The Gynecologic Cancer Initiative (GCI) was thrilled to host another immensely successful GCI Trainee Research Day on June 17th, 2024, at the Paetzold Health Education Centre at Vancouver General Hospital. Launched in 2020, this hybrid event aimed to highlight and celebrate the remarkable trainees conducting groundbreaking gynecologic cancer research in BC.
This year, the event drew over 100 attendees who were treated to 23 compelling oral trainee presentations and 13 informative poster presentations. Additionally, six distinguished guest speakers shared their diverse perspectives and significant contributions to the field of gynecologic cancer.
Inspiring Perspectives on Gyne Cancer Research & Knowledge Translation
To kick off this exciting day, we were delighted to be joined by Dr. Deborah Money, Professor and Head of UBC’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. A distinguished clinician-scientist and pivotal member of the GCI, Dr. Money leads groundbreaking initiatives in reproductive infectious disease and maternal health. Her opening remarks illuminated the critical intersection of research and clinical practice, setting a compelling tone for the day’s discussions.
In a compelling keynote address, GCI’s very own Dr. Aline Talhouk, Assistant Professor at UBC OBGYN and Director of Data Science and Bioinformatics at OVCARE, delivered an insightful presentation on her work in developing risk-based early detection and screening strategies for endometrial cancer. As one of the most prevalent yet overlooked gynecologic cancers, Dr. Talhouk addressed the critical need for increased awareness and research in this field. Her insights underscored the pivotal launch of the Uterine Health Research Lab in 2023, marking a significant step towards advancing our understanding and management of this disease. Dr. Aline’s Keynote Presentation “Spot On Strategies: Navigating Endometrial Cancer Screening with Precision” can be viewed here.
Trainees also had the opportunity to explore career paths to industry through an engaging panel discussion. Our esteemed panelists shared their personal journeys and provided valuable insights, addressing questions from the trainees. This diverse panel of professionals featured Dr. Arusha Oloumi, Senior Medical Science Liaison and Scientific Advisor at Bristol Myers Squibb, Dr. David Kroeger, Associate Director, Business Development at Zymeworks, and Dr. Finn Hamilton, Translational Bioinformatics Lead, Translational Oncology at Pfizer.
Wrapping up our exceptional lineup of speakers for Trainee Research Day, the GCI welcomed Golda Arthur, an esteemed journalist and the creator and showrunner of the acclaimed podcast, Overlooked: A Podcast About Ovarian Cancer. Golda, a cherished friend and source of inspiration to the GCI, embarked on creating Overlooked to share her mother’s journey with ovarian cancer. Through her podcast, Golda has emerged as a prominent advocate for ovarian cancer research, demonstrating the profound impact of storytelling. Golda Arthur’s “Media Savvy Session” at GCI Trainee Research Day highlighted the transformative power of personal narratives and underscored how a simple idea can catalyze meaningful change. Check it out here.
Showcasing the Next Generation of Gynecologic Cancer Researchers
GCI Trainee Research Day 2024 beautifully highlighted the diverse and impactful research efforts currently advancing gynecologic cancer studies in BC. From pioneering mouse models of ovarian cancer to improving cervical cancer screening in Tanzania, GCI trainees are driving significant contributions towards our mission of reducing the incidence, mortality, and suffering from gynecologic cancers worldwide.
In recognition of their outstanding work, seven trainee awards were presented during GCI Trainee Research Day.
Sofia Nicolls, a Master’s Student in the UBC WACH program under the supervision of Dr. Deborah Money, received the Best Prevention and Screening Presentation award for her work on “Incidence and Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus Infection in Women Living with HIV in British Columbia.”
Dr. Tina Gao, a UBC OBGYN Medical Resident supervised by Dr. Jessica McAlpine, was honored with the Best Health Equity Presentation award for her research titled “Assessing the essential parameters of race, ethnicity, and geography in endometrial cancer and their impact on treatment and outcomes in British Columbia.”
Dr. Natalie Bjurman, a UBC OBGYN Medical Resident under Dr. Harinder Brar, and Dr. Bianca Ribeiro De Souza, a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Dr. Michael Anglesio’s lab, both received the Best Diagnostic & Therapeutics Presentation awards for their presentations on ovarian cancer research.
Amanda Nitschke, a PhD candidate in Dr. Gillian Hanley’s lab, was recognized with the Best Survivorship & Quality of Life award for her impactful research contributions.
Almira Zhantuyakova, a Doctoral Student in the UBC WACH program working in the Huntsman Lab, won the People’s Choice: Best Poster Presentation award for her poster on “Assessing the Feasibility of Opportunistic Salpingectomy as an Ovarian Cancer Prevention Strategy in Kazakhstan: Uptake and Physician Attitudes.”
Additionally, in memory of Barbara Berthon, a dedicated advocate and accomplished designer who contributed significantly to healthcare architecture in British Columbia, the GCI presented two prestigious ovarian cancer research awards. Barbara, who passed away in 2015 after a courageous battle with ovarian cancer, continues to be honored for her enduring impact on healthcare design and research advocacy.
The Barbara Berthon Ovarian Cancer Publication Prize was awarded to Alex Lukey and Ramlogan Sowamber for their outstanding paper, “Ovarian Cancer: From Precursor Lesion Identification to Population-Based Prevention Programs,” published in Current Oncology in December 2023.
Alex Lukey was also honored with the Barbara Berthon Ovarian Cancer Presentation Award for her presentation titled “Exploring acceptability of risk-reducing salpingectomy for people at high lifetime risk of ovarian cancer: The patient perspective.”
Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders
The GCI proudly supports an exceptional group of dedicated, talented trainees whose commitment to gynecologic cancer research fills us with hope for the future.
Since the inception of the GCI Trainee Group last year, these trainees have not only demonstrated unwavering dedication to their research but also strived to create an engaging experience for their peers. Led by the Trainee Research Day Committee co-Chairs Sabine Halabis and Alex Lukey under the guidance of Dr. Gillian Hanley and Dr. Michelle Woo, with invaluable support from fellow trainee volunteers, this year’s event was made possible through the CIHR Planning and Dissemination Grant.
The GCI extends our heartfelt gratitude to all the trainees, clinicians, researchers, staff, patient partners, friends and family who attended this event, showing steadfast support for the gynecologic cancer research community here in BC.
For those who wish to revisit the insightful presentations from trainees and guest speakers, you can access them on our GCI Trainee Research Day 2024 YouTube Playlist here.
A Message from Our Founder
Inspired by the dedication of our trainees and the wisdom shared by our guest speakers, Dr. Gavin Stuart, Founder and Lead of the GCI, wishes to share his heartfelt gratitude:
Dear colleagues,
On behalf of all of us committed to the vision of the Gynecologic Cancer Initiative, I wanted to offer my personal thank you to all of you who were a part of the incredible event on June 17th. After the event, I left the building feeling inspired that we can work with such a talented group of learners, trainees and graduate students within our group – you were all incredible. Our keynote speakers helped us “set the bar” where that excellence is to aspire to and I am most grateful for that guidance.
The GCI has always intended to be an inclusive framework to bring all of us together in BC who work towards the mission and vision “to accelerate transformative research on prevention, detection treatment and survivorship of gynecologic cancers to reduce the incidence, death and suffering by 50% by 2034”. Thank you for the part that each one of you plays in this initiative!
Warm regards,
Gavin