CCE is a multidisciplinary applied research unit focused on research addressing the aetiology of cancer and research addressing health-services related to cancer care.

The Division has a number of active international, national, provincial and local research programs. CCE Principal Investigators (PIs) include clinicians (medical, radiation, and surgical oncologists and palliative care physicians) and scientists (epidemiologists, biostatisticians, a cognitive psychologist, health economists, programmers and others) collaborate internally, locally at Queen's, nationally and internationally on a wide variety of research projects. Together with students and staff, the research project generally fall into the two streams noted above.

The general objective of research undertaken by PIs involved with health services research is to evaluate elements of access to care, quality of care, system efficiencies and governance, and in so doing, improve cancer outcomes by increasing the attainment of what is already potentially achievable in cancer control.

The general objective of the PIs involved in population studies is to quantify cancer risks associated with environmental exposures, and the interaction of these factors with genetic factors, with an ultimate goal of primary cancer prevention.

These research goals are integral to the unit's five-year strategic plan, which anticipates enhanced research, knowledge translation and capacity building activities.