Cancer Therapeutics Program Receives CIHR’s 2013 Synapse Award for Mentorship

This award recognizes the program’s efforts to help Canadian youth become educated about developments in cancer research and prevention

For immediate release –

2013-20

Ottawa (May 23, 2013) – The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is pleased to announce that the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute's (OHR) Cancer Therapeutics Program (CTP) team, which is led by Dr. Michael McBurney, has won the 2013 CIHR Synapse Mentorship Award – Research Group.

The award, which is worth $10,000, recognizes the efforts of a group that has made exceptional efforts to promote health research among Canada’s high school students. Through mentorship, the winning group regularly motivates youth to consider both the value of health research as well career opportunities that exist within various scientific fields. The winning group is nominated by someone who understands its direct scientific contributions to young people, and is chosen by the members of the CIHR Youth Outreach Advisory Board.

“I’m impressed with CTP’s commitment to education regarding an important subject,” says the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health. “They deserve this award for their collective effort to keep youth informed about cancer and the research that currently exists to treat those who suffer from it. By encouraging students to consider a career in science, CTP may help create the next generation of researchers who could develop innovative treatments or cures for this horrible disease.”

For 23 years, OHRI’s CTP group, which is based at The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre and affiliated with the University of Ottawa, has been promoting awareness of cancer among youth with the help of 18 scientists/clinician-scientists and their affiliated research teams. Through coop programs or in preparation for the Ottawa Regional Science Fair and the Sanofi-Aventis BioGenius Challenge (SABC), over 60 high school students have been mentored by CTP supervisors in labs. On an annual basis, the group has also provided 10-13 walk-through tours of their labs at the cancer centre for high school students. These half-or full-day tours give students the chance to perform hands-on activities at the centre that include exploring DNA, cancer cells and oncolytic viruses. Each year, CTP scientists have also provided 25-30 presentations regarding cancer prevention and research to high school students or groups representing charitable organizations (such as Canadian Cancer Society). In 2009, in consultation with high school science teachers, the group created a Cancer Education Program for high school students made up of seven interactive education modules: normal cell biology, cancer cell biology, tumour biology, causes of cancer and prevention, targeted therapeutics, viruses, and oncolytic viruses. The modules have been delivered as workshops to high school students in Ottawa and, in partnership with a non-profit youth science outreach organization Science Travels, to youth in Northern Ontario and Nunavut. CTP has also taken part in fundraising events regarding cancer treatment and research.

“The CTP’s long-term devotion to education is truly admirable,” says Dr. Robert Thirsk, CIHR’s Vice-President of Public, Government and Institute Affairs Portfolio. “Their interest in providing science outreach to youth about the latest developments in cancer research and prevention will motivate students to consider a career in health research. It’s a fantastic step in the right direction and I commend their efforts.”

CIHR’s Synapse – Youth Connection initiativeacts as a meeting place, a scientific junction that brings together health researchers and young students. More than 8,500 CIHR-funded health researchers from across the country have already signed up to become CIHR Synapse mentors. Synapse, in collaborative partnership with national science outreach organizations, connects these mentors with high school students through hands-on training experience that will help create the next generation of Canadian health researchers.

The CTP’s award is one of three related to mentorship through CIHR’s Synapse initiative. Ms. Angela Alberga, from University of Ottawa, won the Synapse Mentorship Award – Graduate Student / Postdoctoral Fellow. Dr. Sandeep Raha, from McMaster University, won the Synapse Mentorship Award – Individual Researcher.

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About the Canadian Institutes of Health Research

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the Government of Canada's health research investment agency. CIHR's mission is to create new scientific knowledge and to enable its translation into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened health care system for Canadians. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support to more than 14,100 health researchers and trainees across Canada

About Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) is the research arm of The Ottawa Hospital and is an affiliated institute of the University of Ottawa, closely associated with the university’s Faculties of Medicine and Health Sciences. OHRI includes more than 1,700 scientists, clinical investigators, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and staff conducting research to improve the understanding, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human disease. Research at OHRI is supported by The Ottawa Hospital Foundation.

Media Contacts:

David Coulombe
CIHR Media Specialist   
Tel. (Office): 613-941-4563
Tel. (Mobile): 613-808-7526
E-mail: mediarelations@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Paddy Moore
Manager, Communications and Public Relations
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Tel. (Office): 737-8899, ext. 73687
Tel. (Mobile): 613-323-5680 (cell)
E-mail: padmoore@ohri.ca