The Society of Gynecologic Oncology of Canada

To improve the care of women with or at risk of gynecologic cancer by raising standards of practice, encouraging ongoing research, promoting innovation in prevention, care and discovery, and advancing awareness. GOC also seeks to disseminate knowledge to practitioners, patients and the general public on gynecologic cancer as well as cooperate with other organizations committed to women’s health care, oncology, and related fields.​​

https://www.gyneoncology.ca

Contact us

Powered By

This is a past event. Registration is closed. View other The Society of Gynecologic Oncology of Canada events.

Event Details

Registration for the GOC Symposium on Molecular Biology for Gynecologic Cancers is now closed! You can still register to GOC's 22nd Continuing Professional Development Meetinguntil 6PM EST today.


Are you registered for the symposium? Go to the email from SpotMe (noreply@spotme.com) that was previously sent to you to give you access to the event. Please access the event platform to get the zoom link and to see the agenda in your own time zone. Once on the platform, click on today's date and on the first session to get the zoom link which is at the bottom of the page. Note that your web access link is unique and cannot be shared.

Questions? Send us an email at enquiry@gyneoncology.ca.




The objective for this symposium is to discuss current, relevant, molecular and cell biology discoveries, highlighting how these insights impact our understanding of the pathogenesis and treatment of cancer. The goal is to provide engaging and enlightening presentations geared to clinicians with a view to broaden their knowledge of the basic science of cancer as it relates to the prevention, detection and treatment of cancer. Key historical advances that have shaped our approach to cancer are of interest. This year, we are highlighting mechanisms of therapeutic resistance and promising molecular targets in gynecologic cancers.


This is a virtual meeting. Please note that all times in the agenda on this site are in PST.

