Dr. Shantanu Banerji, BSc(Med), MD, FRCPC; Medical Oncologist, CancerCare Manitoba, MacCharles Site; Senior Scientist, Research Institute in Haematology and Oncology, CancerCare Manitoba; Director, Precision Oncology and Advanced Therapeutics, CancerCare Manitoba; Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Haematology/ Oncology, University of Manitoba

Ms. Louise Binder, B.A., LL.B, LL.D (hon ), O.Ont. Health Advocate and Health Policy Consultant, CONECTed - Save Your Skin Foundation

Louise Binder is a lawyer and health policy advocate involved in informing the development of health policy and systemic treatment access practices from a patient perspective for more than 25 years. She started her work in the HIV community in the 1990s after her own diagnosis and before effective treatments were available for HIV. She cofounded the Canadian Treatment Action Council (CTAC) in 1996, that successfully ensured access to treatments and quality care for people living with HIV by working with the federal and provincial governments and other relevant stakeholders to enhance drug review and approval systems, pricing policies and access to liver transplants.

She wrote a Paper on Universal Drug Coverage over a decade ago while Chair of CTAC. She had a special interest in women's issues, chairing the Ontario women's HIV organization Voice of Positive Women for over a decade and working internationally as well. Six years ago Louise began similar work in oncology and is presently Health Policy Consultant for the Save Your Skin Foundation. She has been recognized for her work, receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from her alma mater Queen's Law School, the Order of Ontario from the province of Ontario and two Queen Elizabeth II medals.

Dr. Yvonne Bombard, PhD; Canada Research Chair in Genomics Health Services and Policy; Associate Professor, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto; Director, Genomics Health Services Research Program & Scientist, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto; Co-Founder & CEO, Genetics Adviser

Dr. Michael Carter, MD PhD FRCPC; Medical Director, Molecular Diagnostics, Nova Scotia Health; Medical Director of Research, Division of Anatomical Pathology; Co-Chair, Molecular Oncology Diagnostic Testing Provincial Stewardship Committee for Nova Scotia Health

Ms. Brenda Clayton, MN; Founder, Cholangio-Hepatocellular Carcinoma Canada

Maura Cosgrave, Paediatric Cancer Patient Advocate

Dr. Mary De Vera, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.; Epidemiologist, Associate Professor, UBC; Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Health Outcomes and Treatment Adherence

Dr. Shaan Dudani, MBChB, MPH, FRCPC; Medical Oncologist, William Osler Health System; Assistant Professor, University of Toronto

Mrs. Martine Elias, Executive Director, Myeloma Canada

Martine Elias is the Executive Director at Myeloma Canada, the only patient-driven, grassroots organization bringing the Canadian myeloma community together and promoting a strong, unified national voice for people living with multiple myeloma. She has been serving in this role since June 2018.

In addition, Martine is the Co-Chair of the Collective Oncology Network for Exchange, Cancer Care Innovation, Treatment Access and Education (CONECTed), a Canadian network of patient groups working to promote greater education and understanding of cancer therapies to ensure that Canadians have equal, timely and equitable access to these therapies, companion diagnostics, and supportive care.

She is also a member of the founding steering committee of the Patient-Centered Approach to Clinical Trials (PACT) that works to ensure and support the realization of active and equal patient and patient group engagement in cancer clinical trials. In recent years, Martine has been a strong advocate for the use of Real-World Evidence and evidence-based generation research and methodologies to answer uncertain questions when difficult decisions are made of give access to meaningful therapies that demonstrate promising results with only phase II data. She believes the patient voice must be at the table as this evolving data evidence is being shaped.

Martine believes intentional collaboration is key to evolving the knowledge of myeloma for the betterment of patients. In February 2020 she was invited to join the International Myeloma Foundation Board of directors where she is a member of their International Advocacy Committee and their Governance Committee. She also serves to represent Canada on the Myeloma Patient Europe Community Advisory Board (CAB) since 2019 where patient advocates address key challenges patients face in accessing diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, care, and clinical trial at an international level.

