About Us

Established in 2006, the McMaster Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute (SCC-RI) represents a unique research facility in Canada. The Institute's vision and mandate is to explore the underlying cellular and molecular origins that initiate human cancer by employing human stem cells and tissue regeneration.

The Institute houses impressive shared facilities designed to help mitigate the high cost of human stem cell research that has made entry and sustainability of the field prohibitive for investigators worldwide. The Institute is home to Scientific Director and Senior Scientist, Dr. Mick Bhatia, Dr. Brad Doble, Dr. Sheila Singh, Dr. Jon Draper, and Dr. Kristin Hope.

We believe our team of scientists are on the cutting edge of human stem cell research. With expertise in epigenetics, signaling pathways, cancer stem cells, reprogramming and pluripotent stem cells, we have integrated a distinct collective of experience to produce ground-breaking research and novel approaches to fill in the gaps of our understanding human cancer and tissue regenerative processes in the human. In addition, the SCC-RI has made astounding progress in complementary efforts of other stem cell programs and centers in Canada and around the world.

With its particular focus in human stem cell research, the SCC-RI provides graduate students and postdoctoral fellows an unprecedented opportunity to pursue this specialized human stem cells training in Canada. The Institute also continues to provide an open forum to educate the public about this important research and work with sectors developing ethical guidelines and policy for therapeutic applications to assure Canadians will receive the best healthcare possible.

McMaster's tremendous commitment to this initiative has afforded us the opportunity to play an international role in the future direction of human stem cell research involving regenerative medicine and human cancer. The SCC-RI would not exist without the vision of both Dr. John Kelton, the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Mr. Michael DeGroote and I would like to thank them for their continued support along with individuals, such as David Braley and others, and organizations that contribute to the creation of this world-class research institution.

Mick Bhatia
Scientific Director and Senior Scientist