Agenda

April 27, 2022

Main Schedule

14:00 - 14:10
Introduction
Melica Brodeur (Research fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)
Melica Brodeur
Taymaa May (Gynecologic Oncologist at Princess Margaret Cancer Center)
Taymaa May
Dr. Taymaa May received her medical degree from McGill University in Montreal and went on to complete post-graduate training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Toronto. During her residency, Dr. May completed the Clinician Investigator Program and received a Master’s of Science degree from the Institute of Medical Sciences at the University of Toronto. Following residency, Dr. Taymaa May completed a 3-year fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/ Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA. Dr. Taymaa May is a surgical scientist at the University Health Network and an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto. Dr. May has clinical training in the medical management of women with gynecological malignancies and surgical training in complex oncologic surgeries including pelvic, abdominal, laparoscopic and robotic surgery. Her research interests are in translational science and clinical trials in the field of ovarian cancer.
14:10 - 14:40
Exploiting Homologous Recombination Deficiency in Ovarian Cancer
The goal of this session is to discuss the implications of HRD in Ovarian cancer to help understand mechanisms of primary and acquired resistance to PARPi.
Kirsten Timms PhD (Senior VP Biomarker Discovery at Myriad Genetics Inc)
Kirsten Timms PhD
Dr Timms completed her PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Her post-doctoral training was at the Human Genome Sequencing Center at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas in the laboratory of Dr Richard Gibbs where she was part of the team that sequenced the first human genome. Following her post-doctoral training she accepted a position at Baylor College of Medicine as a junior faculty member, and in 1998 she moved to Myriad Genetics in Salt Lake City, Utah. Since joining Myriad Genetics Dr Timms has worked on positional cloning and linkage analysis to identify disease predisposition genes, and more recently has focused on development of oncology diagnostic tests for predisposition testing as well as predictive biomarkers for therapeutic response.
Mark Carey (Clinical Professor at Vancouver General Hospital)
Mark Carey
He completed his medical degree and Obstetrics & Gynaecology residency at the University of Western Ontario, a fellowship in Gynaecologic Oncology at the University of Toronto and McMaster University, and a research fellowship in the Department of Systems Biology at the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Centre. He runs his research program through OvCaRe and has funding through private donations and his medical corporation to support his laboratory staff. He is Co-Investigator on a recent grant award from the Cancer Research Society with Dr. Cheng-Han Lee, and has done contract research for investigational drug testing. His laboratory has been supported as well by research funds from Dr. Dianne Miller and the Division of Gyn Oncology, the BC Cancer Agency, the Carraresi Foundation OvCaRe Research Grant, and VGH and UBC Hospital Foundations. Mark regularly supervises PhD and MSc candidates and is a member of the department’s Research Advisory Committee.
14:40 - 15:10
The Molecular Implications of HR in Endometrial Cancer: TP(53) or NOT TP(53) - is that the question?
The goal of this session is to review HRD in Endometrial Cancer and highlight its relationship to the molecular classification of endometrial cancer and the use of PARPi as a treatment.
Britta Weigelt (Associate Attending Molecular Geneticist, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Director, Gynecology DMT Research Laboratory at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)
Britta Weigelt
Dr. Britta Weigelt received her PhD from the Netherlands Cancer Institute/ University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and undertook her postdoctoral training at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, USA, and Cancer Research UK London Research Institute, London, UK, before moving to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in New York, USA, in 2012. Dr. Weigelt is a Molecular Geneticist and the Director of the Gynecology DMT Research Laboratory at MSK. Her research interests include the refinement of the classification of breast and gynecologic cancers and the identification of novel drivers and potential therapeutic targets by bringing together traditional pathology tissue-based techniques with genomics, bioinformatics, and functional and signal transduction studies. Furthermore, Dr. Weigelt’s team is determining strategies to overcome the challenges posed by intra-tumor genetic heterogeneity through cfDNA and single cell sequencing analyses, and is studying the somatic genetics of hereditary breast and gynecologic cancers. She has published her findings in over 240 peer-reviewed articles and serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, The Journal of Pathology and the European Journal of Cancer.
15:10 - 15:50
What's Neu with Her2: A Target of Promise in Endometrial and Ovarian cancers?
The goal of this session is to provide important background information for participants that will facilitate the understanding of HER2 as a promising therapeutic target in endometrial and ovarian cancers.
Amanda Fader (Vice Chair of Gynecologic Surgical Operations at Johns Hopkins Health System)
Amanda Fader
Dr. Amanda Nickles Fader is an associate professor in the Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics. She is both the director of the Kelly Gynecologic Oncology Service and the director of the Center for Rare Gynecologic Cancers at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. She also directs the F.J. Montz Fellowship Program in Gynecologic Oncology. She has extensive training and expertise in radical oncology surgery, advanced laparoscopy and robotics, and is an internationally recognized surgeon who is invited often to teach surgical techniques to others worldwide. She has lectured or performed surgery in more than 20 countries, and she has co-authored more than 100 publications in peer-reviewed medical journals. She is recognized as a leading expert in minimally invasive surgical innovations and rare gynecologic tumors, including high-risk uterine and ovarian cancers. She has a special interest in uterine serous carcinoma, low-grade serous carcinoma of the ovary and uterine sarcomas. Dr. Fader received her undergraduate degree with highest distinction in music (violin performance) and premedicine from the University of Virginia. She earned her medical degree from the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in Richmond, and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC in Pittsburgh. Dr. Fader then underwent gynecologic oncology fellowship training at Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Fader serves on the editorial board of several journals, including Gynecologic Oncology and the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology.She was selected to serve on several national committees, including the National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s Endometrial, Cervical and Vulvar Committee, and the Rare Tumor Committee of the NRG/Gynecologic Oncology Group. She also holds several leadership roles, including as the current president of the Mid-Atlantic Gynecologic Oncology Society and the outgoing chair of the Gynecologic Oncology Committee of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists. In 2015, she was selected as a national board examiner in gynecologic oncology for the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Her research centers on minimally invasive surgical innovations in gynecologic oncology, immunotherapy and clinical trials, rare uterine and ovarian tumors, and quality and patient safety in gynecologic surgery. She has been the recipient of several research grants and awards for her research, including the Best Paper in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Oncology Surgery at the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists’ annual meeting and a National Cancer Institute Cervical SPORE Vaccine Project grant.
15:50 - 16:00
Wrap Up Discussion
Mark Carey (Clinical Professor at Vancouver General Hospital)
Mark Carey
He completed his medical degree and Obstetrics & Gynaecology residency at the University of Western Ontario, a fellowship in Gynaecologic Oncology at the University of Toronto and McMaster University, and a research fellowship in the Department of Systems Biology at the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Centre. He runs his research program through OvCaRe and has funding through private donations and his medical corporation to support his laboratory staff. He is Co-Investigator on a recent grant award from the Cancer Research Society with Dr. Cheng-Han Lee, and has done contract research for investigational drug testing. His laboratory has been supported as well by research funds from Dr. Dianne Miller and the Division of Gyn Oncology, the BC Cancer Agency, the Carraresi Foundation OvCaRe Research Grant, and VGH and UBC Hospital Foundations. Mark regularly supervises PhD and MSc candidates and is a member of the department’s Research Advisory Committee.
Melica Brodeur (Research fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)
Melica Brodeur

PDF Agenda

Speakers

Melica Brodeur (Research fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)

Melica Brodeur

Research fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Mark Carey (Clinical Professor at Vancouver General Hospital)

Mark Carey

Clinical Professor at Vancouver General Hospital

Amanda Fader (Vice Chair of Gynecologic Surgical Operations at Johns Hopkins Health System)

