CanPath Scientific Director presents at AGBT Meeting

Advances in Genome Biology and Technology (AGBT) is “considered the preeminent genome science and technology conference where top global researchers, leaders and innovators meet to announce new discoveries, cutting edge breakthroughs and to collaborate.” CanPath Scientific Director, Dr. Philip Awadalla attended the AGBT Precision Health meeting in San Diego, California from September 7-9, 2023. Dr. Awadalla was a panelist speaking about The Great Debate, Genetics, Environment, and Health, alongside Dr. Gary Miller (Columbia University) and Dr. Alison Motsinger-Reif (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences).

CBC News Article

A Dalhousie University and McMaster University led project is highlighted in a recent CBC article. The New Frontiers in Research Fund supported research is focused on disparities in cancer incidence and outcomes in a Black Nova Scotian community (Shelburne, Nova Scotia). This research is truly interdisciplinary, incorporating natural and social sciences to consider the role of environmental, biological, genetic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle factors with the high cancer incidence and mortality in this community. Atlantic PATH will act as a comparison population using data and biological samples from Nova Scotia participants. Additional details about this project and the new Nova Scotia Environmental Racism Panel in the CBC Article by Josefa Cameron (July 2, 2023): https://bit.ly/44dw9cu

Changing the narrative of lung cancer to improve prevention for non-smokers

Congratulations to Dr. Robin Urquhart and team on their successful funding from the Canadian Cancer Society to examine the effects of environmental exposures in non-smokers to detect lung cancer earlier. Lung cancer is most often linked to smoking, but can also occur in people who have never smoked because of exposure to arsenic, radon gas and air pollution. Yet, in several provinces in Canada where screening programs are being implemented for people at high-risk of lung cancer, only a person’s age and smoking history are currently considered in the risk assessment. With funding from the Canadian Cancer Society, this research team is working to make sure environmental factors are considered when assessing a person’s risk of lung cancer. The results of this research will provide actionable information around environmental exposures to improve personalized lung cancer risk assessment, inform screening criteria and programs and improve lung cancer early detection efforts across Canada. For additional details: https://cancer.ca/en/research/for-researchers/funding-results/breakthrough-team-grants/changing-the-narrative-of-lung-cancer-to-improve-prevention-for-non-smokers Dr. Urquhart was interviewed by CBC Radio to discuss this work project: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2189846083866 CBC Interview in Print: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/dalhousie-environmental-risk-lung-cancer-screening-nova-scotia-1.6805468