Contributions to CCTG Clinical Trial Excellence Every year CCTG engages with our national network to identify and recognize individuals who have contributed significantly to the mission and activities of the Group through the following award presentations. Dr. Joseph Pater Founder’s Award - Excellence in Clinical Trials Research Presented to a clinical trials research investigator whose leadership and body of work has contributed to significant advances in the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, cure, and prevention of cancer. Dr. Ralph Meyer Phase III Young Investigator Award - Presented to a young investigator who worked the at CCTG Central Office, on a Phase III trial, or contributed significantly to the conduct of a Phase III trial at a member centre. Dr. Elizabeth Eisenhauer Early Drug Development Young Investigator Award - Presented to a new investigator who has worked at the CCTG Central Office, IND projects, or has contributed significantly to the conduct of an IND trial at a member centre. CCTG Award for Excellence in Clinical Trials Conduct - Presented to an individual who exemplifies excellence in clinical trial operations and/or compliance at their institution. Team Awards: Phase III and Investigational New Drug Program - Presented to trial teams from member centres for performance in trial accrual, local activation timelines, compliance metrics and team performance is determined by the Executive IND Committee and Clinical Trials Committee. Make sure to attend the Recognition Awards on Friday May 3, 2024 - 5:30 - 6:00. For more information and how to submit a nomination please see below. Expand All Dr. Ralph Meyer Phase III Young Investigator Award Details: One award will be presented. Candidates may be nominated by their mentors, colleagues, or may self-nominate. Details are provided below. Name: Dr. Ralph Meyer Phase III Young Investigator Award Description The Ralph Meyer Young Investigator Award is presented annually to any MD, fellow, PhD within 10 years of certification / first faculty appointment or current fellow who has either spent time at CCTG Central Office, worked on Phase III projects with Disease Site Committees / Endpoint Committees / Working Groups, or who has contributed significantly to the conduct of a Phase III trial at a centre. Awarded: Annually at the CCTG Annual Spring Meeting of Participants Eligible: Any MD, fellow, PhD, within 10 years of certification / first faculty appointment or current fellow who has either spent time at Central Office (i.e. fellows), worked on Phase III projects with Disease Site Committees / Endpoint Committees / Working Groups, or who has contributed significantly to the conduct of a Phase III trial at a centre. Selection: All CCTG Investigators and Central Office Senior Investigators and Management will be asked to nominate potential awardees. A letter of nomination and support (or scientific abstract) is requested to facilitate the selection. The CCTG Clinical Trials Committee will review and select one awardee. Award: Glass Award. Nomination Process: Provide an abstract submitted to another meeting (e.g. ASCO, AACR) during 2023 or 2024 that meets the criteria listed above AND a brief cover letter describing the nominee’s background; OR Submit a letter detailing the nominee’s background and achievements, involvement in the activities/trials of the Phase III Program in 2023/2024, and why they are a candidate for the award. Deadline: March 15, 2024. Please submit all nominations to Heather Stanton, at hstanton@ctg.queensu.ca on behalf of the CCTG Director, Dr. Janet Dancey. 2024 Award Winner Dr. Hira Mian is a hematologist at the Juravinski Cancer Centre and an assistant professor within the department of oncology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, where she leads the multiple myeloma program. Dr. Mian completed her clinical training at the University of Toronto and furthered her research training at McMaster University where she obtained her Master’s in Health Research Methodology and completed the Clinician Investigator Program. Dr. Mian’s research interests center around health services and outcomes and clinical trials, with a specific focus on the care of older adults with MM. She is the recipient of numerous grants and an early career award. She serves as a board member of Myeloma Canada and an investigator with the Canadian Myeloma Research Group (CMRG) and the Canadian Cancer Clinical Trials Group. She is the study chair for the phase III CCTG trial MY13. 2023 Award Winner Dr. Ali Hosni Abdalaty Ali Hosni Abdalaty is currently an assistant professor at University of Toronto Department of Radiation Oncology and radiation oncologist clinician-investigator at the Radiation Medicine Program - Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and Clinician-Scientist of the Ontario Association of Radiation Oncologists. My research focus relates to my MSc and PhD work, and is aligned with my training and clinical expertise in head and neck cancer and gastrointestinal malignancies. I have global interest in clinical and experimental radiobiology with specific focus on the radiobiological principles that derive the tumour response and treatment-related toxicity. The overarching goal of my academic career and creative professional activity (CPA) is to improve the value of cancer care through developing optimal radiation therapeutic approach, implementing technology-driven research for radiation therapy innovation that contributes to clinical improvement, building and validation of outcome prediction models, and uncovering novel biomarkers that can be the basis of future clinical trials evaluating tailored new treatment de-escalation or intensification strategies. 2022 Award Winner Dr. Jonathan Loree Jonathan Loree is a GI medical oncologist at BC Cancer and Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia. He completed medical school and internal medicine at the University of Alberta before moving to British Columbia for his medical oncology fellowship. He then undertook a translational research fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center before returning to work on staff at BC Cancer. He is the CCTG Colon Cancer Disease Site Co-chair, a member of the IND Executive Committee, leads the BC Cancer GI Clinical Trials Unit and his research focus is biomarker development in colorectal cancer and neuroendocrine neoplasms. 2021 Award Winner Dr. Anca Prica Dr. Prica is a staff hematologist at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and assistant professor in the division of hematology at University of Toronto. She is currently the site lead of the lymphoma and myeloma program at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. She did her initial medical training in Toronto and her clinical training in Internal Medicine and Hematology in the University of Toronto Program. She completed a 2- year fellowship in Malignant Hematology at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and a Masters in Health Research Methodology at McMaster University with research interests in quality of life and economic evaluations. Her clinical work focuses in both lymphoproliferative and plasma cell disorders, as well as autologous stem cell transplantation and CAR-T therapy. Her research interests focus on health services research, particularly economic evaluations, and decision analyses for oncologic questions examining resource use and cost of care, as well as toxicity of chemotherapies and their effects on quality of life and caregiver burden. She is a member of the Committee for Economic Analysis and the Quality of Life Committee within the CCTG, as well as the Hematology Disease Site Group. 2020 Award Winner Dr. Dan Renouf Dr. Renouf is a medical oncologist at BC Cancer Vancouver and an Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia, Department of Medicine. He received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Alberta and completed his internal medicine and medical oncology training at the University of British Columbia and BC Cancer. He undertook further training in early drug development and gastrointestinal oncology at Princess Margaret Hospital and the University of Toronto and obtained a Masters of Public Health from Harvard University. Dr. Renouf’s research interests include developmental therapeutics, genomics, and biomarker development within gastrointestinal cancers with a focus on pancreatic cancer. He is the leader of the BC Cancer Phase I program, the BC Cancer GI Tumour Group chair, the Co-Director of Pancreas Centre BC and is the Co-chair of CCTG’s Pancreatic Cancer disease group. 2019 Award Winner Dr. Srinivas Raman Dr. Srinivas Raman completed his medical school at University of British Columbia and his radiation oncology residency at University of Toronto. During his residency, he worked with Dr. Edward Chow and the CCTG Quality of Life Committee to perform secondary analyses on the SC.20 and SC.23 trials. His research validates the use of the EORTC QLQ-BM22 questionnaire in patients with bone metastases and informs the interpretation of score changes in the QLQ-BM22 and QLQ-C15-PAL/QLQ-C30 instruments. He won the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer 2016 Young Investigator Award for these research efforts. He is currently a radiation oncology fellow at BC Cancer Vancouver. He is working with Dr. Alan Nichol, the HN6 trial team and the CCTG Quality Assurance committee to develop methodology to individualize and automate radiotherapy quality assurance in clinical trials; he received the 2018 Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology fellowship award for this research proposal. His clinical sites of interest include central nervous system, lung and genitourinary malignancies. His research efforts are currently focused on radiotherapy quality assurance and machine learning applications in oncology. 