Experts: World Cancer Day 2025
Feb. 4 is World Cancer Day, a chance to raise awareness about the second-leading cause of death globally.
These experts from McGill University are available to share their insights:
Advances in cancer treatment
Jonathan Spicer, Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery and thoracic surgeon, McGill University Heath Centre. He is involved in the first trial in Canada using mRNA technology to fight the most common form of lung cancer.
jonathan.spicer [at] mcgill.ca (English)
Precision cancer medicine is an approach that customizes treatments based on each patient’s unique needs, a theme in this year’s campaign. These experts can discuss the latest advancements in this field:
Heather Melichar, Member, Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute and Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology.
heather.melichar [at] mcgill.ca (English)
George Zogopoulos, Investigator, Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute and Scientist, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre.
george.zogopoulos [at] mcgill.ca (English)
Advances in genetic testing
William Foulkes, Distinguished James McGill Professor, Departments of Medicine, Oncology, and Human Genetics and cancer geneticist, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre. His latest study demonstrated the benefits of universal genetic testing for breast cancer.
william.foulkes [at] mcgill.ca (English)
Patricia Tonin, Full Professor, Departments of Medicine and Human Genetics and Senior Scientist, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre. She helped discover two key genes linked to breast and ovarian cancer in the 1990s and now studies their impact on the Quebec population.
patricia.tonin [at] mcgill.ca (English)
The importance of early testing
Nicole Ezer, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, respirologist, McGill University Health Centre, Director, McGill Lung Cancer Screening Program.
nicole.ezer [at] mcgill.ca (English, French)
Lucy Gilbert, Professor, Department of Oncology, and Director of Gynecologic Oncology, McGill University and McGill University Health Centre (MUHC).
lucy.gilbert [at] mcgill.ca (English)
Cancer risks and prevention
Sasha Bernatsky, James McGill Professor, Divisions of Rheumatology and Clinical Epidemiology. Her research focuses on how the immune system, and medications affecting it, can affect cancer risk.
sasha.bernatsky [at] mcgill.ca (English)
Firoozeh Samim, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences. She has expertise in oral and oropharyngeal cancer.
firoozeh.samim [at] mcgill.ca (English, French, Farsi)
Scott Weichenthal, Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health. His research is dedicated to identifying environmental risk factors for chronic diseases such as cancer.
scottandrew.weichenthal [at] mcgill.ca (English)
