Results of the Emerging Scholar Research Grant Competition – Pillar 2 Research
Funding results of the Emerging Scholar Research Grant Competition – Pillar 2
Understanding and preventing gynecologic side effects of cancer treatment
Stéphanie Bernard | Université Laval
Many people treated for breast cancer experience gynecologic side effects like dryness, irritation and vulvar pain that can affect their daily lives, relationships and health. Dr Stéphanie Bernard’s team will follow 186 patients to understand when this pain begins, its risk factors and how it evolves. The research will enable earlier detection and more personalized care, helping to reduce pain and improve quality of life and sexual health.
A weight-loss drug to improve outcomes for people with uterine cancer
Soyoun Rachel Kim | Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
Young people with uterine cancer and obesity need better options that preserve fertility while reducing the risk of recurrence. Dr Soyoun Rachel Kim and her team are conducting a clinical trial to test whether adding a weight loss drug to hormone therapy can improve cancer outcomes and improve fertility for young people with uterine cancer.
Managing physical and cognitive side effects in breast cancer survivors
Amy Kirkham | University of Toronto
Half of all breast cancer survivors experience lasting issues like weakness and memory loss that can greatly affect their quality of life, work and social activities. Dr Amy Kirkham’s team is studying how social, behavioural and biological factors contribute to these long-term effects. Their goal: to develop digital support tools that are based on survivor feedback and prioritize accessibility and diversity.
The input of people affected by cancer is fundamental to my work because their experiences and perspectives shaped the very questions we asked and the ideas we pursued. For this project, we built our research from the ground up with a diverse group of seven partners with living or lived experience of breast cancer whose contributions have been invaluable at every stage. Without them, we would risk developing research that missed on what matters most to them.
— Stéphanie Bernard, Understanding and preventing gynecologic side effects of cancer treatment
Université Laval, Québec, QC
An AI tool to help people find the cancer care they need
John-Jose Nunez | BC Cancer
People affected by cancer may struggle to find care and support resources when they need them – and it can be hard to know which information to trust. Dr John-Jose Nunez is developing an AI-powered navigation assistant to anticipate people’s care needs, help them navigate their options and answer questions in ways they can understand. By removing obstacles that affect care access, the researchers hope to improve outcomes for people with cancer.
Developing ultrasensitive liquid biopsies for lung cancer
Alexandre Pellan Cheng | Centre de recherche du CHUM
People with non-small cell lung cancer need better ways to track how their cancer responds to treatment and detect when it returns. Dr Alexandre Cheng and his team are developing an ultrasensitive blood test that can detect tiny amounts of tumor DNA, even after treatment. If successful, this approach could transform how lung cancer is monitored and make care more personalized.
Helping young people with cancer express their wishes for future care
Perri Tutelman | University of Calgary
Adolescents and young adults with advanced cancer often have worse medical and emotional outcomes than people diagnosed at other ages, yet many have never had the chance to express their wishes for future care. Alongside people with lived experience, Dr Perri Tutelman is developing and rolling out a new tool designed specifically to help young people with advanced cancer reflect on and communicate their values, wishes and preferences for care.