World class research happening in Sudbury

By Melanie Dionne

Did you know that when donating to the Northern Cancer Research Foundation (NCRF), you are helping fund research and patient care at the Regional Cancer Program (RCP) of the Sudbury Regional Hospital? When most people think of cancer research, they tend to associate it with just finding a cure, but it’s more complicated than that. Some research, for example, focuses on improving the quality of life for those dealing with cancer.

Within the Tumour Biology and Epidemiology Research Groups, five principal investigators are making an impact around the world through innovative research. In the last three years, these highly educated and trained individuals have successfully obtained $3 million in grant monies. Here is a short biography on each of these investigators.

n Dr. Michael Conlon became the director of research in Epidemiology, Outcomes and Evaluation in 2008. His projects often combine survey-based research with laboratory-based genomics to answer important questions about how a person’s genetics and behaviours can affect cancer incidence and treatment outcome.

n Dr. Robert Lafrenie started in 1997. Also, he is an associate professor at Laurentian University and at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM). Some of the research being conducted by Dr. Lafrenie and his team involves prognostic indicators for women with breast cancer and evaluation of natural products in the treatment and control of cancers.

n Dr. Hoyun Lee is a senior scientist as well as a full professor for the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa and NOSM. He has organized the Northeastern Ontario Cancer Therapeutics Research Initiative, which comprises 10 principal investigators from six different institutions. Part of this initiative is an annual symposium on cancer drug discovery. They are in the process of developing group projects to study thousands of synthetic and natural products from all over the world.

n Dr. Amadeo Parissenti is a tenured full professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Laurentian University and NOSM. He also serves as an assistant professor in the Division of Oncology in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Parissenti has several research interests such as chemotherapy drug resistance in breast cancer as well as clinical and translational research.

n In 2001, Dr. Leslie Sutherland joined the team. She is currently supervising undergraduate and graduate students in Biology, Chemistry/Biochemistry programs as well as teaching Biomolecular Sciences at Laurentian University. She holds an associate professor position with NOSM and an assistant professor position with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Sutherland and her team investigate the deregulation of programmed cell death in cancer.

Every day, these investigators are working hard to find ways to improve cancer care for our families and friends.

Through a series of articles, over the next few months, we will provide a glimpse into some of the world-class research projects happening right here in our own backyard.

Melanie Dionne is the special events and community development assistant with the Northern Cancer Research Foundation.