$50M Gift Launches World’s Largest Early Cancer Detection Program at Princess Margaret

We’re proud to announce a $50-million donation to the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation to establish the Peter Gilgan Centre for Early Cancer Detection Research—set to become the largest program of its kind in the world.

Cancer remains Canada’s leading cause of death, and more than half of all cancers are diagnosed late, when treatments are less effective and the toll on patients and families is greatest. The new centre aims to flip that reality by detecting cancer earlier, when it’s most curable.

“We’re in an unprecedented time where healthcare progress is at risk due to research funding cuts,” said Dr. Miyo Yamashita, President and CEO of The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. “Generosity of this magnitude is transformative.”

Peter Gilgan said the donation was driven by urgency and impact. “Now is the time to invest in Canada’s capacity for world-class research,” he said. “This centre will catalyze better outcomes for patients here and around the world.”

The new program will focus on three major pillars:
• Understanding how cancer begins, uncovering the earliest biological signs of the disease.
• Developing cutting-edge technologies to detect cancer sooner and measure risk in newly diagnosed or high-risk individuals.
• Translating discoveries into clinical practice, including building the world’s most ambitious Molecular Residual Disease program to spot the earliest signs of cancer returning after treatment.

Dr. Keith Stewart, Director of the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, said the investment will “close critical gaps in cancer care” and accelerate innovations that could dramatically improve survival.

This gift aims to usher in a future where far more cancers are caught early—and far more patients are cured.