2021 Winners: Dr. Michael Ong and Dr. Albiruni Abdul Razak Wednesday, April 28, 2021 Dr. Elizabeth Eisenhauer Early Drug Development Young Investigator Award Congratulations to the 2021 Winners Dr. Michael Ong and Dr. Albiruni Abdul Razak announced at the CCTG Spring Meeting last week. The Elizabeth Eisenhauer Young Investigator Award is presented to any MD, fellow, or PhD, within 7 years of certification / first faculty appointment, or current fellow who has either spent time at CCTG Central Office, worked on projects with the Investigational New Drug (IND) Program or who has contributed significantly to the conduct of an IND trial at a participating centre. 2021 – Dr. Michael Ong Dr. Michael Ong is a clinician investigator and staff medical oncologist at The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre. His research focus includes targeted and immunotherapeutic drug development for prostate, melanoma, and bladder cancers. He previously completed a drug development fellowship at The Royal Marsden Hospital and Institute of Cancer Research in the UK. He currently is the national chair of an investigator-initiated multicentre trial, RADIANT, combining immunotherapy with radiation as neoadjuvant treatment of bladder cancer, and co-chair of IND.234 Arm C, a cfDNA-directed trial evaluating darolutamide in AR-altered prostate cancer. In addition, he is an investigator on numerous international phase I and II trials and registry studies, research co-chair for the residency training program, and research ethics board member. Dr. Ong serves on the CCTG as a member of the GU trial development group, NCI prostate cancer task force, and IND liaison for melanoma. “I am incredibly honoured and humbled to receive this award. Like many, I have looked up to Elizabeth Eisenhauer as someone who embodies excellence, innovation, and leadership in Canadian cancer research. Her dedication to improving patient outcomes is an inspiration to me, as I think of the many ‘miles to go’ that we have as a community of researchers and clinicians. Thank you sincerely to CCTG for the recognition and award.” 2021 – Dr. Albiruni Abdul Razak Dr. Abdul Razak is an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto. Clinically, he is a Staff Medical Oncologist in Phase 1 Clinical Trials and Sarcoma at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto. He also leads the Medical Oncology Sarcoma Program at both institutions. Originally from Malaysia, he underwent medical and oncology training in Ireland, England, and Canada. He is the recipient of several international awards, including the Young Investigator Award from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the Merit Award from the Conquer Cancer Foundation, and the Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Award from the British Lung Foundation. Dr. Abdul Razak was also the inaugural recipient of the Sarcoma Cancer Foundation of Canada Fellowship. Dr Razak’s main interest is new drug development, especially in the field of sarcoma. He has also taken a role to mentor and train the next generation of sarcoma oncologists, with fellows from Australia, Ireland, Israel, Jordan, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. “I am thankful, honoured and humbled by this recognition. It embodies all the advice, guidance and help from my mentors and colleagues, as well as the unwavering support from my family over the years. My deepest gratitude to all.”
