The Roderick Spence Glioblastoma Research Fund

Roderick (Rod) Spence's life changed in December 2012 when, at 43, he learned that he had a brain tumour (glioblastoma). Despite being told the mean survival rate for his cancer was 15 months, Rod – with the Tom Baker Cancer Centre team behind him – lived an impressive seven years before succumbing to his illness.

Glioblastoma is an aggressive cancer that begins in the brain. Despite more than 3000 treatment-focused clinical trials, overall survival for this devastating disease is still measured in weeks-to-months. Rod was passionate about research to help future patients fight this disease and, ultimately, find a cure.

Understanding and overcoming therapeutic resistance is an initiative through UCalgary's Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute created to move the needle on lasting clinical responses for patients with glioblastoma. Support through The Roderick Spence Glioblastoma Research Fund will help researchers characterize this disease at a molecular level in order to learn how these cancers evade treatment. A better understanding of these processes may help identify new strategies for improving treatment response and decreasing resistance and recurrence of this cruel disease.

Rod's family invite you to support The Roderick Spence Glioblastoma Research Fund. In Rod's words: "let's get it done."

If you have any questions about this initiative, please contact the Cumming School of Medicine at fdmed@ucalgary.ca

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The Roderick Spence Glioblastoma Research Fund

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