GCI Trainee Research Day 2024

Opening Remarks with Dr. Deborah Money

Dr. Deborah Money is the Head of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at the University of British Columbia. She is a also a professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medicine and Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia. She is very proud of developing an education and research program in Reproductive Infectious Diseases (RID) that has trained many scientists and clinicians across Canada. She was the inaugural executive director of the Women’s Health Research Institute (WHRI), (2006-2016) and then the executive vice-dean, Faculty of Medicine, UBC (2016-2020).

She has been a successful teacher, mentor and research team builder and has published more than 240 peer reviewed publications and has received more than $28M in peer reviewed funding. Her research has led to improved understanding of the impact of HIV treatments in pregnancy and infancy, the role of the vaginal microbiome in health and disease, the role of HPV and the vaccine on prevention of cervical cancer in women living with HIV and the impact of COVID-19 on pregnant women in Canada and globally.

Keynote Presentation with Dr. Aline Talhouk

Dr. Aline Talhouk, an assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Medicine, is also the principal investigator at OVCARE, BC’s ovarian and gynecological cancer research program, where she directs a data science and informatics laboratory.

Dr. Talhouk specializes in computational statistics and machine learning, focusing on developing predictive models in women’s health and oncology. Her research translates -omics discoveries into clinical applications, facilitating personalized care for ovarian and endometrial cancer patients. Notably, she leads a nationally-funded precision prevention program that uses prediction modelling to identify high-risk individuals for uterine cancer to guide them to appropriate prevention interventions and screening. 

Recognized as a Michael Smith Health Research BC scholar, Dr. Talhouk holds several grants from CIHR, CFI, and the Canadian Cancer Society, reflecting her dedication to advancing women’s health and oncology through cutting-edge research.

Science, Story and Sound with Golda Arthur

Golda Arthur is an award-winning audio producer and journalist who creates innovative podcasts that connect deeply with listeners. Over the course of her 20 year career in journalism, she’s worked on breaking news, produced long-form documentaries, and led teams of creative people on deadline. She worked in radio at the BBC and the CBC, and has launched and run podcasts at Vox Media and MIT Technology Review. In 2023 she hosted and created Overlooked, an award-winning podcast about women’s health and ovarian cancer. She teaches audio reporting at Columbia University and lives in New York City.