I am a clinician-scientist and the BC Leadership Chair in Functional Cancer Imaging with a primary interest in developing new molecular imaging tools and methods for the diagnosis and in vivo characterization of cancers. My expertise covers both pre-clinical research related to the evaluation of novel radiopharmaceuticals, from the design phase to receptor-binding assays, preclinical evaluation, and clinical research ranging from phase 0-1 studies to multicentre clinical trials. I bridge the gap between basic science and clinical applications.

We established a state-of-the art cyclotron and molecular imaging facility at BC Cancer. I have extensive experience directing PET programs and a cyclotron facility and have always been intimately involved in the operation of the cyclotron and radiochemistry laboratories. I managed the PET/CT core laboratory for the Medical Imaging Trial Network of Canada. As part of this network, I led multicenter prospective clinical trials on the use of 18F-NaF to detect bone metastases in breast and prostate cancers and on the clinical validation of cyclotron produced 99mTc. I am also leading clinical trials using 18F- and 177Lu-labeled radiopharmaceuticals for diagnosis and therapy of prostate cancer.

My team consists of scientists, technologists and trainees from a diverse background ranging from molecular biologists, chemists, radiochemists, medical physicists, nuclear medicine technologists to cyclotron operators. My research group currently includes 5 graduate students, 3 coop students, 5 post-doctoral fellows/research associates, 1 research radiochemist, 3 technicians, with 2 nuclear medicine technologists for preclinical imaging. Institutionally supported staff members include medical physicists who support the clinic and cyclotron facility, 4 radiochemists involved in routine production of radiotracers, a clinical research manager and multiple technologists. A QA manager and a QA specialist supervise the GMP aspects of our program.

Members

Faculty/Leaders

Staff

Cynthia Ferguson

Research Projects and Operations Leader

Laura Florio

Administrative Coordinator

Tasfia Hoque

Research Assistant

Xinchi Hou

Research Associate

María de Guadalupe Jaraquemada Peláez

Staff Scientist 1

WIng Sum (Cherry) Lau

Research Assistant 2

Alice Lu

Quality Assurance Manager, PET Radiopharmacy

Noeen Malik

Functional Imaging - Post-doctoral Fellow

Behnoud Mohammadi

Research Project Assistant

Pauline Ng

Research Animal Technician 2

Jinhe Pan

Research Assistant

Maral Pourghiasian

Project Manager

Vaishali (Shelly) Sharma

Research Administration Coordinator

Milan Vuckovic

Functional Imaging - Production Unit Manager

Ryan Wilson

Research Assistant 3

Michael Woods

Functional Imaging

Post-Docs

Sara Harsini

Postdoctoral Fellow

Mathilde Ligeour

Postdoctoral Fellow

Stefan Mair

Postdoctoral Fellow

Students/Trainees

Itzel Astiazaran Rascon

Graduate student

Julia Bishop

Summer Student

Adam Watkins

Co-op Student

Antonio Wong

Graduate student

Open Positions

Research Administration Coordinator

Bénard Lab

What you’ll do

  • In collaboration with the Principal Investigator(s) (PIs), coordinate the preparation and submission of grant proposals.
  • Interact with both national and international universities and granting agencies. Ensure flow of information with internal and external stakeholders regarding grant related matters and make arrangements for visiting speakers and guests.
  • Coordinate registration and travel arrangements for staff attendance at seminars and meetings. This includes completing registration (on-line or phone), abstract submission, making travel and lodging reservations, culminating expense reimbursements to the attendee and/or cost recovery from the conference organizers.
  • Human resource responsibilities include recruitment of staff by posting/advertising internally and externally (UBC), coordinating interviews and screening applications for review by hiring supervisors. Manage new hire orientation process and ensure all safety and personnel documentation is in place according to policies, guidelines and legislations.
  • Ensure all hiring, appointment and payroll processes are complete for employees. Liaise with various PHSA units such as Payroll and Human Resources and in some cases, UBC, to ensure a seamless process and minimize errors.
  • Act as the main contact for ordering lab and office supplies for the department. Manage and process various requisitions such as travel, expense reimbursements, cheque requests, and honorariums for the Department Head and PIs. 

