The Cancer Research Sub-Plan in Life Sciences was designed to offer senior undergraduate students a hands-on research experience, integrated with small group courses covering the process of science and key themes in cancer biology and genetics. Core components of the program include the 4th year research project (CANC 499), as well as a seminar in Cancer Biology and Therapeutics (CANC 440).
While the program is centred around molecular aspects of cancer biology, the education students receive is widely applicable. Historically, graduates of the program go on to Professional and Graduate Studies in roughly equal numbers.
More information about the Cancer Research Sub-Plan in Life Sciences can be found on the Cancer Research Institute website.
2024 - 2025 supervisors in CANC 499:
Dr. Sheela Abraham has accepted two CANC 499 project students for 2024-2025.
Dr. John Allingham has accepted one CANC 499 project student for 2024-2025.
Dr. Edmond Chan has accepted two CANC 499 project students for 2024-2025 and will not be accepting additional students for 2024-2025.
Dr. Andrew Craig has accepted one CANC 499 project student for 2024-2025.
Dr. Katrina Gee has accepted one CANC 499 project student for 2024-2025.
Dr. Peter Greer has accepted one CANC 499 project student for 2024-2025.
Dr. Christopher R. Mueller has accepted three CANC 499 project student for 2024-2025.
Dr. Lois Mulligan has accepted two CANC 499 project students for 2024-2025.
Dr. Chris Nicol has accepted two CANC 499 project students for 2024-2025.
Dr. Teresa Purzner and Dr. James Purzner have accepted a CANC 499 project student for 2024-2025.
2023 - 2024 supervisors in CANC 499:
Dr. David Berman is accepting CANC 499 project students for 2023-2024. Dr. Berman's projects are (1) Tumour evolution and lineage plasticity in bladder cancer: Molecular influences and clinical implications; and (2) Introducing quantitative criteria for bladder cancer grading: Using AI and machine learning to improve management and outcomes. Preference will be for students with computational, statistical or bioinformatics skills.
Dr. Tricia Cottrell has accepted one CANC 499 project student for 2023-2024. Dr. Cottrell is no longer taking CANC 499 students for 2023-2024.
Dr. Harriet Feilotter . is accepting CANC 499 project students for 2023-2024. The Feilotter lab has projects focused on clinical implementation of genomic biomarkers in cancer. Dr. Feilotter may not know about space until spring of 2023.
Eva Kaufmann is accepting one CANC 499 project student for 2023-2024. Dr. Kaufmann's research will involve working on stem cell reprogramming through allergens.
Dr. Lynne Postovit is accepting CANC 499 projects students for 2023-2024. The Postovit lab has projects focused on understanding how cancer spread and evade therapies. Projects are tailored to the interests of the student an may include the analysis of tissues, biochemical studies, functional assays and bioinformatics projects. A multidisciplinary learning environment will be offered as well as the ability to take part in and discuss projects ranging from fundamental mechanisms related to the regulation of cellular plasticity, to pre-clinical translational studies.
Dr. Mike Rauh is accepting CANC 499 project students for 2023-2024. The Raul lab studies the origins of blood system cancers, called clonal hematopoiesis (CH), where usually a single driver mutation in an epigenetic regulator gene, like TET2 or DNMT3A, provides a selective stem cell advantage. We are studying how mutations carried by mature progeny of this CH stem cell alter the immune environment to favour the development of cancer and inflammatory, non-cancerous diseases. Projects may span from mouse models of CH to genetic epidemiology of large human cohorts, bench-type molecular biology and immunology to in-silco analysis of "big data.
Dr. Neil Renwick is accepting CANC 499 project students for 2023-2024. Dr. Renwick's project will focus on using miRNAs as tissue and circulating markers of neuroendocrine neoplasms. Dr. Renwick many not know about space until the spring 2023.
Dr. Amber Simpson is accepting CANC 499 Project students for 2023-2024. Dr. Simpson develops quantitative imaging biomarkers using machine learning tools.