2018 Award Winner Dr. Alysa Fairchild Dr. Fairchild graduated with a Bachelor of Science from McGill University in Montreal and obtained her MD from Queen’s University in Kingston. She began residency in radiation oncology at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary and completed her training at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton. After receiving FRCPC certification in 2006 and completing a one-year clinical / research fellowship at the Cross, she received her first faculty appointment at the University of Alberta in 2007. She took a sabbatical from practice to complete an additional fellowship year in Brussels, as the first North American EORTC Fellow in Quality Assurance in Radiation Oncology. She is currently Associate Professor at the University of Alberta specializing in treating lung and gastrointestinal malignancies, and is a member of the clinical treatment team of the Advanced Imaging and Gamma Knife Centre, University of Alberta Hospital. Her research is focused in the areas of radiotherapy QA within cooperative group trials, palliative radiation, supportive care, and patient-reported outcomes. She was the Canadian Co-Chair of SC.23, and is a member of CCTG’s Data Safety Monitoring Committee and Radiation Oncology Quality Assurance Committee. She is a trial committee member and local site PI of HE.1. 2018 Award Winner Dr. Winson Cheung Dr. Cheung is a medical oncologist and a nationally and internationally recognized cancer health services researcher. From 2010 to 2016, he worked in Vancouver at BC Cancer. In 2017, he was recruited to Alberta, where he is currently an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Department of Oncology at the University of Calgary and the Provincial Director of Health Services Research for Cancer Control Alberta. Dr. Cheung received his medical degree at the University of British Columbia, medical oncology subspecialty training at the University of Toronto and subsequently obtained a Master of Public Health degree at Harvard University. He is a prior Chair of the ASCO Health Services Research Scientific Program Committee. Having published over 120 peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts, he is the recipient of numerous accolades for his real-world studies in oncology and has secured over $5 million in research grant funding as a Principal Investigator. He continues to contribute to the Canadian Cancer Trials Group by serving on its Economic Analysis Committee and Quality of Life Committee. 2017 Award Winner Dr. Tanya Skamene Dr. Skamene is a medical oncology fellow at McGill University. She completed her MD (in 2010), internal medicine and hematology training (in 2015) at McGill University, followed by a 12-month clinical trials fellowship focusing on the design and conduct of phase II/III clinical trials at the Canadian Cancer Trials Group. During her fellowship, she completed a secondary analysis of the LY.12 randomized clinical trial evaluating outcomes of patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma, which has been accepted for publication in Leukemia & Lymphoma. In addition, she received the John H. Crookston award by the Canadian Hematology Society and an American Society of Hematology Abstract achievement award in 2016 for her project on wait times for autologous stem cell transplantation in relapsed or refractory lymphoma. Her clinical area of interest is in hematologic malignancies and geriatric oncology. 2016 Award Winner Dr. Patricia Tang Dr. Tang is a medical oncologist at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre. She completed her MD with Distinction and Honors in Research at the University of Alberta, oncology training at the University of Calgary, followed by an 18-month drug development fellowship focusing on design of early phase clinical trials and biomarker development at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto. She was awarded an ASCO Young Investigator Award in 2007. Currently, she is the Southern Alberta Gastrointestinal Tumor Group Leader, the Alberta Representative to 3CTN, as well as the Centre Representative for the 2015 Award Winner Dr. Matthew Cheung Dr. Cheung obtained his Medical Degree (1999) and also completed residency programs in Internal Medicine and Hematology (1999-2004) at the University of Toronto. In 2006, he obtained a Masters degree in Clinical Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. Dr. Cheung is currently on staff at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre as a Clinician-Investigator and Clinical Hematologist. He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto. He serves on the Hematology Disease Site Executive Committee for the Canadian Cancer Trials Group, the Committee for Economic Analysis, and is Co-Chair of the Hematology Cancer Disease Site Group of the Cancer Care Ontario Program in Evidence-Based Care. His research interests include pharmacoeconomic evaluation in hematologic malignancies, clinical trials in lymphoma and AIDS-related malignancies. 2014 Award Winner Dr. Annette Hay Dr. Hay is a graduate of the University of Dundee (UK). She completed broad post-graduate medical training across Scotland, ultimately achieving Specialist Certification in Hematology in 2011.She has been a fellow with the Canadian Cancer Trials Group since 2012 and has been actively involved in phase I, II and III clinical trials and in many areas of trial conduct including protocol development, data review, and analysis. Her initial work with the Canadian Cancer Trials Group was a very ambitious individual patient data comparison of combined modality therapy and ABVD alone for patients with limited stage Hodgkin lymphoma. This involved close collaboration with the German Lymphoma Study Group and resulted in a publication in the Annals of Oncology and an oral presentation at the American Society of Hematology in 2012 for which she won an ASH Abstract Achievement Award, the John H. Crookson Award from the Canadian Hematology Society, and best poster at the Canadian Conference on Lymphoproliferative Disorders at Lake Louise in 2013. Dr. Elizabeth Eisenhauer Early Drug Development Young Investigator Award Details: One award will be presented. Candidates may be nominated by their mentors, colleagues, or may self nominate. Details are provided below. Name: Dr. Elizabeth Eisenhauer Early Drug Development Young Investigator Award Description The Elizabeth Eisenhauer Young Investigator Award is presented annually 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 centre. Awarded: Annually at the CCTG Annual Spring Meeting of Participants Eligible: Any MD, fellow, PhD, within 7 years of certification / first faculty appointment or current fellow who has either spent time at Central Office (i.e fellows), worked on projects with IND (e.g. database reviews) or who has contributed significantly to the conduct of an IND trial at a centre. Selection: All IND Investigators and Central Office Senior Investigators and Management will be asked to nominate potential awardees and a 1-page letter of nomination and support (or scientific abstract) will be requested. The IND Executive Committee will review and select one awardee. Award: Glass Award and opportunity to present their work at the IND Open Meeting at the CCTG Annual Spring Meeting of Participants. Nomination Process: Provide an abstract submitted to another meeting (e.g. ASCO, AACR) during 2023 or 2024 that meets the criteria listed above with regards to IND Program involvement AND a brief cover letter describing the nominee’s background and achievements; OR Submit a letter detailing the nominee’s background and achievements, involvement in the activities/trials of the IND Program in 2023/2024, and why they are a candidate for the award. Deadline: March 15, 2024. Please submit all nominations to Heather Stanton, at hstanton@ctg.queensu.ca on behalf of the IND Director, Dr. Lesley Seymour. 2024 Award Winner Dr. Jamme is a medical oncologist whose research focuses on early-phase clinical trials, mechanisms of resistance to targeted therapies and skin cancer. He obtained a PHD (2021) in biology by identifying mechanisms of resistance to targeted therapies in thoracic cancers. Research was carried out at the Lille Biology Institute. From 2019 to 2022, Dr. Jamme was a clinical fellow at the Lille University Hospital (Claude Huriez Hospital) in the department of cutaneous cancers. He has participated as a sub-investigator in numerous phase III trials involving new immunotherapy strategies in advanced melanoma and cutaneous carcinoma. From 2021 to 2023, Dr Philippe Jamme was involved in the development of the early phase oncology unit, as a senior investigator, at the Lille University Hospital (Clinical investigation center, heart-lung institute). 