Martine started her career in clinical research in the pharmaceutical industry and has since dedicated her professional life to patient advocacy, empowering the patient voice, and helping patients gain access to essential medical treatments. She is passionate about ensuring that the patient voice is included in all aspects of health policy decisions.

Previously, Martine was Director Access, Advocacy and Community Relations at Myeloma Canada where she developed, led, and executed all advocacy strategies and programs.

Prior to that Martine held roles as National Director of Community Relations at Janssen Inc., and Market Access and Health Economics team leader at GSK.

Dr. Cathy Eng, MD, FACP, FASCO; Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN; David H. Johnson Chair in Surgical and Medical Oncology; Professor of Medicine, Hematology and Oncology; Director for Strategic Relations; Co-Director, GI Oncology; Co-Leader, Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Program; Director, Young Adult Cancers Program; Co-Chair, NCI Gastrointestinal Steering Committee

Cathy Eng, MD, FACP, FASCO, Professor of Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, is the David H. Johnson Endowed Chair of Surgical and Medical Oncology, Co-Director of GI Oncology and the Co-Leader of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Program, Director of Strategic Relations, and the Director of the Young Adults Cancers Program at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. She served as the Ambassador for the American Cancer Society ResearcHERS campaign in Nashville (2020-2022). She currently sits on the Board of Directors for the national patient advocacy group, Fight Colorectal Cancer. She is a highly sought mentor and served on the Vanderbilt-Ingram Mentorship Council and is currently a mentor on the T-32 grant and serves as a Professional Development Mentor. She served as the Director of the Developmental Research Program for the GI SPORE.

She continues to assume leadership positions devoted to development of phase I-III clinical trials using novel therapeutics for biomarker discovery and enhanced drug utilization in colorectal, appendiceal and anal cancer. She was awarded the VUMC Biomedical Scientific Impact Award in 2023.

Nationally, Dr. Eng has also been highly active serving on ASCO, ECOG, and SWOG. She has served as the co-chair of the SWOG Rectal/Anal Cancer Subcommittee, the Vice-Chair for the SWOG GI Committee, Chairman of the NCI Rectal/Anal Task Force, served on the NCI GI Steering Committee, and is currently the co-Chair of the NCI GI Steering Committee. She was also chosen as a Fellow of the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM), Class of 2022.

She has published in many peer-reviewed journals including Journal of Clinical Oncology, Lancet, Lancet Oncology, Nature Review, JNCI, New England Journal of Medicine, Annals of Oncology, Cancer, and Annals of Surgical Oncology. She has served as a consultant to the FDA and AHRQ, Cancer Research UK: Training & Career Development Board - Clinician Scientist Fellowship, the Italian Association for Cancer Research, the Dutch Digestive Foundation, the Stand Up to Cancer (SU2C) - Farrah Fawcett Foundation Joint Scientific Advisory Committee (JSAC) and the SWOG Impact Award.

Dr. Harriet Feilotter, PhD, FCCMG; Division Head, Genome Diagnostics, Laboratory Medicine Program, University Health Network; Service Chief, Laboratory Genetics, Kingston Health Sciences Centre; Professor (Adjunct), Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen’s University

Dr. Denis Horgan, PhD, LLM, MSc, BCL; Executive Director, European Alliance of Personalised Medicine (EAPM); Editor in Chief, Public Health Genomics Journal; Chair of the Stakeholder Advisory Group, International Cancer Genome Consortium

Mr. Don Husereau, BSc Pharm MSc; Adjunct Professor of Medicine, University of Ottawa

Mr. Craig Ivany, MBA; Chief Provincial Diagnostics Officer, Provincial Health Services Authority, British Columbia

Dr. Pashtoon Kasi, MD, MS; Oncologist and Researcher, Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian Hospital; Director for Colorectal Cancer Research, Weill Cornell Medicine; Precision Medicine Director for Liquid Biopsy Research, Englander Institute of Precision Medicine

Dr. Pashtoon Kasi, MD, MS is an oncologist and researcher at Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian Hospital. He focuses on treating patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancers and the treatment of patients with novel drugs/early-phase clinical trials. At Weill Cornell Medicine, Dr. Kasi additionally serves as the Director for Colorectal Cancer Research, as well as Precision Medicine Director for Liquid Biopsy Research at the Englander Institute of Precision Medicine.

