Ovarian Cancer Canada’s Research Forum: Accelerating progress, creating impact

Agenda

Welcome

6:00 p.m.

Ovarian Cancer Canada’s OvCAN research initiative: continuing to drive research progress in Canada

6:05 – 6:15 p.m.
Dr. Barbara Vanderhyden, Professor, University of Ottawa and Senior Scientist, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute ; Dr. Alicia Tone, Scientific Advisor, Ovarian Cancer Canada
Attendees will hear exciting updates on Ovarian Cancer Canada’s OvCAN research initiative, including a high-level overview of funded research projects and next steps.

Patients at the forefront of research

6:15 – 6:45 p.m.
Dr. Jessica Lawson, Research Coordinator, Ovarian Cancer Canada; Livia Ujj, Patient Partner in Research; Martha Hoyt, Patient Partner in Research; Julee Pauling, Patient Partner in Research
Ovarian Cancer Canada’s Patient Partners in Research (PPIR) program is a national group of women, largely with a personal diagnosis of ovarian cancer, who are providing their valuable insights and experiences to enhance the quality of ovarian cancer research in Canada. Patient partners are embedded in all aspects of our research, such as serving on grant review panels, consulting on funding proposals and patient resources and becoming active members of research teams. This session will introduce you to only a handful of these incredible women, who will share their motivation for getting involved and their experiences to date as a patient partner.

Break

Ovarian Cancer Canada’s way forward: Demanding action, delivering change and transforming lives

6:50 – 7:00 p.m.
Tania Vrionis, CEO, Ovarian Cancer Canada
Attendees will hear from Ovarian Cancer Canada’s CEO Tania Vrionis about the organization’s bold vision for the future. Covering a five-year span, Ovarian Cancer Canada’s new strategic plan demands action, delivers change, and will transform lives.

Immunotherapy in ovarian cancer: the next step forward

7:00 – 7:25 p.m.
Dr. Jeanette Boudreau, Associate Professor, Dalhousie University and Scientific Director; Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute
Attendees will receive an overview of the role of different immune cells in ovarian cancer. They will also hear about current challenges in treating ovarian cancer patients with immunotherapy, and the potential for immunotherapy using natural killer cells.

Break

Meet the next generation of ovarian cancer researchers

7:35 – 8:20 p.m.
Donna Pepin, Patient Partner in Research Patient Co-lead; Dr. Alicia Tone, Scientific Advisor, Ovarian Cancer Canada; Dalia Ibrahim, Research Trainee; Emma Gerber, Research Trainee; Morgan Pugh-Toole, Research Trainee
This session will highlight some of the exceptional trainees in ovarian cancer research, from labs and hospitals across the country. A panel discussion will explore what drew them to this field, important and exciting work that they are conducting and how they hope to positively impact women living with ovarian cancer.

Of the patient, by the patient, for the patient

8:20 – 8:45 p.m.
Dr. Mark Carey, Gynecologic Oncologist, Vancouver General Hospital and Clinical Professor University of British Columbia; Dr. Nelson Wong, Staff Scientist, BC Cancer; Dr. Marta Llauradó Fernández, Research Associate, University of British Columbia
Attendees will hear about new research models of low-grade serous ovarian cancer, developed using patient tissue samples. They will also hear about a national collaboration on rare types of ovarian cancer that promises to expand treatment opportunities in the future.

Tumour testing and ovarian cancer drug prediction program

8:45 – 8:55 p.m.
Dr. Laura Hopkins, Gynecologic Oncologist, Professor University of Saskatchewan, Provincial Lead for Gynecologic Oncology
During this session, attendees will learn from Dr. Laura Hopkins about The Patient Decision Aid, an aid for those who are tumour tested and found to be homologous recombination proficient. Co-developed by a team of medical experts and patients, this aid was created to inform and empower patients to decide whether niraparib (Zejula) is the best treatment option for them. The Patient Decision Aid will be used in the real-world clinical trial of tumour testing beginning May 2023 and will eventually be made available to patients across Canada.

Closing remarks

8:55 p.m.