2024 Award Winner Dr. Tsang is a GI medical oncologist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto. She completed her Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology training at the University of British Columbia, followed by further training in GI and early phase oncology at the University of California, San Francisco. Her research interests include genomics and clinical trials, with a focus on pancreatic cancer. She has had the privilege of participating in the CCTG New Investigator Cancer Trials Practicum in the IND committee, mentored by Dr. Eric Chen. 2023 Award Winner Dr. Anna Spreafico Dr. Spreafico is Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto and Clinician Investigator in the Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada. Her previous training includes a PhD in translational research in the Program for Evaluation of Targeted Therapies at the University of Colorado, USA, and a subspecialty fellowship in experimental therapeutics at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Dr. Spreafico serves as the Head and Neck Medical Oncology Disease Site Lead and Director of the Phase I Drug Development Fellowship at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Dr. Spreafico is a member of the CCTG Head and Neck Disease site Executive Committee. She serves on the US NCI Head and Neck Cancer Steering Committee rare tumor task force, and she is the Co-Chair of the NRG Oncology Recurrent/Metastatic H&N Cancer Working Group. Dr. Spreafico's full-time academic practice and research include early phase clinical trials, with disease-specific interests in skin/melanoma, and head and neck cancers. Her translational research focuses on immuno-oncology-based, microbiome and cancer interception-driven studies leads as PI Canadian Cancer Trial Group, NRG and NCI CTEP early phase investigator-initiated clinical trials. 2023 Award Winner Dr. Courtney Coschi Dr. Coschi is completing an Investigational New Drug Fellowship with the Canadian Cancer Trials Group and the Juravinski Cancer Centre. She previously obtained her PhD in Biochemistry at Western University and is now a Postdoctoral Fellow through the Clinician Investigator Program at McMaster University, having been awarded a funded position. Dr. Coschi completed her Medical Oncology training at McMaster University and was awarded a 2022 Canadian Fellow at ASCO trainee award. Dr. Coschi has a longstanding passion for translational research, clinical trials and patient outreach. She is co-chair of the Patient-centered Research and Early Clinical Trials Committee at the CCTG. Courtney’s academic interests include improving patient quality of life and outcomes in early phase oncology clinical trials, engaging in translational research and validating a ctDNA liquid biopsy approach to improve equitable access to treatment options for lung cancer patients. 2022 Award Winner Dr. Aly-Khan Lalani Dr. Lalani is an Assistant Professor at McMaster University and a Medical Oncologist at the Juravinski Cancer Centre. After residency training, he was awarded the TD Insurance Meloche Monnex & Alberta Medical Association Scholarship. He pursued a Fellowship in Genitourinary Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, mentored by Dr. Toni Choueiri. He has also completed the Program in Clinical Effectiveness at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He is a member of the Escarpment Cancer Research Institute, and an Associate Member of the Centre for Discovery in Cancer Research (CDCR) at McMaster University. His academic interests include clinical trial design and translational work for genitourinary malignancies. He completed the CCTG New Investigator Cancer Trials Practicum, and serves on CCTG as member of the GU trial development group and IND liaison. He is the lead PI for the CYTOSHRINK clinical trial. 2021 Award Winner 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. 2021 Award Winner 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. 2020 Award Winner Dr. Sara Taylor Dr. Taylor is a Medical Oncologist at BC Cancer in Kelowna, BC. She completed her medical degree at McGill University in Montreal, QC, and residency training at Queen’s University in Kingston. She then completed a fellowship in breast cancer and drug development at Princess Margaret Hospital and the Odette Cancer Centre at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine and Medical Director of the Clinical Trials Unit at BC Cancer Kelowna where she is actively involved in a number of phase I, II and III clinical trials. Her research interests include breast cancer, survivorship, genomics, and patient-reported outcomes. Dr. Taylor loves the Okanagan lifestyle of hitting the slopes with her kids in the winter and mountain biking in the summer! 2019 Award Winner Dr. Alexander Wyatt Dr. Alexander Wyatt is an Assistant Professor in Urologic Sciences at the University of British Columbia. He has a PhD in genetics (University of Oxford), and now specializes in human cancer genomics, particularly as it relates to cancer patient outcomes. The primary research goals of the Wyatt laboratory are to identify associations between molecular alterations in metastatic genitourinary cancers and clinical outcomes: thereby developing biomarkers for guiding therapy selection. The laboratory leverages a variety of next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics techniques to interrogate tissue and liquid biopsies from patients enrolled on a series of ongoing clinical trials and protocols. Recent work from Dr. Wyatt’s team, in close collaboration with Dr. Kim Chi and other senior medical oncologists and urologists, has demonstrated that plasma circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is highly representative of metastatic lesions in prostate and bladder cancer, and that somatic alterations detected in ctDNA can help predict therapy resistance or response. Dr. Wyatt works closely with the Canadian Cancer Trial Group (CCTG) via the Genitourinary Disease Site Trial Development and Correlative Science committees, and also the Investigational New Drug Program committee. Dr. Wyatt directs the plasma ctDNA screening strategy and the molecular tumor board for IND.223/234, a multi-center phase 2 umbrella trial in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients (NCT03385655, NCT02905318). 2018 Award Winner Dr. John Hilton Dr. Hilton is a clinician investigator in the Cancer Therapeutics Program and staff medical oncologist at the Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Ottawa. He is a strong proponent of cancer clinical trials research and is the site principal investigator for a number of breast, head and neck and phase I clinical trials. Along with his efforts in early cancer drug development, Dr. Hilton is also heavily involved in the development of pragmatic clinical trials with the goal of standardizing and improving care for breast cancer patients. 2017 Award Winner Dr. David Cescon Dr. Cescon is a breast Medical Oncologist and Clinician Scientist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto. His clinical interest is triple negative breast cancer and early phase trials, and his laboratory work is focused on the application of cell line and patient-derived breast cancer models for the evaluation of novel therapies. He is part of several large multidisciplinary projects, including the Terry Fox Triple Negative Breast Cancer Program Project and the Stand up to Cancer Canada/CBCF Breast Cancer Dream Team. A major emphasis of his work has been the non-clinical and IND development of two novel mitotic kinases inhibitors discovered by the UHN Therapeutics group (Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research), which will be tested in breast cancer trials in collaboration with CCTG’s IND Program as part of the Stand Up to Cancer project. Dr. Cescon is a graduate of the University of Waterloo (BSc) and University of Toronto (MD), and completed his Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology residencies at the University of Toronto. He subsequently completed a PhD under the supervision of Dr. Tak Mak and a Fellowship in Phase I Drug Development with Drs. Lillian Siu and Philippe Bedard prior to joining the breast group at Princess Margaret in 2014. 2016 Award Winner Dr. Rachel Goodwin Dr. Goodwin completed her internal medicine and medical oncology residency at the University of Ottawa. She then went on to complete a two-year Investigational New Drug Development Fellowship under the mentorship of Dr. Elizabeth Eisenhauer at CCTG. She is an Assistant Professor in Medical Oncology at the University of Ottawa. Her clinical interests include gastrointestinal cancers and phase I/II clinical trials. Dr. Goodwin is CCTG Centre Representative for Ottawa, and an active member of the IND and GI Disease Site groups. 2016 Award Winner Dr. Marshall Pitz Dr. Pitz is a Medical Oncologist at CancerCare Manitoba and Assistant Professor at the University of Manitoba. His clinical focus is on Brain Tumours and Breast Cancer. He is the Chief Medical Information Officer at CancerCare Manitoba where he has been working to develop the use of clinical and administrative data for research purposes. He currently leads two investigator-initiated clinical trials at CancerCare Manitoba and is involved in multiple epidemiological and clinical outcomes studies. Within the Brain Disease Site and the IND Program he seeks to test new compounds and strategies in the treatment of malignant glioma and other tumours of the central nervous system. 