Breast Cancer Canada is pleased to announce the awarding of eight new scholarships and fellowships at the Breast Cancer Canada Translational Research Unit (BCC-TRU) at London Health Sciences. These awards are a reflection of the ongoing commitment to accelerating progress, and investing in the next generation of researchers.

Trainees compete annually for these awards. Applications are assessed by a scientific review committee based on the quality and translational potential of their project, their academic record, and the strength of their mentor and training environment.

This year’s full BCC-TRU traineeship recipients include:

• Isabel Kannampuzha (MSc): Studying proteins to make aggressive triple-negative breast cancer more responsive to radiation.
• Jeri Spilberg (MSc): Investigating how breast cancer spreads to other organs
• Yubing Xia (MSc): Examining immune responses in aggressive breast cancers to guide more personalized, less toxic treatments.
• Sadia Khan (MSc): Assessing whether bone-strengthening therapy after surgery improves survival and reduces fractures in early-stage breast cancer.
• Nitara Fernando (PhD): Developing a radiation-free imaging method to detect cancer spread to lymph nodes.
• Anayra Gonçalves (PhD): Mapping molecular changes in triple-negative breast cancer to identify biomarkers for chemotherapy resistance.
• Yan Yi Li (PhD): Using artificial intelligence to design treatments that target key drivers of triple-negative breast cancer growth.
• Urvi Patel (PhD): Studying cancer cell particles with an aim to block disease spread.
• Alfredo Varela Vega (PhD): Building AI models to predict metastasis and guide treatment decisions using genomic data.
• Dr. Modeline Longjohn (Postdoctoral Fellow): Investigating how proteins and cancer cell particles promote metastasis to uncover new treatment targets.

These talented students and fellows are conducting their breast cancer research in laboratories at London Health Sciences Centre and under the supervision of Dr. Alison Allan, Director of Breast Cancer Canada’s Translational Research Unit at London Health Sciences Centre and Associate Vice-President (Research) at Western University. Their translational research projects focus broadly on the understanding, prevention, tracking, and treatment of metastatic breast – as well as precision medicine approaches aimed at improving breast cancer outcomes.

“Breast Cancer Canada is proud to continue to invest in breast cancer research at London Health Sciences Centre. Our partnership has contributed to progress in research over the past 25 years.” Says Kimberly Carson, CEO of Breast Cancer Canada. “These scholarships represent more than funding, it’s an investment in the next generation of researchers whose innovation and dedication is investigating the most complex and difficult to treat breast cancers.”

Breast Cancer Canada congratulates this year’s trainees and extends its best wishes as they contribute to advancing breast cancer research in London.