Dr. Peter Black will lead a broadened focus at the world-leading facility to strategically grow, expand and establish research on prostate, bladder and kidney cancers, respectively.
In July 2024, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute researcher Dr. Peter Black was appointed director of the Vancouver Prostate Centre (VPC) to lead the globally renowned centre for urologic cancers. In this capacity, Black will oversee the VPC’s research strategy and team of accomplished investigators and scientists, as well as develop and maintain partnerships with external research bodies.
“The VPC is one of the biggest and most successful prostate cancer research centres in the world, making this an immense opportunity to work with talented scientists, maintain our momentum and tackle new challenges,” states Black.
"A strength of the VPC is its translational focus, moving research from the lab into the clinical domain where it can directly impact patient care.”
Part of the University of British Columbia (UBC) Faculty of Medicine and VCHRI, the VPC is dedicated to the discovery, development and translation of cancer therapeutics. The VPC brings together over 25 scientists and clinicians; a team of more than 200 research and support staff; and 75,000 square feet of facilities and advanced technology for the discovery of new approaches to enhance urologic cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and patient care.
Black comes to the role with over 16 years of experience in urologic oncology at Vancouver General Hospital and UBC. A professor in the Department of Urologic Sciences at UBC, and a senior research scientist and former associate director of clinical research at the VPC, Black specializes in the treatment of urologic cancers, especially bladder and prostate cancer. He maintains a translational research program in urothelial — tissues lining part of the urinary system — carcinoma with a focus on the genomic analysis of responses to therapy, mechanisms of resistance to therapy and novel targeted therapies for bladder cancer.
Envisioning the future of the VPC
Black’s vision for the coming years is to broaden the VPC’s urologic sciences focus through the expansion of its bladder cancer program and the creation of a kidney cancer program.
“My goal for the first five years of this appointment is to establish the VPC as the premiere bladder cancer research centre in Canada,” states Black. “I also strive to build and elevate a kidney program at the VPC, beginning with hiring a translational researcher in kidney oncology.”
The VPC falls under the umbrella of the Department of Urologic Sciences at UBC, making this broadened focus an intuitive step in the VPC’s trajectory. Black will draw from his experience in both clinical practice and translational research to lead this transition.
Another priority area for Black is to deepen the VPC’s collegial and collaborative workplace culture, developing additional opportunities for social interaction and professional growth to enhance the graduate student experience.
“We will build on the VPC’s long-standing reputation of research excellence within a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion in all research design and activities.”
Within the next five to 10 years, Black will also continue to pursue opportunities to advance and support people, infrastructure, funding and space at the VPC.
“A great deal of our research is moving from the wet lab to the dry lab, as health research incorporates more digital tools, such as artificial intelligence computer algorithms and data analysis,” notes Black.
“The VPC will continue to foster a research environment that inspires, facilitates and supports scholarly work, upholding the highest standards of research integrity and excellence.”
Black’s appointment follows the outstanding leadership of Dr. Martin Gleave, who served as the VPC’s director from 2006 to 2024. Gleave’s tireless work and visionary contributions significantly enhanced patient care at the VPC, elevating the centre to its present status as one of the world’s most respected cancer facilities.