2015 Award Winner Dr. Penny Bradbury Dr. Bradbury is a medical oncologist, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, and adjunct Associate Professor within the Department of Oncology at Queen’s University, and holds a Cancer Care Ontario Research Chair in Experimental Therapeutics. She is a graduate of Cardiff University Medical School, UK. She undertook specialist medical oncology training at the MidCentral Regional Cancer Treatment Service in New Zealand, and at the Cancer Research UK Medical Oncology Department, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK, obtaining the FRACP in 2005. She undertook fellowship training in Thoracic Oncology at Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, and a one year Drug Development Fellowship with the Canadian Cancer Trials Group, as part of The Terry Fox Foundation Training Program in Transdisciplinary Cancer Research at Canadian Institutes of Health Research. She worked as a senior investigator for the thoracic oncology disease site, sarcoma disease site and investigational new drugs program within the Canadian Cancer Trials Group from 2010-2014 gaining experience in the conduct of phase I-III National and International clinical trials. She is currently working as a staff physician at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in lung and sarcoma, She has a research interest in the evaluation of new therapies for the management of thoracic malignancies and clinical trial methodology. 2014 Award Winner Dr. Daniel Renouf Dr. Renouf is a medical oncologist at the British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver Centre, an Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia, Department of Medicine, and is the Co-Director of Pancreas Centre BC. He received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Alberta and completed his internal medicine and medical oncology training at the University of British Columbia and British Columbia Cancer Agency. He undertook further training in early drug development and gastrointestinal oncology at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and the University of Toronto, and obtained a Masters of Public Health from Harvard University. Dr. Renouf has played a role in a number of Canadian Cancer Trials Group trials and projects, including Canadian Cancer Trials Group IND.173 and Canadian Cancer Trials Group PA.3. He is the local PI for the Canadian Cancer Trials Group PA.6 study and has been actively accruing patients to several trials including, PA.6, GA.2, CO.21, CO.23, and IND.210. 2013 Award Winner Dr. Jose Monzon This year's recipient is Dr. Jose Monzon, a medical oncologist at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary, Alberta. Dr. Monzon completed his postgraduate medical oncology residency training at the University of British Columbia and translational fellowship training at the Canadian Cancer Trials Group. He has also completed a PhD focusing on melanoma genetics at the University of Toronto. His current research interests include pharmacogenomics and early phase clinical trials in cutaneous and gastrointestinal malignancies. Founder's Award: Dr. Joseph Pater Excellence in Clinical Trials Research Award Details: One award will be presented. Candidates may be nominated by their mentors or colleagues. Details are provided below. Name: Dr. Joseph Pater Excellence in Clinical Trials Research Award Description The Founder's Award is presented annually to an investigator whose leadership and body of work has contributed to significant advances in the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, cure, and prevention of cancer. This award honours an Investigator whose excellence in clinical trials research has provided techniques, information or concepts that will direct the future of the oncology research community and the Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG). Awarded: Annually at the CCTG Annual Spring Meeting of Participants Eligible: Any CCTG Investigator whose leadership and body of work has contributed to significant advances in the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, cure, and prevention of cancer. This award honours an Investigator whose excellence in clinical trials research has provided techniques, information or concepts that will direct the future of the oncology research community and the CCTG. Selection: All CCTG Investigators and Central Office Senior Investigators and Management will be asked to nominate potential awardees. A letter of nomination and support is requested to facilitate the selection. The CCTG Trials Committee will review and select one awardee. Award: Glass Award Nomination Process: Submit a letter detailing the nominee’s background, achievements, involvement in CCTG activities and trials, as well as why the nominee is an appropriate candidate for the award. Abstract(s) may also be submitted in support of the nomination Deadline: March 15, 2024. Please submit all nominations to Heather Stanton at hstanton@ctg.queensu.ca on behalf of the CCTG Director, Dr. Janet Dancey. 2024 Award Winner Dr. Siu is a senior medical oncologist at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre since 1998, and has been a Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto since 2009. She is the Director of the Phase I Program and Co-Director of the Bras and Family Drug Development Program at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and holds the BMO Chair in Precision Genomics (2016-2026). She is also the Clinical Lead for the Tumor Immunotherapy Program at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Dr. Siu served on the Board of Directors for the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) for a four-year term (2012-2016) and was Chair of the ASCO Conquer Cancer Foundation Grants Selection Committee in 2019; she served on the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Board of Directors for a three-year term (2017-2020). Dr. Siu is a fellow of both ASCO and AACR. Dr. Siu is the 2024-2025 President-Elect of the AACR. Dr. Siu’s major research focus is in the area of new anticancer drug development, particularly with respect to phase I trials and head and neck malignancies. She is the co-Contact PI of a phase I UM1 grant sponsored by the United States National Cancer Institute. In addition to her active research in early phase clinical trials, she has been leading genomics initiatives and immuno-oncology trials at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Together, the three programs of drug development, cancer genomics and tumor immunotherapy form a triad of synergy that supports the institution’s core vision to deliver precision cancer medicine. Internationally, Dr. Siu was the recipient of the US NCI Michaele C. Christian Award in Oncology Drug Development in 2010. She was awarded the TAT 2020 Honorary Award for contributions in the development of anticancer drugs. In 2020, Dr. Siu was recognized for her educational efforts by the ASCO International Women Who Conquer Cancer Mentorship Award. Dr. Siu is the 2024 David A. Karnofsky Memorial Award recipient, one of the most prestigious awards from ASCO. Dr. Siu has published 400 peer-reviewed manuscripts, and she is currently the co-Editor-in-Chief for AACR’s newest journal Cancer Research Communications, and is on the editorial board for Cell and Cancer Cell. 2023 Award Winner Dr. Kim Chi Kim Chi is a medical oncologist and the Chief Medical Officer of BC Cancer, which provides a comprehensive cancer control program for the people of British Columbia (BC), in Canada. He is also Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia, a Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University, and the Shrum Chair in Prostate Cancer Research at BC Cancer. Prof. Chi's research in the field of genitourinary cancers focuses on prostate cancer and investigational new drugs, where he has contributed to changing international standards of care practice for patients with advanced prostate cancer. He also has been investigating circulating tumour DNA as a source of prognostic and predictive biomarkers for patients with metastatic prostate cancer. Prof. Chi is the past-Chair of the Genitourinary Disease Site Committee for the Canadian Cancer Trials Group, and has held peer-reviewed grant funding from the Canada Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC)/Canadian Cancer Society (CCS), the US Department of Defence, Movember, Prostate Cancer Foundation (USA), and Prostate Cancer Canada. Prof. Chi has published over 250 articles in prestigious peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Annals of Oncology, Nature, the New England Journal of Medicine, and Lancet Oncology. 