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Odette Cancer Centre and Sunnybrook Research Institute Oncology Grand Rounds

The joint OCC-SRI Oncology Grand Rounds occur monthly, and include a 30-minute talk from a Sunnybrook Research Institute scientist and a 30 minute talk from an Odette Cancer Centre clinician-scientist.

We are looking forward to meeting monthly to showcase research initiatives from our discovery, imaging and clinical scientists, and to provide opportunities for further collaboration. We hope you will be able to join us once a month through Zoom.

Zoom Meeting »

Meeting ID: 969 9478 5511
Passcode: 938225

2023 Grand Rounds

Date and time Speakers and topics 

Thursday, November 23, 2023

5:30-6:30 p.m.

Dr. Charles Cunningham, PhD

Senior Scientist, Physical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute
Associate Professor, Departments of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto

Topic: "Imaging lactate production and consumption in the human brain: Predicting response to SRS and beyond"

Objectives:

  1. Learn about the role of the metabolite lactate
  2. Understand how 13C MRI is performed on patients

Dr. Gregory Czarnota, PhD, MD

Radiation Oncologist, Odette Cancer Centre
Senior Scientist, Physical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute
Professor, Departments of Radiation Oncology & Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto

Topic: "Ultrasound for Radiation Enhancing Cancer Therapy"

Objectives:

  1. To understand microbubble-stimulated ultrasound therapy basic science
  2. To understand clinical results of microbubble-stimulated ultrasound therapy

Thursday, October 26, 2023

5:30-6:30 p.m.

Dr. Gobi Thillainadesan, PhD

Department of Biology, Sunnybrook Research Institute

Topic: "The Genome's Dark Matter: Unraveling the Secrets of Nuclear Dynamics in Cancer Metastasis and Drug Resistance"

Objectives:

  1. Explore the role of RNA-binding proteins and long-noncoding RNAs in mediating metastasis and drug resistance across various cancer types
  2. Uncover altered signaling pathways in Hepatocellular Carcinomas, emphasizing their association with RNA-binding proteins and subnuclear paraspeckle structures, to identify promising avenues for combinatorial therapeutic approaches

Dr. Alexander Louie, MD, PhD, M.Sc., FRCPC

Radiation Oncologist, Odette Cancer Centre
Scientist, Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute
Associate Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto

Topic: "Metastatic cancer – is a cure possible?"

Objectives:

  1. To introduce and describe the concept of oligometastatic cancer and stereotactic radiotherapy
  2. To review the safety and synergy of stereotactic radiotherapy and novel cancer drugs

Thursday, September 28, 2023 

5:30-6:30 p.m.

Dr. Christine Démoré, PhD

Scientist, Physical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute
Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto

Topic: "Micro-ultrasound technologies for Image-Guided Intervention and Pre-clinical research"

Objectives:

  1. Introduction to micro-ultrasound imaging technologies being developed and investigated at Sunnybrook
  2. Provide an understanding of the contrast mechanisms, and associated information about tissue, that is possible with the new technologies

Thursday, June 29, 2023

5:30-6:30 p.m.

Dr. Angus Lau, PhD

Scientist, Physical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute
Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto

Topic: "Using the MR-Linac to guide cancer treatments"

Objectives:

  1. Learn about functional imaging methods for adaptive radiotherapy

Dr. Arjun Sahgal

Radiation Oncologist, Odette Cancer Centre
Senior Clinician Scientist, Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute
Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto

Topic: "Promise of adaptive RT for GBM on the MR Linac"

Thursday, January 26, 2023

5:30-6:30 p.m.

Dr. Martin Yaffe, PhD, C.M. FRSC.

Senior Scientist, Physical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute
Professor, Departments of Medical Imaging and Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto
Director, Imaging Validation Core, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research,
Chief Scientific Officer, Centre for Imaging Technology Commercialization of Research

Topic: "The Role of Imaging in Precision Medicine"

Objectives:

  1. ​To provide a better understanding of how quantitative imaging can inform and optimize detection, characterization and treatment of cancer
  2. To illustrate the use of multimodal imaging for cancer in the BIRL labs – radiohistogenomics

Dr. Ellen Warner, MD, FRCPC, FACP, MSc

Medical Oncologist, Odette Cancer Centre
Affiliate Scientist, Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute
Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto
Director of PYNK, Breast Cancer Program for Young Women, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Topic: "Babies after breast cancer: From taboo to triumph"

Objectives:

  1. To understand reasons for the emergence and rapid growth of the field of oncofertility
  2. To be aware of the technique, effectiveness and limitations of the fertility preservation options
  3. To review current evidence regarding the safety of fertility preservation and pregnancy after breast cancer


2022 Grand Rounds »

Date and time Speakers and topics 

Thursday, September 29, 2022

5:30-6:30 p.m.