Dr. Kasi received his medical degree from the prestigious Aga Khan University (AKU) in Pakistan in 2006. He did a year of internship at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA) in 2009. Following this Dr. Kasi completed his residency at the International Scholars Program (ISP) at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). Subsequently in 2016 he completed a fellowship in oncology and hematology at the Mayo Clinic. At the Mayo Clinic, he also completed a post-doctoral master’s program at the Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education (MSGME) in clinical and translational sciences (Masters in Basic Sciences).

Prior to joining Weill Cornell Medicine, Dr. Kasi served as an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the University of Iowa. Before that, he was an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Oncology at both University of Iowa and Mayo Clinic. Dr. Kasi was one of a select few who were appointed to the academic post of Assistant Professor of Oncology and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic during his fellowship due to his research and academic achievements.

Dr. Kasi’s research focus has been on “liquid biopsies” [(circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs)], alongside developing and conducting clinical trials focused on precision oncology and precision medicine. Dr. Kasi is an author and editor of several books including: “Research: What, Why and How: A Treatise from Researchers to Researchers”, and “Impact of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in Patients with Gastrointestinal Malignancies” and has over 100 publications in leading peer-reviewed journals. Additionally, Dr. Kasi has been active as a principal investigator on numerous investigator-initiated, industry-sponsored as well as cooperative group clinical trials in oncology.

Ms. Emmanuelle Langelier

Emmanuelle Langelier is 44 years old and a caregiver to her 39 years old husband diagnosed with stage 4 rectal cancer in December 2022. Her husband was having symptoms for many months, but having no prior health issues, no family doctor and had been on the lowest priority list for 4 years before he got assigned a clinic. It took almost 6 months between the time he finally saw a doctor to the time he was diagnosed. He always seems to be falling between the cracks of the Health Care System and she is fighting for his life as hard as he is.

Emmanuelle is a Federal Public Servant living in the province of Quebec. She believes we can all come together to make the Canadian Health Care System better. Stage 4 cancer does not have to be what the books say it has to be. She is here to find solutions.

Mrs. Richelle Laturnus, BSc; Support Services Manager, Prostate Cancer Foundation Canada

Richelle is the Support Services Manager at Prostate Cancer Foundation Canada, a grassroots nonprofit that has provided leadership and resources in prostate cancer support, awareness, and research for over 25 years. Richelle oversees Prostate Cancer Foundation Canada's patient and partner support services, including their local and nationwide support groups, educational initiatives, and awareness programs which reach patients and their loved ones across Canada.

Through her degree in Population and Quantitative Health, she found herself increasingly interested in improving health equity within the non-profit sector. She is particularly passionate about increasing accessibility to, and awareness of, fair, equitable, and quality health and support services for anyone affected by prostate cancer in Canada.

Dr. Christopher Lieu, MD; Associate Professor, Director, GI Oncology, University of Colorado

Dr. Catalina Lopez-Correa, MD, PhD; Chief Scientific Officer, Genome Canada

Dr. Lopez-Correa is the Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) at Genome Canada. Dr. Lopez-Correa has dedicated her career to genomics and its transformative applications in life sciences in Canada and internationally. As CSO at Genome Quebec (2008-2015) and Genome BC (2015-2019), she was instrumental in developing competitive teams for research and innovation initiatives raising the profile of Canadian genomics on the global stage. Recently, as the Executive Director of the Canadian COVID19 Genomics Network (CanCOGeN) she led a $40M initiative to advance the use of genomics to understand and control the COVID19 pandemic. Now, as CSO of Genome Canada, and as a breast cancer survivor, she is taking genomics to the next level, by advancing the national and global implementation of genomic technologies.