2023 Award Winner Dr. Jolie Ringash Dr. Ringash is a Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of Toronto, cross appointed to Otolaryngology-Head/Neck Surgery, and to the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation. She is President of the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology, and Co-Chair of the Head and Neck Cancer Survivorship Programme at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. She is recent past co-chair of the Quality of Life (QOL) committee at the Canadian Clinical Trials Group (CCTG), and serves as QOL coordinator/advisor for projects with the US NCI Head and Neck Steering Committee, the EORTC, RTOG/NRG, ECOG and TROG. She has served on the Advisory Council for Research (ACOR) for the Canadian Cancer Society, and is a current member of the Strategic Executive Advisory Council (SEAC) for CCTG. Her research interests include QOL, cancer survivorship, and high-precision radiotherapy. She is also celebrating her 25th wedding anniversary this year! 2022 Award Winner Dr. Warren Mason Dr. Warren Mason, MD, FRCPC Warren Mason is a Professor in the Department of Medicine and a Staff Physician in the Divisions of Medical Oncology and Neurology at University Health Network. At Princess Margaret Cancer Centre he is the Medical Director of the Gerry and Nancy Pencer Brain Tumour Centre where he holds the Kirchmann Family Chair in Neuro-Oncology Research. Dr. Mason graduated in Medicine from the University of Toronto and trained in Internal Medicine and Neurology at McGill University and the University of Toronto. He received Fellowship training in Neuro-Oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, NY. Dr. Mason's research focus is drug development for primary brain cancers. The drug development program for brain tumours at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre is the largest of its kind in the country and work conducted at this facility has established new worldwide standards of care for gliomas. 2021 Award Winner Dr. Michael Crump Dr. Crump obtained his MD from the University of Toronto in 1984 and completed postgraduate medical training in Internal Medicine and Hematology at the University of Toronto, followed by additional training in Medical Oncology and autologous stem cell transplantation at U of T and Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. He was appointed to the Faculty of Medicine at U of T and the medical staff of The Toronto Hospital in 1992. He is currently Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto and attending physician in the Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology at the Princess Margaret Hospital, University Health Network. He has served as Clinical Director of the Autologous Blood and Marrow Transplant Service and was the Lymphoma Site Leader at PMH for longer than anyone cares to remember. In addition to membership on the Breast, Hematology and Investigational New Drug Committee, he had the very good fortune to be serve as co-chair of CCTG’s Hematology Committee with Stephen Couban from 2005 to 2013. Dr. Crump’s current research interests include clinical and translational research in lymphoma, with a focus on improving salvage therapy prior to stem cell transplantation, and development of novel therapies, as well as late effects of treatment. He has been the principal investigator and co-investigator for numerous clinical trials in breast cancer and lymphoma and has authored and co-authored more than 200 peer-reviewed papers and a few book chapters. 2020 Award Winner Dr. Tim Whelan Dr. Whelan obtained his medical degree from the University of Oxford. After training in radiation oncology at Princess Margaret Hospital he completed a Master’s degree in Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at McMaster University. He joined the staff at Juravinski Cancer Centre in 1993 and is currently Professor and Associate Chair of Research in the Department of Oncology at McMaster University. He was co-Chair of the Canadian Cancer Trials Group Breast Disease Site from 1996 to 2018. Dr. Whelan’s research has focused on health services research and clinical trials in radiation oncology. Throughout his career he has focused on conducting rigorous clinical trials to test new treatment strategies and technologies to guide the local treatment of breast cancer. He led one of the first trials comparing a short hypofractionated 3-week regimen of radiation compared to the then conventional 5-week treatment for local breast irradiation after breast conserving surgery. The shorter regimen was shown to be equally effective with no increased toxicity and has been widely used across Canada. He also led the CCTG MA.20 trial, which showed that the addition of regional nodal irradiation to whole breast irradiation after breast conserving surgery reduced the risk of breast cancer recurrence, both locally and distantly leading to the wide adoption of this approach for women with node positive breast cancer. In recent years, Dr. Whelan has extended his research to evaluate the ability of biomarkers to predict the risk of local recurrence and effectiveness of radiation in early breast cancer. He has established a network of investigators across Canada and trained a number of radiation oncologists interested in studying the optimal treatment of women with breast cancer. 2019 Award Winner Dr. Derek Jonker After studying undergraduate physics, Dr. Jonker did his medical school training at Queen’s university. He completed internal medicine and medical oncology training at the University of Ottawa, and a research fellowship with his mentor, Jean Maroun. He was a staff medical oncologist in London, Ontario, before returning to Ottawa where he filled various roles, including the Medical Director of Cancer Research. His greatest work-life pleasure has been working alongside Chris O’Callaghan and so many other amazing people as the chair of the Canadian Cancer Trials Group’s GI Disease Site Committee. Dr. Jonker is married with four adult children. He enjoys wilderness hiking and canoeing, as well as making music with friends and family. 2018 Award Winner Dr. J. Gregory Cairncross Dr. Gregory Cairncross is the Director of the Charbonneau Cancer Institute at the University of Calgary and former Head of the Department of Clinical Neurosciences in Calgary. After graduating in Medicine from Western University, he trained in Internal Medicine and Neurology in Toronto and New York, before joining the Department of Oncology at Western, where he remained until 2002. At Western, he was Chair of the Department of Oncology and Director of the Cancer Centre. From 1996 to 2008, he was Chair of CCTG’s Brain Disease Site Committee. Dr. Cairncoss is best known for his contributions to the understanding oligodendrogliomas. He and David Macdonald observed their unique sensitivity to chemotherapy, and he and David Louis demonstrated that co-deletion of chromosomes 1p and 19q is a molecular marker of chemosensitivity and long survival in this cancer. With the RTOG and CCTG, he led the North American randomized clinical trial that confirmed these findings. Co-deletion of 1p/19q is now a cornerstone of the molecular classification of gliomas and testing for this biomarker is used worldwide to diagnose and manage patients with this type of brain cancer. Recently, he led the Terry Fox Research Institute translational program project on “Therapeutic Targeting of GBM’. He has written extensively on glioma biology and therapy and is a member of the Royal Society of Canada. 2017 Award Winner Ming-Sound Tsao Dr. Tsao is a Staff Consultant Thoracic Pathologist and Senior Scientist and holds the M. Qasim Choksi Chair in Lung Cancer Translational Research at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto. He is a Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, and Professor of Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto. Dr. Tsao has served as co-chair of CCTG’s Correlative Science and Tumour Biology Committee since 2006, and is a member of CCTG’s Lung Disease Site Executive Committee. He pioneered the establishment of a prospective snap-frozen, paraffin tumour bank as part of CCTG’s BR.10 trial and subsequently used the banked tumour samples from BR.10 to develop one of the first prognostic gene signatures for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Dr. Tsao also led the biomarker correlative studies for the BR.21 trial, which was the pivotal trial that led to the approval of erlotinib in advanced NSCLC patients. Dr. Tsao is internationally known for his expertise in lung cancer pathology, research in prognostic and predictive biomarkers, and translational lung cancer research. In 2011, Dr. Tsao received the O. Harold Warwick Award from the Canadian Cancer Society, and more recently received the Mary Matthew Pathology Award at the 16th World Conference on Lung Cancer. He has served as a mentor and role model to numerous Canadian and international pathologists, medical oncologists, and surgeons and has improved the outcomes of Canadians with lung cancer through his dedication to lung cancer research. 