MOHCCN News

Patient Voices in Research initiative recipients share their results with the Network

This spring, research teams funded through MOHCCN’s Patient Voices in Research Initiative presented the results of their projects to the Network in a series of seminars.

The Patient Voices in Research initiative is believed to be the first of its kind in Canada to be fully designed and adjudicated by cancer patients for cancer patients. It was conceived by the Network’s Patient Working Group, a national advisory group made up of over 30 cancer patients, survivors and caregivers that helps steer the Network’s effort to rollout precision oncology for patients across Canada. After designing, launching and reviewing the awards, the group selected 10 outstanding Canadian research teams to receive a total of $1.8M.

Patient Voices in Research Initiative Seminar Series (pt. 1)

April 22, 2026

Research presentations
  • PROPEL: Patient Reported Outcomes of People Experiencing Lung Cancer - Vishal Navani, MBBS, MRCP, FRACP (University of Calgary)
  • PAtient-driven Cancer Trials (PACT): The development of a patient-centred clinical trial design framework for precision oncology - Samantha Pollard, PhD (Simon Fraser University)

This event was co-chaired by Rosilene Kraft, PhD, PEng, MOHCCN Patient Working Group member, and by Véronique LeBlanc, PhD, Network Program Manager and Scientific Writer, TFRI.

Patient Voices in Research Initiative Seminar Series (pt. 2)

May 6, 2026

Research presentations
  • Towards Co-designing Interventions to Address Disparities in Cancer Genetics - Yvonne Bombard, PhD, FCAHS and  Sonya Grewal, MSc (Unity Health Toronto)
  • The challenge to offer a second hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to children and yound adults with relapsed hematological malignancies: Using a qualitative approach to explore health care professional, parental and patient decision-making variables - Joerg Krueger, MD, PhD (The Hospital for Sick Children)

This event was co-chaired by Kirsten Efremov, MOHCCN Patient Working Group member, and by Véronique LeBlanc, PhD, Network Program Manager and Scientific Writer, TFRI.

Patient Voices in Research Initiative Seminar Series (pt. 3)

May 7, 2026

Research presentations
  • Patient-focused evAluatioN Of dispaRities AMong pArticipants enrolled onto PRecision Oncology studies (PANORAMA-PRO) - Abdulazeez Salawu, MD, PhD (Princess Margaret Cancer Centre / University Health Network)
  • Co-designing an intervention to support people living with and beyond a metastatic cancer diagnosis - Robin Urquhart, PhD (Dalhousie University)
  • Exploring the perspectives of stakeholders for homologous recombination deficient (HRD) biomarker testing to guide precision medicine for advanced ovarian cancer treatment - Helen McTaggart-Cowan, PhD (BC Cancer)

This event was co-chaired by Sally Nystrom, MOHCCN Patient Working Group member, and by Véronique LeBlanc, PhD, Network Program Manager and Scientific Writer, TFRI.

Patient Voices in Research Initiative Seminar Series (pt. 4)

May 14, 2026

Research presentations
  • Landscape of cancer drug approvals and reimbursement decisions in Canada - Bishal Gyawali, MD, PhD, FASCO (Queen’s University)
  • Setting up a personalized learning path for patients with neuroendocrine tumours (Mise en place d’un parcours d’apprentissage personnalisé pour les patients porteurs de tumeurs neuro-endocrine) - Marie-Pascale Pomey, MD, PhD (Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM))
  • Physical Activity as a Novel Management Approach in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms: the MPN-FIT Study - Natasha Szuber, MD, MSc and Marie Ouellet (Maisonneuve Rosemont Hospital Research Center (CR-HMR))

This event was co-chaired by Natalie A-K, BSc, MBA, CPA-CMA, de novo stage 4 breast cancer patient, MOHCCN Patient Working Group and Network Council member, and by Clare Dean, Patient Working Group Coordinator, TFRI.

Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network Seminar Series:

The presentation was part of MOHCCN Seminar Series, which features virtual talks from MOHCCN research partner investigators and trainees, providing a platform for MOHCCN members to share their ongoing work in precision oncology with the wider Network. 

Learn about past and upcoming seminars.