Congratulations to Jessica Morgan, Sabrina Lloyd-Ellis and Jeanie Malone for recently being awarded the Nancy McKinstry Trainee Excellence Award.
Nancy McKinstry Endowment Fund for Ovarian Cancer Research, held at BC Cancer Foundation, is cultivating the next generation of ovarian cancer experts. Celebrating cutting-edge research, the Nancy McKinstry Trainee Excellence Award recently recognized three rising scholars who are poised to accelerate new treatments and improve care for British Columbians facing ovarian cancer.
Jessica Morgan is a promising researcher whose work focuses on engineering specialized CAR-T cells that are resistant to the tumour-created molecule 1-methylnicotinamide (MNA). These MNA-resistant CAR-T cells may unlock the potential of CAR-T immunotherapy for ovarian cancer – a major scientific breakthrough, as this therapy has not yet been effective for solid tumours like those found in ovarian cancer.
A dedicated scientist with a deep passion for her work, Jessica seeks out every opportunity to stay connected with the community she is working to support. Jessica’s dedication to accelerating cancer immunometabolism research has placed her at the top of her cohort. Her supervisor notes, “I have not encountered a student demonstrating this degree of self-directed learning and intellectual engagement so early in their training.” Her research has the potential to revolutionize treatment pathways for people facing ovarian cancer.
Sabrina Lloyd-Ellis’ work is helping to shape the future of cancer risk reduction. Her research uncovers how people with BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations can use medical and surgical approaches to lower their ovarian cancer risk. As a BRCA2 carrier herself with a family history of the disease, she blends lived experience with a powerful commitment to preventative medicine. By pinpointing gaps in care, she seeks to improve effective prevention for those at highest risk: “My goal is to ensure families are informed, supported, and empowered to make evidence-based decisions about their health.”
As co-chair of the Gynecologic Cancer Initiative (GCI)’s Trainee Knowledge Translation Committee, Sabrina is transforming scientific discoveries into public engagement. She co-hosts the GCI’s GOSH Podcast, co-founded The Vulvalution—a women’s health podcast amplifying stigma-breaking conversations—and serves on the organizing committee for the Canadian Conference on Ovarian Cancer Research. Sabrina’s dedication to her work and community position her as a leader in in ovarian cancer prevention.
Dr. Jeanie Malone is committed to breaking down barriers between technology and biology. She is redefining what’s possible in early cancer detection by developing state-of-the-art optical imaging devices. In a first-of-its-kind study, Dr. Malone is pioneering a minimally invasive method to visualise the inside of fallopian tubes and identify Serous Tubal Intraepithelial Carcinoma lesions – the earliest signs of the most common and aggressive form of ovarian cancer. Her groundbreaking research could pave the way for the first true screening method for this type of cancer.
As her supervisor, BC Cancer’s head of integrative oncology Dr. Calum MacAulay describes Dr. Malone is “an exceptionally talented researcher, educator, mentor and leader.” She has received 20 national and international scholarships, fellowships and awards over the last five years, including a prestigious Optics and Photonics Education Scholarship, which is awarded to exceptional graduate students with outstanding potential for long-range contributions to the field. Rarely awarded to Canadian scholars, this distinction speaks to Dr. Malone’s capacity to advance the future of cancer detection and prevention. Through 27 teaching assistantships, a sessional lecturer role, several competitive conference presentations and the supervision of five undergraduate research assistants, Dr. Malone extends her expertise beyond the lab and into the training of future change-makers. She is establishing herself as a leading talent in interdisciplinary ovarian cancer research.
Through bold science, lived experience, and technological innovation, these trainees are helping to redefine what’s possible in ovarian cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. Reflecting on their achievements, Nancy McKinstry shared, “What an impressive group of trainees. I am so proud that we can support them in this way.”
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