2016 Award Winner Dr. Kathleen Pritchard Dr. Pritchard is one of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre’s best-known academic physicians. She received her MD from Queen’s University before going on to train at the University of Toronto’s Program in General Internal Medicine. She then spent two years in the University of Toronto Medical Oncology Program and two years as a Research Fellow, first in tumour immunology and melanoma, and subsequently in clinical trials in breast cancer. From 1984-2007, she was Chair/co-Chair of CCTG’s Breast Disease Site Committee and continues to be active on that Committee. In 2005, Dr. Pritchard was awarded the O. Harold Warwick Prize for Cancer Control in Canada by CCS. In June 2011, Dr. Pritchard was awarded the ASCO Statesman Award, an award that recognizes ASCO members for their extraordinary volunteer service, dedication, and commitment to ASCO. In 2015, Dr. Pritchard was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and named a Woman of Action by the Israel Cancer Research Foundation. Dr. Pritchard's research interest include multi-centre clinical trials, design, conduct and analysis; adjuvant therapy for breast cancer, correlative and translational research in breast cancer, tumor/tissue/serum/data banking, predictive and prognostic factors in breast cancer, endocrine therapy for breast cancer, career development for medical oncologists. 2015 Award Winner Dr. Michael Brundage Dr. Brundage received post-graduate training in radiation oncology at the Princess Margaret Hospital and University of Toronto, and in Community Health and Epidemiology at Queen’s University. He is currently a Senior Radiation Oncologist at the Cancer Clinic of Southeast Ontario / Kingston General Hospital and is a Professor in the Departments of Oncology and Public Health Sciences at Queen’s. He holds a clinician scientist award from Cancer Care Ontario and MOHLTC and is the Director of the Division of Cancer Care and Epidemiology at the Queen’s Cancer Research Institute. Dr. Brundage has longstanding research interests in quality of life evaluation and communication, and in quality of care and other aspects of health services research. He has had the privilege of co-chairing the Canadian Cancer Trials Group Quality of Life endpoint committee, and as such has been involved with steering the evaluation and reporting of quality of life outcomes in clinical trials both nationally and internationally. In this capacity, his research has contributed to developing international standards for the analysis of quality of life outcomes, the reporting of these outcomes, and the incorporation of these outcomes into routine clinical practice. He has received several international research awards in this domain, including twice winning the International Society for Quality of Life Research “article of the year” research excellence award. He has chaired an international task force charged with developing CONSORT reporting standards for quality of life outcomes, and has served on several national and international research advisory boards, including the Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute Advisory Committee on Research and the ISOQOL Board of Directors. He has mentored numerous undergraduate, postgraduate, and research fellows, and in 2005 was awarded a provincial clinical teaching award from PAIRO. He holds numerous research grants in support of improving knowledge translation of quality of life outcomes into clinical practice, in addition to other health services research projects. He has published over 150 peer-reviewed full publications and book chapters. 2015 Award Winner Dr. Frances Shepherd Frances A. Shepherd received her MD from the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and is currently a Senior Staff Physician at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, where she holds the Scott Taylor Chair in Lung Cancer Research. She is a Full Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto and served as the University Division Director for Medical Oncology from 1997 to 2003. Dr Shepherd has been recognized for her many contributions in the field of lung cancer research, most notably her long-standing international leadership in the development of innovative therapies for this indication. In 2001 she was named the Scott Taylor Chair in Lung Cancer Research, becoming the first holder of this esteemed research position with a primary goal of investigating new treatments for lung cancer. Dr Shepherd served as Chair of the Lung Cancer Site Committee of the Canadian Cancer Trials Group for 19 years and was President of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer from 2003 to 2005 and a member of the Board of Directors of the American Society of Clinical Oncology from 2010-14. Currently, she sits on the Board of Directors European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, and also is Chair of the EORTC Protocol Review Committee. Dr Shepherd has served as Chair of the American Society of Clinical Oncology Membership and Publications Committees. She was the recipient of the Jacqueline Seroussi Memorial Foundation for Cancer Research Award in 2004; the National Cancer Institute of Canada 0. Harold Warwick Award for Research Excellence in 2006; the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer Research Award in 2007; the Ontario Premier’s Summit Award for Research in 2009, and a Boehringer-Ingelheim Innovation Award in 2010. In recognition of her contributions to cancer research and treatment, she received the Order of Ontario in 2007. In 2012, she won the British Thoracic Oncology Group International Award for Contributions to Lung Cancer Research, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Whiteman Award and Visiting Professorship and a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal. Dr Shepherd has designed and led more than 100 clinical trials over the past three decades, and her studies have changed treatment and outcomes for lung cancer patients at a global level. She sits on numerous national and international lung cancer advisory boards, and chairs and/or sits on several data and safety monitoring boards for international lung cancer trials. She has mentored more than 30 post-doctoral research fellows from around the world, many of whom now hold senior academic positions in their home countries. She has authored or co-authored more than 450 peer reviewed publications and 35 book chapters. 2014 Award Winner Dr. Vivien Bramwell Dr. Bramwell has chaired the Sarcoma DSC since 1985, and is one of the longest serving site chairs with the Canadian Cancer Trials Group. Through Dr. Bramwell's exemplary leadership, the Committee has made important contributions to many clinical trials which have changed practice for Canadian patients diagnosed with sarcoma, including SRC.1, an international trial evaluating imatinib for the management of gastrointestinal stromal tumours and Canadian Cancer Trials Group SR.2, an Canadian Cancer Trials Group-led trial evaluating the timing and long-term toxicity of radiation for patients with surgically resectable soft tissue sarcoma. She has been a leader in developing national and international linkages with other sarcoma groups, which have enabled the successful work of the Canadian Cancer Trials Group including the Canadian Sarcoma Group, the EORTC Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcoma Group, US cooperative groups and, more recently, with the Sarcoma Alliance for Research Through Collaboration (SARC). This collaboration with SARC has culminated in the activation of SR.6, a new clinical trial evaluating a novel agent for patients with high grade soft tissue sarcoma. She has been a mentor to numerous young investigators, many of whom have subsequently assumed leadership roles as Canadian Cancer Trials Group study and committee chairs. CCTG Award for Excellence in Clinical Trials Conduct Details: One award will be presented. Candidates may be nominated by their mentors, colleagues, or may self-nominate. Details are provided below. Name: CCTG Award for Excellence in Clinical Trials Conduct Description CCTG Award for Excellence in Clinical Trials Conduct is presented annually to an individual who exemplifies excellence in clinical trial operations and/or compliance at their institution. Trial operations include trial activation, ethics submission, consent and support of patients, oversight of the medicinal product, data management, and local quality management. The individual may have contributed significantly to the CCTG program and/or to specific CCTG trial(s) within an Institution. Awarded: Annually at the CCTG Annual Spring Meeting of Participants Eligible: All clinical trial personnel, including CRAs/ Pharmacists/ Nurses/ Managers/Institutional Leaders (e.g. CCRA) who are non-MDs participating in the CCTG program and/or to specific CCTG trial(s) within an Institution. Selection: All CCTG Investigators, Centre Representatives, Principal Pharmacists, and Contact CRAs will be asked to nominate potential awardees. A letter of nomination and support (or scientific abstract) is requested to facilitate the selection. The CCTG Clinical Trials Committee will review and select one awardee. Award: Glass Award. Nomination Process: Submit a letter detailing the nominee’s background and achievements, involvement in the activities/trials in 2023/2024, and why they are a candidate for the award. Deadline: March 15, 2024. Please submit all nominations to Heather Stanton, at hstanton@ctg.queensu.ca on behalf of the CCTG Director, Dr. Janet Dancey. 