian Cancer Research Alliance

Website

https://ccra-acrc.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Canadian Cancer Research Alliance (CCRA) is a Toronto-based non-profit coordinating alliance of over 40 Canadian cancer research funders. It publishes annual investment reports via interactive dashboards, organizes the biennial Canadian Cancer Research Conference, and administers awards and patient involvement programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Canadian Cancer Research Alliance (CCRA) is an alliance of organizations that coordinate and collaborate on cancer research conducted in Canada. Its core offerings include interactive Tableau-based data visualization dashboards (Annual Snapshot, Funder Profile, Ranked Results, Time Trends, Mapped Results and specialized visualizations), the annual Canadian Cancer Research Survey (CCRS) investment report, the biennial Canadian Cancer Research Conference (CCRC), the CCRA Awards Program, and the Patient Involvement in Cancer Research Program (PIP).

Product overview

The Canadian Cancer Research Alliance (CCRA) is a coordinating alliance of cancer research funding organizations, not a traditional product company. Its offerings consist of interactive Tableau-based data visualization dashboards and research publications. The core tools include five Investment Tools (Annual Snapshot, Funder Profile, Ranked Results, Time Trends, Mapped Results) enabling users to access and customize cancer research investment data, plus six Specialized Visualizations covering specific areas (childhood/adolescent cancers, cancer risk and prevention, early translational research, survivorship, metastatic breast cancer, palliative/end-of-life care). Supporting these are research reports including the annual Canadian Cancer Research Survey (CCRS) and special topic reports, the biennial Canadian Cancer Research Conference (CCRC), the CCRA Awards program, and the Patient Involvement in Cancer Research Program (PIP).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Snapshot Interactive dashboard providing quick access to key cancer research investment data from the annual report, targeted at cancer research funders, researchers and policymakers.
• Funder Profile Interactive dashboard allowing users to view and customize data from the investment report by specific funding organization.
• Ranked Results Interactive dashboard enabling users to view ranked cancer research investment data by various criteria.
• Time Trends Interactive dashboard showing trends in cancer research investment over time.
• Mapped Results Interactive dashboard displaying geographic distribution of cancer research investment across Canada.
• Canadian Cancer Research Survey (CCRS) Investment Report Annual comprehensive report describing trends in Canadian cancer research investment, capturing funding data from over 40 organizations covering years 2005 to 2022.
• Special Topic Reports Specialized investment reports covering specific cancer research areas including childhood/adolescent cancers, cancer risk and prevention, survivorship, palliative care, and translational research.
• Canadian Cancer Research Conference (CCRC) Biennial conference bringing together the Canadian cancer research community to share latest developments across the spectrum of cancer research and network across disciplines.
• CCRA Awards Program Biennial awards recognizing outstanding contributions of individuals who have had remarkable impact on cancer research and the cancer research community, including Exceptional Leadership, Outstanding Achievements, Distinguished Service, and Indigenous-focused awards.
• Patient Involvement in Cancer Research Program (PIP) Program integrated with the Canadian Cancer Research Conference providing patients, survivors, and caregivers opportunities to learn about cutting-edge cancer research and interact with researchers.

Quantifiable outcome

• $7.4 billion invested in cancer research from 2005 to 2019 across Canadian research organizations
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Indigenous Cancer Research Network (ICRN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025The CCRA Advisory Board welcomed the Indigenous Cancer Research Network (ICRN) as the CCRA's latest member in May 2025. ICRN will be represented by Marilee Nowgesic, CEO of the Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association (CINA).
• Bladder Cancer CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023New member organization added in October 2023, represented by Michelle Colero, Executive Director.
• Myeloma CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023New member organization added in October 2023, represented by Martine Elias, Executive Director.
• Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Since 2008, the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, steward of the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control (CSCC), provides secretariat and other supports to the CCRA to enable its members to regularly convene, network, and carry out its core activities. Staff from CPAC support the CCRA work from its Toronto office.
• International Cancer Research Partnership (ICRP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCRA is a long-standing member of the International Cancer Research Partnership (ICRP), a global network of cancer research funding organizations. A portion of the data from the Canadian Cancer Research Survey (CCRS) is submitted annually to ICRP's online database, which captures grants funded by over 100 organizations from across the world. The 2024 ICRP annual meeting 'Doing More Together' was held in Toronto, Canada.
• Alberta Cancer FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organization represented by Ms. Shelley Valaire, Vice President, Impact and Accountability.
• Terry Fox Research Institute (TFRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organization represented by Dr. Jim Woodgett, President & Scientific Director. Dr. Woodgett serves as CCRA Advisory Board Chair effective January 1, 2026.
• Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) - Institute of Cancer ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organization represented by Dr. Fei-Fei Liu, Scientific Director. CIHR is a key government funder of cancer research in Canada.
• Canadian Cancer Society (CCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organization represented by Dr. Judy Bray, Vice President, Research Partnerships.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC): EORTC is a Europe-based independent cancer research organization that coordinates clinical and translational research across multiple countries. Comparable coordinating/funding role to CCRA but operates across European member states rather than within a single national jurisdiction.
• NHMRC (National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia): NHMRC is the Australian government's primary health and medical research funding body, comparable to CIHR (a CCRA member) and to CCRA's role in coordinating cancer-relevant research investment nationally. Operates in a different geography but similar national-funder-coordination function.

Direct peers

• Stand Up To Cancer: Stand Up To Cancer is a US-based charitable funder that coordinates multi-institutional cancer research collaborations. Comparable as a coordinating cancer research funding entity, although operating in a different national context.
• Cancer Research UK: Cancer Research UK is the largest cancer research funder in the UK, coordinating research investment across a national network of researchers, institutes, and clinicians. Like CCRA, it operates a coordinating/funding role rather than running labs directly, and serves as the canonical convening body for cancer research in its country.
• Union for International Cancer Control (UICC): UICC is a global membership organization that convenes cancer societies, research funders, and patient groups to accelerate cancer control. Like CCRA, it operates as an alliance/coordinating body for cancer-focused organizations and runs convening and advocacy programs.
• American Association for Cancer Research (AACR): AACR is a professional association that advances cancer research through conferences, publications, and funding programs. Like CCRA, it convenes the research community, runs an awards program, and produces data-driven insights into the cancer research landscape.
• International Cancer Research Partnership (ICRP): ICRP is a global alliance of cancer research funding organizations of which CCRA is a long-standing member. Both are membership-based alliances that aggregate and standardize cancer research investment data across multiple funders, making ICRP the closest international counterpart.

Broad incumbents

• National Cancer Institute (NCI): NCI is the US federal government's principal agency for cancer research and training, analogous in mission to CCRA but operating at vastly larger scale as a direct funder and research operator. Comparable in coordinating national cancer research investment and setting research priorities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ccralliance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/canadian-cancer-research-alliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Canadian Cancer Research Alliance