 

What you bring

  • A level of education, training, and experience equivalent to a Diploma in a relevant area such as business administration or finance from a recognized college.
  • Three (3) years’ recent, related experience a research environment and in project management.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to demonstrate good judgment, tact and discretion.
  • Demonstrated time management skills and the ability to assist others in meeting deadlines.
  • Demonstrated ability to make sound decisions and resolve administrative issues/problems.
  • Detail orientation and the ability to complete accurate work in a timely matter.
  • Knowledge of and experience with grant applications. Knowledge and experience in budget preparation, tracking expenditures and identifying sources of variance.
  • Commitment to upholding the shared responsibility of creating lasting and meaningful reconciliation in Canada as per TRC (2015) and BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019).
  • Knowledge of social, economic, political and historical realities impacting indigenous communities and familiarity with Indigenous Cultural Safety and anti-racism and accompanying reports (BC DRIPA, TRC, etc.).

What we bring

Every PHSA employee enables the best possible patient care for our patients and their families. Whether you are providing direct care, conducting research, or making it possible for others to do their work, you impact the lives of British Columbians today and in the future. That’s why we’re focused on your care too – offering health, wellness, development programs to support you – at work and at home.

  • Join one of BC’s largest employers with province-wide programs, services and operations – offering vast opportunities for growth, development, and recognition programs that honour the commitment and contribution of all employees.
  • Access to professional development opportunities through our in-house training programs, including +2,000 courses, such as our San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training course, or Core Linx for Leadership roles.
  • Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including municipal pension plan, and psychological health & safety programs and holistic wellness resources.
  • Annual statutory holidays (13) with generous vacation entitlement and accruement.
  • PHSA is a remote work friendly employer, welcoming flexible work options to support our people (eligibility may vary, depending on position).
  • Access to WorkPerks, a premium discount program offering a wide range of local and national discounts on electronics, entertainment, dining, travel, wellness, apparel, and more.

Job Type: Casual

Salary Range: $51,156 - $68,455 per year. The starting salary for this position would be determined with consideration of the successful candidate’s relevant education and experience, and would be in alignment with the provincial compensation reference plan. Salary will be prorated accordingly for part time roles.

Location: 675 W 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1G1

Applications will be accepted until position is filled.

Hours of Work: Monday to Friday; 0830-1630

Requisition # 147998

Apply online now

Selected Publications

Projects

Quantitative Imaging and Radiation Dosimetry

Our aim is to develop data acquisition protocols that generate fully quantitative reconstructed images.  Radiomics, the extraction of extensive quantitative features from images, has generated interest promising improved assessment of disease and prediction of outcome. Moreover, quantitative images allow for the personalized estimation of radiation doses delivered to tumors and target organs in molecular radiotherapies.  

Cyclotron-produced radioisotopes

The identification and the availability of a radioisotope for radiolabeling with properties and half-life that match with the pharmacokinetic of the radiopharmaceutical is crucial. Key collaborations with radiochemists at UBC, TRIUMF and the BC Cancer Agency allow developing methods for cyclotron-produced radioisotopes and purification as an attractive and practical substitution of reactors/generators, e.g 44Sc, 86Y and 61Cu 68Ga or 99mTc (actually available for patient SPECT imaging).

Targeted radionuclide therapy for cancer

A radiopharmaceutical can be conjugated with radioactive isotopes for use either in diagnosis (e.g. low doses of radiations that do not harm patients) or treatment, with radioactive isotopes that emit damaging radiation to kill tumour cells. Continued identification of new tumour‐specific targets and the development of targeting agent are key to the development of new therapeutics, which are urgently needed to improve the outcome of treatment resistant cancer.

Radiopharmaceuticals for cancer imaging

Molecular imaging techniques, including positron emission tomography (PET) and single photo emission computed tomography (SPECT), provide information about the presence of specific drug targets on cancer cells. PET is a robust and highly sensitive imaging method that allows for the characterization of cancers via real‐time tracking of radioactive compounds that bind to tumour‐specific “markers” (or, receptors).

Sponsors

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