2024 Award Winner Sharon Turnell is a registered nurse working at the Saint John Regional Hospital as a research Coordinator for the Oncology department. Since 1986, she has worked in various positions within the Corporation where her jobs have included general nursing duties in Internal Medicine, Palliative Care, Intravenous Resource. Sharon, then moved to the outpatient setting, working in adult and pediatric oncology. In her current role, Sharon, manages the oncology clinical trials office conducting clinical studies according to FDA regulations and guidelines, screens and recruits potential study participants and ensures the safety and welfare of the study participants. In 1999 Sharon received her is certification with the Canadian Nurses Association in Oncology Nursing (CONc), as well as her certificate as a Clinical Research Coordinator (CCRC). In 2023 she supervised the consolidation of hematology oncology trial division within medical and radiation oncology trial division. Sharon lives with her husband, Allan. She has a son, Colin and two grandchildren. When not working, Sharon is looking after her grandchildren but tries to find time for running having completed 5 full marathon and numerous half marathons. 2024 Award Winner n 1977, at the age of 25, Jim began his career at McMaster University. He started as a research statistician in the newly minted Occupational Health Program where he worked for 19 years, designing and conducting large observational cohort studies of workers, many in the mining and smelting industries. Later, in 1996, Jim joined the CTMG/OCOG group as faculty in the Departments of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics and, later, Oncology. He continued his academic career as a clinical trials statistician and methodologist, and also as an award-winning teacher in graduate education. In 2003, Jim agreed to be a member of the CCTG (formerly NCIC-CTG) DSMC committee, expecting to serve only a 3-year term. He retired from the university in 2020 after 44 years and has continued on with the DSMC for over 20 years and remains contributing to the team. 2023 Award Winner Nanthini Tharahan Nanthini Tharahan has completed her Post Graduate Degree- M.Phil by Research at University of Peradiya, SriLanka in 1999 and completed Diploma in Clinical Research at Humber College, Toronto in 2000. I have worked at Urology Health Center as Clinical Trial Coordinator from 2000- 2001. I joined the Clinical Trials Support Unit (CTSU) at Princess Margaret in 2002 and have over 20 years’ experience in oncology clinical research. I transitioned from a Clinical Data Coordinator to my current position of Clinical Study Start-up Specialist in 2012. I have over 10 years of experience in trial start-up and activation. I have worked on numerous CCTG trials start up over the years and most recently: In 2021, 10 CCTG trials (HNC2, IND238, MA40, GCC1, ME15, OV26, ENC1, CO29, SC26, HDC1) In 2022- 5 CCTG trials (BRC8, CEC7, PR22, IND240, HD11) In 2023, currently working on 5 CCTG trials in start-up (BLC5, IND243, IND241, EN10, MA41) Phase III and Investigational New Drug Program Team Award DetailsNon-MD trial team members from member centres will be acknowledged for their efforts and dedication to the success of clinical trials in both the Phase III Program and the IND Program. Award recipients are based on metrics regarding trial-specific accrual both overall and for 2024, local activation timelines, and compliance metrics compiled by Central Office. There is no external nomination process. Trial team awardees will be announced at the CCTG Annual Spring Meeting of Participants. Questions and feedback regarding Trial Team Awards can be directed to Heather Stanton, at hstanton@ctg.queensu.ca. 2024 Award Winner Congratulations to the IND241 trial team at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre who were awarded the CCTG IND Team Award at the Annual Spring Meeting this past weekend. The team members include, David Cescon (QI), Julia Wang, Soha Ahrari, Irene Li, Simi Malhotra, Lindsay Muyot, Helia Purnaghshband, Carolina Sanabria Salas, Maria Ye, Divyalakshmi Babu, Jennifer Bornstein, Christine Cater, Julia D'Souza, Shirley Ho, Ansu Jomy Jose, Sul Hee Kim, Irum Mahmood, Alexis Maneja, Karla Moreira, Sam (sang pil) Park, and Rosa Pezzulli. 2024 Award Winner The Phase III Team Award for CCTG-Led Trials was presented to the PR21 team from the BC Cancer at the Annual Spring Meeting this past weekend. The team members include, Kim Chi (QI), Jeffrey Cheng, Sukhpreet Sidhu, Je Lee, Vivian Chew, Ming Chang, Natassja Eigl, Karen Stearman, Lyn Lorenzen, Kitty Sit, Maria Abaca, Kathy Ng, Jennifer Hoang, Kailey Dodd, Veronika Beiler, June Clark, Kelly Halvorsen, Loveneet Boyal, Lauren Hull, Sarah Farnalls, Julita Sienkiewicz, Haerim Roncin, Hershel Flores, Clarissa Kennedy, Stephanie Lo, Rio Aguilar, Kalina Kojwang, Amanda De Ruiter, Tina Alden, Erin Postlethwaite, Netalia Sandhu, Heather Saprunoff, Karen Arnason, Margaret Kliman-Depa, Corinna Warbuton, Wendy Won, Rongrong Karim, Lina Hashimoto, Thomas Htan, Mandeep Bains, David Hui. 2024 Award Winner The Phase III Team Award for Intergroup-Led Trials was presented to the ME15 Team at Odette Cancer Centre (Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre) at the CCTG Spring Meeting this weekend. The team members include, Dr. Frances Wright (QI), Roxana Marmolejo, Christina Siwak. 2023 Award Winner Investigational New Drug Program Team Award IND.234 Team Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Halifax Pictured are: Top to bottom: Dr. Lori Wood, Dr. Robyn Macfarlane, Dr. Myran Thana Left to right: Alison Avery, Lorrie Yunace, Victoria Roberts, Lane Carvery, Lynn Hubley 2023 Award Winner Phase III Team Award for CCTG-Led Trials PR.19 Team Odette Cancer Centre at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre The team, left to right: Front row: Andrea DeAbreu, Vivette Escueta, Dr. Melanie Davidson, Dr. Eric Tseng Back Row: Dr. Andrew Loblaw, Dr. Gerard Morton, Mackenzie Smith, Dr. Hans Chung, Dr. Matt Wronski 2023 Award Winner Phase III Team Award for CCTG-Led Trials MA.39 Team Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary (names from left to right are Alexandre Villeneuve-Gauthier, Josee Allard, Dr. Valerie Theberge, Sophie Pouliot, Isabelle Desrosiers) 2023 Award Winner Phase III Team Award for Intergroup-Led Trials PR.22 Team Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke Rear row (left to right): Patricia Roy, Dr. Isabelle Gauthier, Geneviève Côté, Dr. Audrey Tétreault-Laflamme, Dr. Annie Ebacher, Dr. Abdenour Nabid Front row (left to right): Dr. Laurence Masson-Côté, Dr. Myriam Bouchard, Hélène Dion, Cynthia Ladouceur, Sophie Couture 2023 Award Winner Phase III Team Award for Intergroup-Led Trials CO.29 Team BCCA, Vancouver Cancer Centre Pictured from left: Symonette Gloriani, Nicole Takemon, Candace Chan, Suilee Quach, Fran Topp, Dr. Jon Loree, Briannah Tsang, Catherine Reyes, Lizzie Zhang 2022 Award Winner Investigational New Drug Program Team Award CASA (Allan Blair Cancer Centre, Regina) IND.234 Team Pictured are: Back row: Leah Phillips, PPHARM; Liz McDougall, RN; Breanna Biever, RN; Letitia McKay, RN; Brandi Hegyi, ACRA; Cara Tymchak, RN; Jennifer Whelan, ACRA Front row: Dr. Osama Souied, SI; Gail Nistor, PCRA; Dr. Muhammad Salim, QI Missing: Dr. Kimberly Hagel, Tammy Barilla, ACRA; Debra Hodgins, PHARM 2022 Award Winner Phase III Program Team Award CCTG-Led - CAGQ (Hotel-Dieu du Quebec) MA.39 Team (names from left to right are Alexandre Villeneuve-Gauthier, Josee Allard, Dr. Valerie Theberge, Sophie Pouliot, Isabelle Desrosiers) 2022 Award Winner Phase III Program Team Award Intergroup-Led - CAVA (BCCA Vancouver) GCC.1 Team The team members include: Dr. Lucia Nappi, Dr. Christian Kollmannsberger, Dr. Corinne Maurice Dror, Dr. Kim Chi, Dr. Antoine Morin Coulombe, Dr. Daniel Khalaf, NP Nikita Ivanov, Dr. Bernie Eigl, Dr. Maryam Soleimani, Jackie Cao, Hae Jung Min, Lisa Rebane, Vivian Shen 2021 Award Winner Investigational New Drug Program Team Award Ottawa Hospital Research Institute IND.236 Team The team members include: Nancy Drummond-Ivars, Sarah Roach, Alisar Alhajj, Jo Wells, Kathy Lebreux, Natacha Parisien, Joanna Moffitt, Caroline Dean, Vanda Theberge, Xiang Wang, Lise Thaw, Liz O’Brien, Kathy Cowan, Sara Ieradi, Brianna Conway, Matt Fish, Maria Sanchez, Archana Tikoo, Lisa Turriff 2021 Award Winner Phase III Program Team Award McGill University Health Centre IC.8 Team The team members include: Amel Derdour, Kathleen Normandin, Manuel Rocha, Melissa Fredette, Linda Chin, Martine Therrien, Jacqueline Lewis, Dianna Leroux, Soizic Durocher, Corneille Bashagaluke, Maria Goniotaki, Yifan Wang, George Zogopoulos 2021 Award Winner Phase III Program Team Award Cancer Centre of Southeastern Ontario, Kingston BRC.7 Team The team members include: Dr. Andrew Robinson, Dr. Andrea Fung, Dr. Richard Gregg, Dr. Mihaela Mates, Anna Tomiak, Christine Maize, Ashlee Young, Tracy Vermette, Elias Ordaz, Jackie Edwards, Julie Holiday, Amber Burley, Heather Doucette, Jenn Pritchard, Rhonda Harpell, Karen MacVicar, Scott Bonner, Elizabeth Conlon, Cathie Horeczy, Joanne Rogers, Marleen Ross-Smith, Kristina Carmichael, Jessica Ferguson 2020 Award Winner Investigational New Drug Program Team Award BCCA Vancouver Centre (CAVA) IND.234 Trial Team The team members include: Kim Chi, Manahil Sadiq, Julita Sienkiewicz, and Wendy Won. 2020 Award Winner Phase III Program Team Award Saskatoon Cancer Centre (CASS) MAC.21 Trial Team The team members include: Nayyer Iqbal, Osama Ahmed, Shahid Ahmed, Tehmina Asif, Kamal Haider, Amer Sami, Mita Manna, Andrea Gallivan, Dominique Wagner, Jolene Hicks. 