Dr. Lopez-Correa’s work has been recognized with several awards. In 2017 the Canadian Senate 150th Anniversary Medal, in 2013 the National Order of Merit from Colombia.

Ms. Cassandra Macaulay, BSc, MHS, RTNM; Senior Manager of Programs & Education, CCRAN

Dr. Michael Mengel, MD; Chair & Medical Director, Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Alberta; Medical Director, Alberta Precision Laboratories Ltd.

Dr. Mengel is Chair and Medical Director for Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at the University of Alberta and with Alberta Precision Laboratories Ltd. in Edmonton, Canada.

He studied medicine at the Semmelweiss University in Budapest, Hungary before going on to specialise in pathology and further in transplantation pathology and nephropathology. Before moving to Edmonton he provided transplant pathology service at the Hannover Medical School, Germany. As a sub-specialized Transplantation and Renal Pathologist, Dr. Mengel is engaged in various international sub-specialty societies related to nephropathology and organ transplantation and has published widely in his field. His current work is focused on applying molecular techniques to biopsy specimens, with the aim to increase diagnostic precision in organ transplantation.

Mr. Ken Noel, Executive Director, The Walnut Foundation

Initially diagnosed in late 2012 after two years of rising PSA levels and three Biopsies. Although initial diagnosis was a low grade cancer, the final pathology report, after surgery, revealed a more aggressive cancer which required further radiation treatment.

Mr. Noel’s own research into his cancer revealed a lack of information about prostate cancer incidences in black men in Canada and a silence within the Black Community about this disease. In response, he joined the Walnut Foundation in 2014 to lend his experience in their mandate to increase awareness in the Back Communities. Mr. Noel’s work with The Walnut Foundation included organizing and chairing the annua health conference, 4 years as the President of the Foundation, and his current role as Executive Director with a mandate to grow the Foundation.

Dr. Nicola Normanno, MD, Oncology and Hematology; Director, Cell Biology and Biotherapy Unit & Director, Translational Research Department, INT Fondazione Pascale, Naples, Italy

Dr. Nicola Normanno was born in Ottaviano (Italy) in 1964 and graduated cum laude in Medicine and Surgery in 1988. He worked as postdoctoral fellow in the National Cancer Institute of Bethesda (USA), then he specialized in Medical Oncology and later in Hematology. In 2004 he won the “Annals of Oncology Prize for Translational Research” and in 2005 he became Adjunct Associate Professor at the Temple University of Philadelphia. From 2005 he has been appointed as Director of the Cell Biology and Biotherapy Unit of INT Fondazione “G. Pascale” and from 2006 he is the Chairman of the Research Department of the same institute.

Dr. Normanno leads a research group involved in both pre-clinical and clinical studies, with particular regard to the identification of biomarkers associated with sensitivity/resistance to target-based agents in clinical development. Dr. Normanno’s group has been one of the first to use next generation sequencing (NGS)-based techniques in clinical trials. His group has a relevant expertise in liquid biopsy. Dr. Normanno is also involved in clinical diagnostics and in the organization of national and international external quality assessment (EQA) schemes in molecular pathology.

Dr. Normanno is a member of many national and international cancer research associations (AACR, GOIM, AIOT, ESMO, AIOM, SIC, FONICAP).He is President Elect of the Italian Society of Cancerology (SIC). Dr. Normanno is author of more than 200 publications in international journals and he is a reviewer for many peer reviewed journals.

Ms. Teresa Norris, Founder and President, HPV Global Action

Teresa Norris is a passionate Sexual Health Specialist with an expertise on Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and sexual health issues with over 17 years’ experience. She uses evidence-based communication methods and champions disease prevention strategies. She is also the President of HPV Global Action.

In 2006, Teresa founded HPV Global Action/VPH Action Globale, a bilingual registered charity offering forward-thinking research initiatives and programs in healthcare and academic settings and has developed synergies at different organizational and governmental levels evolving from local initiatives and up to the international stage.

