McMaster researcher among seven across Canada awarded PCFC grants

Prostate Cancer Foundation Canada (PCFC) announces a combined $320,000 in new grants awarded to a McMaster University cancer researcher and six others across Canada.

Dr. Amr Ali was the postdoctoral fellow at McMaster University that received a grant of $60,000 for his research project. His project explores if an existing diabetes medication can enhance prostate cancer treatments and overcome drug resistance, potentially creating new options for men with advanced disease.

The 2026 Grant-in-Aid competition brought in 26 applications from across Canada, including master’s-level researchers, PhD candidates and postdoctoral fellows.

PCFC says the seven successful applicants represent research institutions in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec.

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These latest awards also bring the foundation’s total research awards and investments across the country over the past year to $659,000, the most in PCFC’s history.

“Investing in research is one of the most important ways we can change the future of prostate cancer in Canada,” said Mark Mahl, executive director of PCFC.

“This year is particularly exciting because we received more applications from across Canada than ever before and are recognizing our most geographically diverse group of Grant-in-Aid recipients to date.”

“One of the things that makes these investments especially meaningful is that they are made possible by Canadians who believe in the importance of prostate cancer research,” Mahl says.

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