Dr. Meaghan O’Reilly, PhD

Senior Scientist, Physical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute
Associate Professor, Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto
Canada Research Chair in Biomedical Ultrasound, Tier 2

Topic: Developing Focused Ultrasound as a Treatment for Leptomeningeal Metastases

Objectives:

  1. To review non-thermal mechanisms of focused ultrasound (FUS) in the CNS
  2. To present on-going work in rodent models of leptomeningeal metastases
  3. To discuss clinical scale translation of technology for spine targeted FUS

Dr. Kasia Jerzak, MD, MSc, FRCPC

Medical Oncologist, Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto
Associate Scientist, Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Odette Cancer Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute

Topic: Breast Cancer Brain Metastases

Objectives:

  1. Discuss the risk of brain metastases among patients with metastatic breast cancer
  2. Review the prognosis of patients with metastatic breast cancer and brain metastases
  3. Discuss risks/benefits of potential screening for brain metastases

Thursday, June 30, 2022

Chao Wang, PhD

Scientist, Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute
Canada Research Chair in Immunometabolism of Neuroinflammation (Tier 2)
Assistant Professor, Department of Immunology, University of Toronto

Topic: From checkpoint molecule regulation to metabolic circuitry at single cell resolution

Rosanna Pezo, MD, PhD, FRCPC

Affiliate Scientist, Sunnybrook Research Institute
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto
Medical Oncologist, Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre

Topic: The role of precision medicine in the treatment of advanced breast cancer

Objectives:

  1. Overview of systemic therapy for metastatic breast cancer.
  2. Present current clinical research in genomics and precision medication in cancer and ongoing trials.
  3. Discuss challenges in identifying targetable alterations and match patients to genotype-matched clinical trials.

Thursday, May 26, 2022

5:30-6:30 p.m.

Anne L. Martel, PhD

Professor, Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto
Senior Scientist, Imaging Research, Sunnybrook Research Institute
Vector Institute Faculty Affiliate

Topic: "Applications of artificial intelligence in oncology"

Objectives:

  1. ​To understand how radiomics can be used to predict outcomes in brain and liver metastases
  2. To understand the challenges of applying deep learning methods to digital pathology images
  3. To introduce a plan to create an Artificial Intelligence Platform for Precision Medicine at SRI

William Tran, MRT(T), MSc, PhD

Scientist, Biological Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute
RT Clinician Scientist
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Odette Cancer Program
Assistant Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto

Topic: "Precision Oncology in Breast Cancer Using Artificial Intelligence"

Objectives:

  1. Present clinical challenges in breast cancer
  2. Review artificial intelligence opportunities in precision breast oncology
  3. Present current research in diagnostic and theranostic applications

Thursday, April 21, 2022

5:30-6:30 p.m.

Iacovos Michael, PhD

Scientist, Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute
Assistant Professor, Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto

Topic: "Neuroendocrine tumors: phenotypic plasticity and prospects for precision oncology"

Objectives:

  1. ​Role of phenotypic plasticity in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors
  2. Neuroendocrine transdifferentiation of epithelial cancers and brain metastasis
  3. Prospects of establishing a NET precision oncology program at Sunnybrook

Sten Myrehaug, MD FRCPC

Affiliate scientist, Sunnybrook Research Institute
Radiation Oncologist, Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre
Assistant Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto

Topic: "Evolution in the Role of Radiation in the Management of Neuroendocrine Tumors"

Objectives:

  1. Review current management of Neuroendocrine Malignancies
  2. Discuss current radiation oncology strategies for Neuroendocrine Malignancies
Thursday, March 31, 2022

Dr. Hon Leong, PhD

Senior Scientist, Biological Sciences
Associate Professor, Department of Medical Biophysics

Topic: "Novel Prostate Cancer Biomarkers to Avoid Pyrrhic Victories in the Clinic"

Objectives:

  1. ​Explore the use of AI in liquid biopsy development.
  2. Extracellular vesicles as a novel biomarker platform.
  3. Evaluate alternate forms of PSA as a biomarker for clinically significant disease.

Dr. Andrew Loblaw, MD FRCPC

Senior Scientist, Sunnybrook Research Institute
Professor, Departments of Radiation Oncology and Health Policy Measurement and Evaluation, University of Toronto
Co-Lead GU Disease Site Group, Odette Cancer Centre

Topic: "Changes in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Prostate Cancer"

Objectives:

  1. To review changes in screening recommendations for prostate cancer.
  2. To understand the value of MRI in the diagnostic care path.
  3. To review advances in radiotherapy for the treatment of primary disease.

Thursday, February 24, 2022

5:30-6:30 p.m.

Dr. Robert Kerbel, PhD

Senior Scientist, Sunnybrook Research Institute
Professor, Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto

Topic: “A pre-clinical strategy to improve prediction of treatment efficacy in breast cancer patients - what have we learned”

Dr. Eileen Rakovitch, MD MSc FRCPC

Senior Scientist, LC Campbell Chair in Breast Cancer Research, Sunnybrook Research Institute
Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto
Adjunct Senior Scientist, IC/ES
Program Research Director, Odette Cancer Program

Topic: “The evolving role of genomic biomarkers in the management of ductal carcinoma In situ”