Research | Oncology | School of Medicine

Progress in cancer outcomes will come only through the pursuit and application of new knowledge through research to lead to improved prevention, screening, treatment and survivorship strategies.

Cancer research is an internationally recognized strength at Queen’s University. Primary and Cross-Appointed Faculty in the Department of Oncology contribute to cancer research at Queen’s in numerous disciplines.

Cancer clinical trials are conducted in the Cancer Centre (Current Local Trials) and in addition, the Canadian CancerTrials Group (www.ctg.queensu.ca) led by Director Dr. Janet Dancey, is based at Queen’s within the Queen’s Cancer Research Institute (www.qcri.queensu.ca) across the street from the cancer centre. Several other members of the Department play leadership roles within the CCTG and offer opportunities for trainee projects and post graduate fellowships.

Health services and population research is another strength at Queen’s and several addition members of the department, led by Dr. Michael Brundage, are members of the Cancer Care Epidemiology Division (http://www.queensu.ca/cce/index.html) at the Queen’s Cancer Research Institute (QCRI). This division also offers training and fellowship opportunities.

Several members of the department also collaborate with the Cancer Biology and Genetics division of the QCRI and with the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine at Queen’s in translational research projects.

The Research Advisory Committee in the Department of Oncology has developed the first Cancer Strategic Research Plan for the department.

Research Advisory Committee

Terms of Reference

Committee Mandate

To develop and implement a strategic research plan for the Department of Oncology.
To enhance clinical research within the Department and cancer program
To identify mechanisms for increased interdisciplinary collaborations within University and particularly with the Queen’s Cancer Research Institute
To develop mentoring plans for trainees and new faculty who are engaged in research
To provide input to Departmental Executive on recruitment and career support strategies for research faculty
To create an annual report of Department of Oncology research activities
Additional items as determined by the Committee

Composition/Membership

Chair – Member of Department of Oncology (appointed)
Co-Chair – Director of Cancer Research Institute

Members

Director(s) of Clinical Trials
One member from Dept. of Pathology and Molecular Medicine
One researcher from Medical Physics
One member from Dept. of Community Health and Epidemiology
Two faculty members of Cancer Research Institute
Two additional interested members having appointments in the Dept of Oncology
Patient/lay community representative

Note: Overall membership should be inclusive of all Departmental Divisions and Research groups

Meeting Frequency

Quarterly and at discretion of the chair

Reports to

The Department, via the Head and Executive

Supported by

Departmental Academic Initiatives Officer - Dr. Colleen Savage

Programs/Fellowships

Two opportunities for fellowship training are available and open to trainees oncology related disciplines as described in the attached links.

Clinician Investigator Program
Terry Fox Foundation Training Program in Transdisciplinary Cancer Research in partnership with CIHR

Grants and Funding

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH QUEEN'S
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http://www.queensu.ca/urs/

Department of Oncology Molecular

Oncology Research Competition Awardees 2015

Co-Applicants: Drs. Madhuri Koti and James Biagi
Project Title: Role of CXCL10/CXCR3 signaling axis in modulation of tumor immune landscape and therapeutic response in high-grade serous epithelial ovarian cancer

Co-Applicants: Drs. Andrew Robinson and Chris Mueller
Project Title: GR promoter methylation as a biomarker of Tamoxifen efficacy in pre-menopausal women

Co-Applicants: Drs. Andrew Robinson and Sonal Varma
Project Title: ER beta expression and chemotherapy induced amenorrhea

Co-Applicants: Drs. Harriet Feilotter, Scott Davey & Nazik Hammad
Project Title: Expanded mutation testing in a cohort of colorectal cancer samples from CO.17

Congratulations !

Seven projects and one clinical trainee awarded in first Department of Oncology/KGH Foundation Interdisciplinary Cancer Research Grant and Clinical Train Grant competitions

Interdisciplinary Cancer Research Grants –

May 2013 Competition

Investigators	Project title
Baetz, Tara; LeBrun, David	Predicting the need for salvage therapy in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Berman, David; Brundage, Michael	Molecular definition of biopsy tumor volume to guide prostate cancer management
Booth, Christopher; Nanji, Sulaiman	Surgical Resection and Peri-Operative Chemotherapy for Colorectal Cancer Lung Metastases: A Population-Based Outcomes Study
Hall, Stephen; Zaza, Khaled	What should we be telling about the risk of stroke and carotid vascular disease after radiation treatment for head and neck cancer?
Kerr, Andrew; deMetz, Catherine; Redfearn, Damian	Development of a hybrid Pacemaker-Dosimeter
Mates, Mihaela; Boag, Alexander; Feilotter, Harriet	Novel gene sequencing technique for molecular profiling of non-small cell lung cancer
Mahmud, Aamer; Biagi, James	A Retrospective Cohort Analysis of factors affecting tumour regression grade following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for early stage rectal cancer

Clinical Trainee Cancer Research Grants –

May 2013 Competition

Clinical Trainee /Mentor

Project title

Turashvili, Gulisa/

Sengupta, Sandip

MicroRNA expression profiling of triple negative breast cancer

Competitive Funding

The Department of Oncology has two competitions which utilitze Kingston General Hospital foundation donated cancer research funds. These competitions were first launched in March 2013 and details of each, as well as information on applications are found in the links below.

Department of Oncology and KGH Foundation Cancer Research Competitions:

The Department of Oncology Trust Fund

This fund supplies small amounts of funding to support the Department’s research and education activities through invited speakers, and travel funds for students and trainees to attend research and other meetings. Please follow this link to view the Terms of Reference.

Request for Funding form