2020 Award Winner Phase III Program Team Award Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (CAMP) CE.8 Trial Team The team members include: Warren Mason, Normand J. Laperriere, Barbara Ann Millar, David Shultz, Derek Tsang, Ronald Ramos, Seth Climans, Stephanie Baker, On Yee Jones, Lynette Francis, Risho Yogananthan, Stephanie DeLuca, Anjie Yang, Irum Mahmood, Divyalakshmi Babu, Christina Cater, Kristin Dunlop, Sarah Eley, Shirley Ho, Sam Park, Rosa Pezzulli, Eamay Apostol, Moya Brown, Chermay Espino, Jermain Joseph, Hema Mohabir, Kenneth Mojica, Madeline Philips, Kathie Witkowski, Jessy Abed, Benoit Guibord, Vanessa Speers, Nanthini Tharahan, Rohini Gosai 2020 Award Winner Phase III Program Team Award Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (CAMP) HN.10 Trial Team The team members include: Scott Bratman, Andrew Bayley, John Cho, Meredith Giuliani, Ezra Hahn, Andrew Hope, Ali Hosni, John Kim, Jolie Ringash, John Waldron, Aaron Hansen, Lillian Siu Anna Spreafico, John de Almeida, Eugene Yu, Ur Metser, Pat Merante, Masoud Mohammadi Andrei Rotarescu, Rehab Chahin, Jesse Abed, Maria Braganza, Zoe Doyle, Sarah Ramotar, and Vanessa Speers 2019 Award Winner Investigational New Drug Program Team Award IND.227 Team - Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal Alexandra Frazzi, Fernanda Janeiro, Valérie Brulotte, Audrey Lavigne, Bertrand Routy, Marie Florescu, Jean-Pierre Ayoub, Anick Lambert, Mustapha Tehfé, Marie-Pier Jalbert Gariépy, Normand Blais 2019 Award Winner Investigational New Drug Program Team Award IND.234 Team - Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal Amal Nadiri, Brigitte Brisson, Virginie Decamps, Vikie Lamontagne, Lyndsey Kirwan, Any Tétreault, Chantal Plantanoff, Cynthia Levesque, Olga Guerra, Cynthia Girard-Roc, Lyne Girard, Fred Saad 2019 Award Winner Phase III Program Team Award PM.1 Team - Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Vicky Gillman, Nanthini Tharahan, Eoghan Malone, Sevan Hakgor, Amanda Giesler, Thenushi Jayasinghe, Jeffrey Doi, Celeste Yu, Vanessa Speers, Philippe Bedard, Tracy Stockley, Stephanie Lheureux, Trevor Pugh, Kelsey Zhu, Lillian Siu 2019 Award Winner Phase III Program Team Award MAC.22 Team - Ottawa Hospital Research Institute Jean Seely, Raman Verma, Betty Anne Schwarz, Holly English, Luisa Ianni, Myka Caluyong, Kelly Villeneuve, Carolle Anderson, Christie Barbesin, Marzanna Bednarek-Zilinskas, Sharlene Bilmer, Annik Blanchette, Erin Fowlie, Sylvie Lachance, Pernille Lamontagne, Gary Heddon, Ian Byrne 2018 Award Winner Investigational New Drug Program Team Award IND.227 Team - Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton Pinky Matthew, Romeo Felix, Jennifer Paulino, Carole Gallagher, Quincy Chu, Michael Smylie, Naveen Basappa, Nirmal Joshi, Beverly Larson, Usha Kumar, Elizabeth Gaetz, Charles Butts, Randeep Sangha, Anil Joy 2018 Award Winner Investigational New Drug Program Team Award IND.227 Team - NCI Naples Clinical Trials Unit, Italy Maria Carmela Piccirillo, Jane Bryce, Lucia Sparavigna, Federka Crudele, Maria Teresa Ribecco, Giuliana Canzanella, Clorinda Schettino, Marilena Martino, Fiorella Romano, Giovanni De Matteis, Manuela Florio, Anna Gimigliano, Simona Bevilacqua, Francesco Perrone, Cesare Gridelli, Saverio Cinieri, Fortunato Ciardiello, Alessandro Morabito, Fabiana Cecere, Federica Grosso, Maria Pagano, Marco Angelo Burgio, Marina Garassino, Luigi Cavanna, Manlio Mencoboni, Gennaro Daniele, Allfonso Savio, Antonia Del Giudice 2018 Award Winner Phase III Program Team Award PA.7 Team BCCA – Vancouver Cancer Centre Gillian Erickson, Vivian Alie, Fran Topp, Carolyn Hoeschen, Janelle Bellerive, Kate Hart, Suilee Quach, Naghmeh Esmaeili, Sharlene Gill, Howard Lim, Janine Davies, Malcolm Moore, Daniel Renouf 2018 Award Winner Phase III Program Team Award MEC.5 Team Juravinski Cancer Centre Hamilton Robin Eady, Theresa Stokes, Janet Barclay, Diane Derosa, Anne Laughlin, Shirley-Ann Hahn, Helen Shing, Amanda Boyes, Elisa Shore, Christine Ballantyne, Bianca Bier, Yvonne Kinrade, Elaine Hill, Ing Collins, Leah Cox, Amanda Dam, Jeanette Van Norden, Richard Tozer, Sebastien Hotte, Rosalyn Juergens, Elaine McWhirter 2017 Award Winner Investigational New Drug Program Team Award IND.226 Team - Ottawa Hospital Research Institute Caroline Lalonde, Deborah Keller, Nancy Drummond-Ivars, Sopear Tep, Saren Roeun, Kathy Lebreux, Natascha Parisien, Caroline Dean, Maria Lalonde, Louiselle Godbout, Lise Thaw, Alison Sutherland, Lena McAleer, Emma Webster, Femina Kanji, Elina Iordanidi, Lisa MacMullin, Jennifer Knudson, Sharon Kelly, Marie-Claude Reeves 2017 Award Winner Investigational New Drug Program Team Award IND.214 Team - Ottawa Hospital Research Institute Julie Wells, Saara Ali, Kaitlyn Chambers, Sara Richardson, Kathy Lebreux, Natascha Parisien, Caroline Dean, Maria Lalonde, Louiselle Godbout, Lise Thaw, Alison Sutherland, Lena McAleer, Emma Webster, Lisa Turriff, Amy Henderson, Elina Iordanidi, Lisa MacMullin, Ruth Simpson, Sharon Kelly, Marie-Claude Reeves 2017 Award Winner Phase III Program Team Award PR.17 Team - Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton Scott North, Naveen Basappa, Michael Kolinsky, Carlie Smith, Beverly Larson, Monika Lang, Leni Santiago Garcia, Margo Miller, Daphne Willan, Nirmal Joshi, Candra Williams 2017 Award Winner Phase III Program Team Award SC.24 Team - Odette Cancer Centre at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto Arjun Saghal, Lori Holden, Delareese Mackenzie, Maurice Zakhem, Marko Cadonic, Joe Presutti, Collins Yeboah, Mark Ruschin, Brige Chugh, Mikki Campbell, Young Lee, Sten Myrehaug, Eric Tseng, Michelle Gianotti, Elizabeth Lui, Hany Soliman, Hyla Okorofsky 2016 Award Winner Investigational New Drug Program Team Award IND.226 Team Juravinski Cancer Centre at Hamilton Health Sciences Andrew Arnold, Denise Charbonneau, Ing Collins, Kathy Cowan, Diane DeRosa, Robin Eady, Peter Ellis, John Goffin, Shirley-Ann Hahn, Hal Hirte, Sebastien Hotte, Rosalyn Juergens, Yvonne Kinrade, Brenda Kowaleski, Anne Laughlin, Elaine McWhirter, Elisa Shore, Jeanette Van Norden 2016 Award Winner Investigational New Drug Program Team Award IND.226 Team Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary Aaron Baumgarten, Gwyn Bebb, Florizel Bernardo, Anna Giulione, Desiree Hao, Lydian Hare, Klara Lavoie, Michelle Mills 2016 Award Winner Phase III Program Team Award CO.21 Team Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton Neil Chua, Anthony Fields, Amelie Fontaine, Leni Santiago Garcia, Julie Price Hiller, Maria Ho, Karen King, Sheryl Koski, Monika Lang, Beverly Larson, Karen Mulder, Michael Sawyer, Carlie Smith, Andrew Scarfe, Jennifer Spratlin, Candra Williams, Xiaofu Zhu 2016 Award Winner Phase III Program Team Award MAC.15 Team BCCA, Vancouver Cancer Centre Eden Blumenauer, Cheryl Carrasco, Adelaide Dede, Janice Pope, Rosanne Serpanchy, Wendy Won, Carleen Yu 2015 Award Winner Investigational New Drug Program Team Award IND.211 and IND.215 Teams Ottawa Hospital Research Institute Kendra Christink, Michelle McWilliam, Matt Fish, Lisa Turriff, Amy Henderson, Lisa MacMullin, Femina Kanji, Nancy Drummond-Ivars, Kathy Lebreux, Maria Lalonde, Lise Thaw, Ruth Simpson, Lena McAleer, Emma Webster, Sharon Kelly, Garth Nicholas 2015 Award Winner Phase III Program Team Award NEC.3 Team Dr. Léon-Richard Oncology Centre Gisèle Bernard, Bernise Gaudet, Karine Morin, Joanne Rockburn, Brigitte Sonier-Ferguson, Nicholas Finn, Ali Benjelloun, Skander Ghedira, Eve St-Hilaire, Pierre Whitlock, Nancy Hallé & Pharmacy Team 2015 Award Winner Phase III Program Team Award BL.12 Team Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Jill Sheedy, Mary Beth Zavitz, Laurie Adams, Soo Chin, Maria Schlag, Nanthini Tharahan, Leslie Duncan & Pharmacy Team, Vanessa Speers & Correlative Team, Sujata Pokhrel, Anna Malik, Srikala Sridhar, Jennifer Knox, Anthony Joshua, Aaron Hansen 2014 Award Winner Investigational New Drug Program Team Award IND.211 Team at CHUM Hôpital Notre-Dame Isabelle Lacas, Mariejo Simard, Sarnia Jean-Baptiste 2014 Award Winner Investigational New Drug Program Team Award IND.210 Team at Ottawa Hospital Research Institute Saara Ali, Carla Kinden, Deborah Keller, Diane Lister, Caryn Boheimer, Joanne Roach, Patti Spencer, Roxanne Ward, Lise Thaw, Lena McAleer, Maria Crutchley, Ruth Simpson, Emma Webster, Amy Henderson, Valerie Bourada, Mary Spearman, Lisa MacMullin, Nancy Drummond-Ivars, Kathy Lebreux, Maria Lalonde 2014 Award Winner Phase III Program Team Award MA.32 Vancouver Centre – BC Cancer Agency Adelaide Dede, Rosanne Serpanchy, Wendy Won, Linda Wong. Sophie Sun, Karen Gelmon, PIs 2014 Award Winner Phase III Program Team Award BR.26 Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Nicole Perera-Low, Nazanin Nouriany, Andrea Foster, Dianne Zawisza, Devalben Patel, Miriam Mirshams, Jeffrey Doi, Belling Leung, Kendra Ross, Vicky Gillman, Nashreen Leila, David Laurence, Kathryn Sabate, Maria Schlag, Fion Tang, Elham Absiye, Stephanie Zantinge, Cody Connolly, Vanessa Speers. Geoffrey Liu, PI 2013 Award Winner Investigational New Drug Program Team Award IND.205 Team at the British Columbia Cancer Agency (BCCA) Vancouver Cancer Centre The 2013 team award was presented to the IND.205 Team at the British Columbia Cancer Agency (BCCA) Vancouver Cancer Centre -- Ms. Rongrong Karim, Mr. Shane Brown, and Mr. Wilfred Hui.
