Andrew Loblaw is a radiation oncologist, clinician scientist and an associate professor in the departments of radiation oncology and health policy management and evaluation at the University of Toronto. He has a masters in clinical epidemiology from the University of Toronto and is a graduate of the Royal College's Clinician Investigator Program. His clinical practice focuses on prostate cancer.

Appointments and affiliations:

• Active staff, radiation oncology, Sunnybrook
• Courtesy staff, surgery, North York General Hospital

Clinical focus: prostate cancer

Education:

• B.Sc., 1991, physics, University of British Columbia
• MD, 1995, Queen’s University
• FRCPC, 2000, radiation oncology, University of Toronto
• M.Sc., 2002, clinical epidemiology, University of Toronto
• FRCPC, 2002, clinician investigator program, University of Toronto

Appointments and affiliations:

• Scientist, evaluative clinical sciences, Odette Cancer Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute
• Clinician scientist, Ontario Association of Radiation Oncology
• Associate professor, department of radiation oncology, University of Toronto 
• Associate professor, Institute of Health policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto 
• North American editor, Clinical Oncology
• Co-chair, Genitourinary Cancer Disease Site Group, Cancer Care Ontario

Research focus:

Improving outcomes for men with prostate cancer through the following:

• Evidence-based guidelines
• Novel radiotherapeutic strategies
• Active surveillance
• Lifestyle modifications

Research summary:

Dr. Loblaw has enhanced evidence-based medicine significantly in two areas, and has developed a national medical career guidance program.

Evidence-based and clinical practice guidelines are the foundation of evidence-based medicine. Dr. Loblaw has led the production of four documents on this topic, all of which have been published in international peer-reviewed journals and have led to setting and changing practice standards worldwide. His work has been widely cited in top-named journals, and he has been invited to speak and join committees nationally and internationally. He has also taken the lead on new research questions arising from the work to strengthen further the evidence addressing these topics.

Career selection is stressful for medical students. Dr. Loblaw was instrumental in developing the only nationally-recognized and distributed medical career guidance program. The foundation of this work is a book that is in its fourth edition and is available in French and English. The book, distributed in every medical school in Canada, is the standard reference for medical students as they pursue specialty training positions. Because of his contributions to this career guidance program, Dr. Loblaw has received invitations to speak at various medical schools and student groups, and has helped set up a national speaking series to address these students' needs.

Selected publications:

See current publications list at PubMed.

1. Tang CI, Loblaw DA, Cheung P, Holden L, Morton G, Basran P et al. Phase II study of a five-fraction hypofractionated accelerated radiotherapy for low risk localized prostate cancer: early results of pHART3. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol). 2008 Dec; 20(10): 729–737.
2. Loblaw DA, Holden L, Xenocostas A, Chander S, Cooper P, Chan PC et al. Functional and pharmacokinetic outcomes with erythropoietin in patients with malignant extradural spinal cord compression. Clin Oncol. 2007 Feb; 19(1):63–70. 
3. Loblaw DA, Perry J, Chambers A, Laperriere NJ. Systematic review of the diagnosis and management of malignant epidural spinal cord compression: the Cancer Care Ontario Practice Guideline Initiative's Neuro-Oncology Disease Site Group. J Clin Oncol. 2005 Mar; 23(9):2028–2037. 
4. Loblaw DA, Mendelson DS, Talcott J, Virgo KS, Somerfield M, Ben-Josef E et al. American Society of Clinical Oncology recommendations for the initial hormonal management of androgen-sensitive metastatic, recurrent, or progressive prostate cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2004 Jul; 22(14):2927–2941. 
5. Loblaw DA, Laperriere NJ, Mackillop WJ. A population-based study of malignant spinal cord compression in Ontario. Clin Oncol. 2003 Jun; 15(4):211–217. 

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