CDCR Research Day Symposium 2024: Another Successful Year for Cancer Research

The latest Research Day Symposium organized by the Centre for Discovery in Cancer Research (CDCR) was a great success! Our annual symposium took place on September 20, 2024, at McMaster Innovation Park. The event attracted a strong turnout from our research community, with CDCR trainees showcasing their latest work through eight oral presentations, fourteen rapid-fire presentations, and sixteen poster presentations.

The highlight of the event was the keynote address by Professor Caroline Dive, a renowned expert in cancer research from Cancer Research UK, Manchester Centre, who spoke on “Liquid Biopsies: Small Cell Lung Cancer and Cancer of Unknown Primary”. Her insightful talk was followed by a lively one-on-one interview with Dr. Sheila Singh, Director of CDCR. In this session, CDCR trainees had the unique opportunity to ask Professor Dive about her career journey and her vision for the future of cancer research.

The day ended on a high note with heartfelt speeches from the families of our generous donors, inspiring all attendees to continue pushing the boundaries of cancer research. This year, we also celebrated with the presentation of three prestigious awards:

• The Cindy Lee Graham Award, presented by Professor Tom Graham and his sons, Dean and Darwin, went to Shan Grewal from the Singh Lab. This award honours a graduate student who has made significant contributions, or shows clear potential, in brain or central nervous system cancer research.
• The Alexander Janke Memorial Scholarship, presented by Paul and Elizabeth Janke in honor of his Alexander, was awarded to Solsa Cariba from the Han Lab. The awards honours a graduate student who has made significant contributions, or demonstrates a clear potential to do so, in glioblastoma or other brain cancer research.
• The Carolyn Christine Cunliffe Award in Brain Cancer Research was introduced this year, by her parents, Diane and Colin Cunliffe and awarded to Yujin Suk from the Singh Lab. The awards honours a graduate student who has made significant contributions, or
  demonstrates a clear potential to do so, in glioblastoma or other brain cancer research.
  

We look forward to another year of groundbreaking discoveries and collaborations!