Her focus is educating people of all ages about sex-positive and inclusive sexual and reproductive health, while emphasizing HPV and its potential consequences – which include nine preventable HPV-related cancers. With the support of her team and healthcare professionals across Canada and around the world, HPV Global Action is working to ensure countries offer equitable access to HPV prevention, cervical screening and access to treatment/care both in Canada and internationally.

Teresa is currently leading an international team that is putting forth a women-centred health implementation research project using integrated approaches to ensure sustainable systemic change for women in Sub Saharan Africa through a «one-stop shop» approach to offer women ranging 20-49 y.o. an opportunity to address their gynaecological needs during a two-hour visit, starting in Eswatini in September 2022. This project will be addressing four World Health Organization (WHO) 2030 objectives for disease control and elimination of: Cervical Cancer, Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and treatment of Soil transmitted helminths.

Prof. Klaus Pantel, Chairman, Institute of Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE)

Prof. Dr. Patrick Pauwels, MD, PhD; Head of the Laboratory of Molecular Pathology & Co-Director of the Center of Oncology Research (CORE), Antwerp University; Professor in Molecular Oncopathology, Antwerp University; Scientific Advisor, Luxemburg National Health Service

Prof. Dr. P. Pauwels obtained his MD certificate at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium in 1985. After a two-year fellowship in Internal Medicine, he started a residency in Pathology at the University of Leuven. He then worked as a staff pathologist in Eindhoven (NL) till 2002. He went to the Maastricht University Medical Center (NL) till 2005. From 2005 till 2009 he was pathologist at the Ghent University Hospital, Belgium. Since 2009 he works at the Antwerp University Medical Center. He obtained his PhD at the University of Leiden in 2004 in the field of molecular pathology (“Bridging the gap between cytogenetics and pathology of soft tissue tumours”).

He is head of the laboratory of molecular pathology and co-director of the Center of Oncology Research (CORE) of the Antwerp University.

He became professor in Molecular Oncopathology at the Antwerp University in 2012 and is scientific advisor of the Luxemburg National Health Service since 2013.

His principal interest is biomarker research in oncology, with a particular focus on liquid biopsy in cancer.

Prof Pauwels is Member of several societies: the American Association for Cancer Research, Member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Member of the ‘International Association of the Study of Lung Cancer (ISALC), Member of European Respiratory Society (ERS), Member of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), Member of the Belgian Society of Medical Oncology (BSMO), Member of the lung cancer group of the EORTC.

Dr. Michael Raphael, MD FRCPC; Medical Oncologist, Odette Cancer Center, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Mrs. Martha Raymond, MA, CPN; Founder/CEO, The Raymond Foundation; Founding Executive Director, GI Cancers Alliance

Martha Raymond is the Founder/CEO of The Raymond Foundation and serves as the Founding Executive Director of the GI Cancers Alliance. For over thirty-five years, Martha has been a passionate and dedicated advocate for cancer patients and caregivers. Martha has published numerous research articles in peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Cancer, and the Journal of Cancer Research. Martha’s research focuses on patient-reported outcomes to ensure that the patient voice and lived-experience is understood, valued, and considered throughout the care continuum.

Martha is a certified professional facilitator and serves as a frequent speaker and moderator for global oncology conferences and symposiums. Martha also serves as an oncology consultant specializing in program development for clients in academia, pharmaceutical industry, and global advocacy organizations.

In 2023 Martha was honored to receive two awards for her advocacy and research efforts: Excellence in Colorectal Cancer Advocacy by the WunderGlo Foundation, California and the Luminary Award in GI Cancers by Onc Live and the Ruesch Center / Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University.

Martha holds advanced graduate certifications in Integrative Medicine, Hospice Counseling, Palliative Care and Patient Navigation. As a life-long learner, Martha is a current executive education student at Harvard University Kennedy School.

Ms. Filomena Servidio-Italiano, Hon B.Sc., B.Ed., M.A.; President & CEO, CCRAN

Filomena is the President and CEO of the Colorectal Cancer Resource & Action Network (“CCRAN”) – a patient-focused organization championing the health and wellbeing of Canadians touched by colorectal cancer and others at risk of developing the disease. Her undergraduate and graduate work lie in the biological sciences and educational studies. As a caregiver to her father, who was afflicted with and succumbed to metastatic cancer, his journey has served as the impetus for the founding of CCRAN, one month post his passing in August of 2006.

