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16
2016 Report to Our Donors
Moving cancer discoveries from
In March 2016, Dr. Jonathan Irish, Chief of
Surgical Oncology, gave a tour of Canada’s most
technologically-advanced cancer surgical suite
via Periscope—a social media tool that connects
to Twitter accounts and allows viewers to ask
questions in real-time. Over 550 participants tuned
in and asked questions about the technology
demonstrated and the benefits to patients.
Dr. Rama Khokha and her team discovered that
blocking the master regulator of bone renewal
stops osteosarcoma, the most common primary
bone cancer in children and teens. Osteosarcoma
is the disease that proved fatal for Canadian icon
Terry Fox.
Stem-cell scientists, led by Dr. John Dick, have
discovered a completely new understanding
of how human blood is made. For people with
blood disorders and diseases, including leukemia
and lymphoma, the potential benefits of this
discovery are significant, unlocking a distinct
route to personalizing therapy.