Science and Research committee  Unfortunately, the grants program we had been receiving was eliminated in December 2018. There have therefore not been any programs until the launch of the Strategic Science Fund, under which we have, of course, submitted an application. We are awaiting the outcome because our current funding will come to an end in March 2023.

Science and Research committee  It would mean having to end our preclinical studies and our clinical trials.

Science and Research committee  This 2016 initiative in the United States was so successful that it's one of the reasons why immunotherapy…

Science and Research committee  Both the United States and Europe have expressed very bold visions with respect to what they wish to accomplish. I would state that our vision is also very highly lauded in that we're looking to, effectively, bring cures to Canadian patients. This is something that we are currently doing in terms of advancing CAR T-cell therapy right here in Canada, and taking a very Canadian approach in ensuring that all Canadians are able to access these types of therapies.

Science and Research committee  We can do so in many ways. The first would involve support for translational research in Canada. That's something that is simply not subsidized here. We subsidize the part of it that is related to biomanufacturing, and preclinical to clinical work. That enabled us to be remarkably successful.

Science and Research committee  There's an excellent opportunity for Canada to capitalize on its existing bone marrow transplantation centres. This is what we've done with the extension of our point-of-care manufacturing network, to roll out the manufacturing of expensive therapies, like CAR T cell, across the country.

Science and Research committee  To my knowledge, there is no connection to cancer detection. However, in terms of cancer prevention, I can tell you the following: A few months ago in the United States, clinical trials were held with people suffering from colorectal cancer. Before having surgery, this small group of 14 people received light therapy.

Science and Research committee  Thank you, Madam Chair. It's a pleasure to be back with the committee this evening. My name is Stéphanie Michaud. I'm joined by our scientific director, Dr. John Bell, an internationally recognized research scientist in the development of immunotherapies as cancer treatments. Together, we work closely with partners from multiple sectors, all aligned with our ambitious vision: to make all cancers curable diseases.

Science and Research committee  Yes, absolutely, Mr. Lauzon. Thank you for that question. The main impact would be that we would no longer be able to continue working on our projects, the clinical trials projects. We would no longer be able to fund new projects and we would no longer be able to attract others.

Science and Research committee  Certainly. Currently the amount of funding we've been able to attract as a result of our financial outlay—currently of approximately $30 million—is close to $96 million. The exact figure is $95.78 million. This is as a result of being able to connect all of the dots that are necessary in order to advance a preclinical asset all the way through to a clinical trial.

Science and Research committee  It would allow us to be able to continue to carry out our activities and not lose the momentum we have built up since being funded in 2015. We could continue to execute on life-saving clinical trials and deliver value for the private sector, the academic sector and patients across the country.

Science and Research committee  Thank you very much for the question, Madam Chair. The original investment made in BioCanRx in 2015 was for $25 million. As I had mentioned, we were allowed to apply for reduced funding and we received another $15 million in 2020. Currently, our spend is close to $30 million.

Science and Research committee  The $15 million of NCE funding that we currently hold runs until March 31, 2023. We have been allowed to operate as a network of centres of excellence until March 31, 2024, but this is self-funded. We are very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to apply to the strategic science fund.

Science and Research committee  We certainly would.

Science and Research committee  Certainly. With respect to the PMPRB regulations for the type of work we're currently carrying out, they are very much dedicated to early-stage clinical trials—phase one or phase one/two—at which point we wouldn't be approaching that territory of the PMPRB regulations. It's a long answer to say, in short, that it would not impact the clinical trials that we are bringing forward through the research.