Who We Are
About the Beat Cancer Coalition
A multi-stakeholder coalition working to ensure equitable access to biomarker testing for all Canadian cancer patients.
The BEAT Cancer Coalition was established in 2020 by a Canadian multi-stakeholder group and is now led by Colorectal Cancer Canada, a recognized leader in advocacy, patient engagement, and policy. The Coalition’s mission is to ensure all cancer patients in Canada have timely and equitable access to biomarker testing, so they can receive the right test at the right time.
Our vision is a future where all Canadian cancer patients, regardless of where they live, have access to timely and appropriate biomarker testing to receive the therapy best suited to them — giving them the greatest chance of treatment success and the opportunity to live their best life.
The Coalition collaborates across the healthcare system to advance evidence-based frameworks, strategies, and processes that support equitable and timely access to biomarker testing. Our efforts focus on three key pillars: fostering collaboration, promoting standardization, and supporting education and awareness initiatives.
By combining these approaches, the Coalition aims to remove barriers that prevent patients from benefiting from precision medicine, including delays in testing, inconsistent availability, and disparities in rural and remote communities.
Through national dialogue, research-informed strategies, and ongoing advocacy, the Coalition is working to create a healthcare system where every cancer patient in Canada has timely and equitable access to the tools and information needed to make informed, life-saving treatment decisions.
“All Canadian oncology patients, regardless of where they live, should receive timely and appropriate advanced molecular testing in order to receive the optimal therapy for them, giving them the greatest chance of treatment success.”
— Beat Cancer Coalition
How We Work: Advancing Equitable Access
- Foster collaboration between healthcare providers, patient groups, payers, and researchers
- Promote dialogue and knowledge sharing to support consistent biomarker testing practices and data interpretation for clinical decision-making
- Encourage the development and adoption of evidence-based frameworks to improve access to biomarker testing
- Highlight local leadership and successful initiatives from hospitals and community organizations
- Support the identification and integration of promising approaches from across Canada and internationally
- Build a growing network of partners to strengthen collaboration, advocacy, and awareness
Funding Acknowledgements