Amanda Fader

Vice Chair of Gynecologic Surgical Operations at Johns Hopkins Health System

Taymaa May (Gynecologic Oncologist at Princess Margaret Cancer Center)

Taymaa May

Gynecologic Oncologist at Princess Margaret Cancer Center

Kirsten Timms PhD (Senior VP Biomarker Discovery at Myriad Genetics Inc)

Kirsten Timms PhD

Senior VP Biomarker Discovery at Myriad Genetics Inc

Britta Weigelt (Associate Attending Molecular Geneticist, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Director, Gynecology DMT Research Laboratory at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)

Britta Weigelt

Associate Attending Molecular Geneticist, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Director, Gynecology DMT Research Laboratory at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Planning Committee

Members of the course planning committee

MARK CAREY

CHAIR


He completed his medical degree and Obstetrics & Gynaecology residency at the University of Western Ontario, a fellowship in Gynaecologic Oncology at the University of Toronto and McMaster University, and a research fellowship in the Department of Systems Biology at the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Centre. He runs his research program through OvCaRe and has funding through private donations and his medical corporation to support his laboratory staff. He is Co-Investigator on a recent grant award from the Cancer Research Society with Dr. Cheng-Han Lee, and has done contract research for investigational drug testing. His laboratory has been supported as well by research funds from Dr. Dianne Miller and the Division of Gyn Oncology, the BC Cancer Agency, the Carraresi Foundation OvCaRe Research Grant, and VGH and UBC Hospital Foundations. Mark regularly supervises PhD and MSc candidates and is a member of the department's Research Advisory Committee.


Conflict of Interest Form (coming soon!)

LILLY MCLELLAN

MEMBER


Conflict of Interest Form (coming soon!)

TAYMAA MAY 

MEMBER


Dr. Taymaa May received her medical degree from McGill University in Montreal and went on to complete post-graduate training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Toronto. During her residency, Dr. May completed the Clinician Investigator Program and received a Master's of Science degree from the Institute of Medical Sciences at the University of Toronto. Following residency, Dr. Taymaa May completed a 3-year fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at Brigham and Women's Hospital/ Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA. 

Dr. Taymaa May is a surgical scientist at the University Health Network and an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto. Dr. May has clinical training in the medical management of women with gynecological malignancies and surgical training in complex oncologic surgeries including pelvic, abdominal, laparoscopic and robotic surgery. Her research interests are in translational science and clinical trials in the field of ovarian cancer.



Conflict of Interest Form (coming soon!)

VANESSA CARLSON

MEMBER



Conflict of Interest Form (coming soon!)

MELICA BRODEUR

MEMBER



Conflict of Interest Form (coming soon!)

MARTA LLAURADO

MEMBER


Conflict of Interest Form (coming soon!)

PATTI POWER

MEMBER / CHAIR, CPD PLANNING COMMITTEE


Dr. Power is the Divisional Chief of Gynecologic Oncology within Eastern Health and is a MUN Associate Professor within the Women's Health program. She is a graduate of Memorial's Medical School and completed her fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology in Calgary as well as a Diploma in Clinical Epidemiology at Memorial. She has been an active mentor in the Obstetrics and Gynecology program at MUN for many years, is an active member of the Residency Training Program for Obstetrics and Gynecology and is the Competency by Design Lead for that program. She has been a Royal College examiner for Obstetrics and Gynecology for the past 5 years and has now joined the Gynecologic Oncology Royal College Nucleus Committee. She is past president of The Society of Canadian Colposcopists and previous chair of the Subspecialties Committee of Academic Professionals in Obstetrics and Gynecology (APOG) of Canada. She is also an active member of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Center. She has a special interest in student well-being and looks forward to positively contributing to the success of Memorial's undergraduate and postgraduate medical students. 


Conflict of Interest Form (coming soon!)

ALON ALTMAN

EXECUTIVE REPRESENTATIVE / PRESIDENT-ELECT


Dr. Alon Altman is a professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at the Rady Faculty of Health Sceinces. He is also a gynecologic oncologist at the Health Sciences Centre/Cancercare Manitoba.

He has a strong interest in undergraduate/postgraduate education and research.

Dr. Altman is the president elect for the Society of Gynecologic Oncology of Canada (GOC), the program director for the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, chair of the University Medical Group (UMG), vice chair for the Medical Management Safety Committee (MMSC) at CancerCare Manitoba, the current Gynecologic oncology track lead for the FIGO 2021 Scientific planning committee and the previous co-chair of the Canadian Obstetrics and Gynecology Review program (COGRP).

He is actively involved in multiple university, national and international committees.


Conflict of Interest Form (coming soon!)

MARK NACHTIGAL

MEMBER


Conflict of Interest Form (coming soon!)