The past seventeen years have been dedicated to the cause of supporting, educating, and advocating on behalf of colorectal cancer patients and caregivers, to improve patients’ quality of life and longevity by furnishing evidence-based information and access to unique and novel patient programs, such as CCRAN’s innovative “My CRC Consultant”, an online tool providing the metastatic patient with evidence-based and expert reviewed, potential therapeutic options based on the patient’s tumour’s molecular profile. She has been working closely with valued health care professionals across the continuum of colorectal cancer care to ensure content acumen in the management of colorectal cancer. She is humbled to be published alongside world-renowned experts in areas such as colorectal cancer management, PROs and PROMs, early age onset colorectal cancer awareness and education, promoting national LDLT efforts, education on molecular profiling, and more.

Filomena is a strong proponent of HTA patient evidence submissions since the inception of pCODR, ensuring the patient voice is captured and well incorporated into her HTA patient evidence submissions. She prepares these submissions not only for colorectal cancer drug therapies under review, but within therapeutic areas for which there are no representative patient advocacy groups or on behalf of patient advocacy groups who may not have the capacity to make these critically important submissions. She strives to secure robust patient and caregiver participation to help identify patients’ unmet needs, as well as capture their fundamentally important values, preferences, and priorities with the goal of ultimately ensuring reimbursement of effective treatments based on thoughtful and compelling input. She continues to be a passionate advocate for the Canadian cancer patient and their caregiver.

ABOUT CCRAN

The Colorectal Cancer Resource & Action Network (“CCRAN”) is a national, not for profit patient organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating on behalf of colorectal cancer patients and caregivers across Canada to help improve the quality of life and longevity for patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer. It is a patient-focused organization whose programs are inspired by two patient advisory councils, one of which is dedicated to Early Age Onset Colorectal Cancer (EAOCRC). CCRAN has expanded its mandate to now be serving a population of cancer patients outside of the colorectal cancer space through their HTA patient evidence submissions, educational events and advocacy initiatives to help reduce the burden of cancer in Canada.

Dr. Monika Slovinec D’Angelo, VBHC Expert; Chief Research Officer, CCRAN

Dr. Stephanie Snow, MD, FRCPC; Medical Oncologist, QEII Health Sciences Centre; Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University; President, Lung Cancer Canada

Dr. Joao Paulo (JP) Solar Vasconcelos, MD; Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology Fellow, BC Cancer, Vancouver

Dr. Alan Spatz, MD, MSc; Professor, Departments of Pathology and Oncology, McGill University; Chief, Department of Clinical laboratory medicine, McGill University Health Center (MUHC); Medical director, Optilab Montreal-MUHC network

Dr. Alan Spatz is professor of pathology and oncology at McGill university, chief of the department of Clinical laboratory medicine at the McGill University Health Center (MUHC), and medical director of Optilab Montreal-MUHC that is an integrated network of labs belonging to the McGill affiliated hospitals. He is also director of the molecular pathology center at the Lady David Institute (LDI)/Jewish General Hospital of Montreal, and of the “X chromosome and cancer” research lab at the LDI.

Dr. Spatz received his medical education at the Sorbonne university, Paris, France, and worked at the Gustave Roussy cancer institute in Villejuif, France, from 1994 to 2008.

Dr. Spatz serves on the board and steering committee of several international and Canadian research organizations that include the WIN Consortium (winconsortium.org), Exactis Innovation (exactis.ca), and the Canadian BEAT-cancer coalition for advanced molecular diagnostics. He is currently co-chair of the Correlative sciences committee of the Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG) and the president of the Oncology committee of the Quebec Network of Molecular Diagnostic (RQDM). He was chair of several clinical research organizations, including the Melanoma group of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), the Pathobiology group of the EORTC that he founded, the Melanoma committee of the CCTG, and was president of the French division of the International Academy of Pathology.

