Dr. Ann M. Dorward
Canada Research Chair in Molecular Signaling in Human Health and Disease
Phone: 709-777-6662
Email: ann.dorward@mun.ca
Coming to Canada from
United States
Research
involves
Understanding the role genes play in causing breast, gynaecological
and other non-hereditary cancers.
Research
relevance
May allow for the development of new imaging techniques for early
detection of cancer and new therapies.
Cancer Research: Of
Mice and Models
Let's face it: no one wants to get cancer. But a good number of us
will, and even if we don't, a loved one will probably not be so
lucky. Last year alone, 37,000 men and 33,400 women in Canada died
from the disease. And, as the Canadian population ages, those
numbers will grow.
Fighting cancer is a three-stage battle: prevention, early
detection, and treatment. As Canada Research Chair in Molecular
Signaling in Human Health and Disease, Dr. Ann Dorward's research
has applications in all these areas-especially early detection,
which is crucial to a successful treatment. And because of the
higher rates of cancer on Canada's east coast, Dorward's research
will be particularly welcome in Atlantic Canada, where her work
will take place.
Dorward is a world leader in using mice as models to explore cancer
risk, detection and progression. Calculating a person's risk for
developing cancer is not a simple equation, for both genetic and
environmental factors play a role. Studying mouse models of human
cancers helps us determine which genes in relation to which
environmental factors-diet, exercise, exposure to toxins,
etc.-increase the risk of developing specific cancers.
Such models also make it possible to investigate the unique
characteristics of cancers that make them susceptible to certain
drugs or detectable by certain imaging techniques. This knowledge
can greatly improve survival rates.
Despite our best efforts, cancer rates are still on the rise in
Canada. Along with dozens of other Canada Research Chairs who are
working in this area, Dorward is working hard to reverse this
trend.
