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Physical Activity & Cancer (PAC) Lab

Making exercise part of standard care.

The PAC Lab is dedicated to studying physical activity and exercise in people living with or affected by a cancer diagnosis. Our work looks at how exercise can support people before treatment, during treatment, through recovery and into long term survivorship.

Exercise across the cancer continuum

The PAC Lab studies how exercise can help people prepare for treatment, cope with treatment, recover and live well afterward.

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Our direction is simple.

The PAC Lab's research is built around a clear vision for cancer care and a practical mission for how exercise can be used within it.

OUR VISION

Make physical activity and exercise a part of cancer care.
Exercise should not sit outside the care pathway. The long term goal is for it to be considered alongside other forms of supportive cancer care.

OUR MISSION

Optimize the use of physical activity and exercise in cancer management and recovery.
PAC Lab studies help determine where exercise can have the greatest impact, how programs should be delivered, and how more people can access them.

What we study

PAC Lab research spans the entire cancer continuum, examining the role of exercise at multiple stages of the cancer journey while also investigating how evidence-based exercise programs can be effectively implemented, adopted, sustained, and scaled within real-world cancer care settings.

PREPARE FOR TREATMENT

Study how exercise and prehabilitation can help people prepare for surgery and other cancer treatments.

RECOVER FROM TREATMENT

Explore rehabilitation approaches that support physical function, wellbeing and recovery after treatment.

COPE WITH TREATMENT

Examine how physical activity may help people better cope with and respond to treatment and treatment related side effects.

LIVE WELL BEYOND CANCER

Study the role of physical activity in long term survivorship, including health, function and progression free survival.

FROM RESEARCH TO ROUTINE CARE

Evidence matters. So does access.

The PAC Lab does more than study whether exercise can help. Its research also considers how exercise programs can be implemented across clinical and community settings and maintained over time.

​Evidence based interventions

Programs are designed around research on exercise and cancer care.

Adoption across the cancer continuum

The lab studies how exercise can fit into different stages of care.

Community sustainability

Research also looks at how exercise support can continue beyond a single study.

WHO WE ARE

A team focused on improving the lives of people affected by cancer.

The PAC Lab brings together people with expertise in kinesiology, exercise science, oncology, behavioural medicine, implementation science and health research. The team develops and evaluates evidence based physical activity interventions with the goal of improving health outcomes for people living with or affected by cancer.

Exercise Science

Exercise Oncology

Oncology

Implementation Science

Behavioral Medicine

Community Partnerships

Clinical Research

Where would you like to go next? 

Choose the path that best matches why you are visiting the PAC Lab.

I'm a Patient / Survivor

Learn about exercise support, research studies, programs and participant resources.

Learn about referrals, exercise programs and ways to connect patients with the PAC Lab. 

I'm a Heathcare Professional

The work we do is powered by grant funding and the generous support of volunteers and donors.

5th Floor Dickson Building QEII Health Sciences Centre

Halifax, Nova Scotia

902-473-2035

The PAC Lab is housed within the Department of Medicine in partnership with Dr. Chris Blanchard

You can support our work by:

Advocating for exercise as standard of care, talking to your healthcare providers about exercise, and/or by referring people to our programs.

Making a financial donation through our QEII Foundation donation portal 

©2026 by Physical Activity and Cancer Lab, housed within the Department of Medicine. Proudly created with Wix.com

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