Dr. Spatz’ research is focused on cancer biomarkers and on the role of the X chromosome-related haploinsufficency in cancer progression. He has published more than 230 peer reviewed articles and books in highly ranked journals including Nature Medicine, Nature Cancer, Nature Cancer Reviews, Lancet, Science Translational Medicine, Science Immunology, Annals of Oncology, and Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Prof. David Thomas, Director, Centre for Molecular Oncology, University of New South Wales; Head of the Genomic Cancer Medicine Laboratory, Garvan Institute of Medical Research; CEO, Omico

Dr. Laura Weeks, PhD; Director, Health Technology Assessment, CADTH

Dr. Stephen Yip, Associate Professor, UBC; Clinician-Scientist, Neuropathologist, BCCA; Associate Member at Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre

Dr. Darren Larsen, MD, CCFP, MPL; Chair, Cancer Quality Council of Ontario; Board Director, Canadian Partnership Against Cancer; Senior fellow, Women’s College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care; Lecturer, Department of Family and Community Medicine and Institute for Health Policy Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto

Over his 33 years as a comprehensive care Family Physician, Darren has been involved in many provincial and national Health IT, Quality and Physician Leadership initiatives in Canada. He has contributed to multiple digital health, primary care and quality commissions for the Ontario Ministry of Health, Ontario Health (Quality, Digital Services and Cancer Care) as well as the Ontario and Canadian Medical Associations. He is Chair of the Cancer Quality Council of Ontario, Board Director for the federal agency Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, and is a senior fellow at WIHV (Women’s College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care). Most recently Darren has held senior executive positions at Accenture and TELUS Health. His digital health interests include data analytics, measurement for quality improvement and accountability, physician change and issues of scale and spread.

Darren obtained his Bachelor of Science at the University of Alberta, Medical Doctorate at the University of Calgary, did residency at the University of Ottawa and holds a Masters Certificate in Physician Leadership from York University’s Schulich School of Executive Management. He was most recently Chief Medical Director of TELUS Health Care Centres nationally, practices at Women’s College Hospital, and teaches at the University of Toronto in the Department of Family and Community Medicine as well as the Institute for Health Policy Management and Evaluation.

Dr. David J. Stewart, MD; Professor of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, University of Ottawa and The Ottawa Hospital

Ms. Laura Greer, Senior Vice President and National Health Sector Lead, Health and Wellness. Hill & Knowlton

Laura brings more than 25 years of health public affairs experience, integrating communications, stakeholder, digital and government relations strategies to achieve public policy and business objectives. She has worked extensively in oncology, chronic disease and rare disease, leading advocacy campaigns that engage patients, health professionals and government stakeholders. At H&K, she has led accounts in the pharmaceutical, health professional, digital health, seniors care, hospital, regulator and not-for-profit sectors, including serving as executive director of a patient advocacy organization. Laura has a demonstrated track record of success and an established network of health system partners.

Laura serves as strategic lead for the Cancer Action Now Alliance and the Right2Survive lung cancer campaign.

While having worked professionally in cancer advocacy for many years, it became very personal when Laura was diagnosed with metastatic lobular breast cancer in late 2021. She uses this firsthand patient experience to inform communications and advocacy strategies.

Before joining the firm, Laura spent more than a decade working in Ontario’s hospital sector, gaining first-hand experience inside the health system. She was a senior member of the public affairs team at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), focusing on developing and implementing public affairs and public relations programs, including reactive and proactive media relations, internal communications and issues management. As head of the research public affairs portfolio, Laura built the public profile of the SickKids Research Institute, with a particular focus on genetics, genomic and stem cell research. She also developed government and stakeholder relations programs to secure sustainable funding for research and innovation.

Laura holds a bachelor of arts (honours) in political science from McGill University and a graduate diploma in journalism from Concordia University and worked in print journalism before entering the field of public affairs.

She lives in Toronto with her husband and two teenage sons.

Dr. Christopher Booth, Professor and Medical Oncologist, Queen's University and Kingston Health Sciences Centre