News

Researchers at BC Cancer Research Institute (BCCRI) and UBC Chemistry have created a new way to build radioactive DNA molecules that could help reimagine how radiolabeled drugs are built. Using enzymes that normally copy genetic material, scientists programmed synthetic DNA to carry cancer‑fighting isotopes in precise patterns, opening the door to developing drugs that could both image tumors and destroy them with the same molecule. 

A new study led by Dr. Marianne D.

A new study published in Genetics in Medicine examines how systemic barriers in health care shape Indigenous families’ views about genomic medicine in British Columbia. The research finds that physical and relational barriers to access, experiences of racism and persistent demands for self-advocacy impose resilience as a condition of care for Indigenous families.

A new multinational study led by Dr. Poul Sorensen, distinguished scientist at BC Cancer Research Institute, professor in the UBC Faculty of Medicine and holder of the Johal Chair in Childhood Cancer Research, has been published in Cancer Discovery, a leading journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Dr. Samuel Aparicio, distinguished scientist at the BC Cancer Research Institute and professor at the University of British Columbia, is co-senior author on a recent paper providing the most detailed map to date of how breast tissue changes over a woman’s lifetime, revealing the role of menopause in cancer susceptibility. The study was co-led with scientists at the University of Cambridge.

For patients undergoing breast radiotherapy to treat their cancer, receiving a high-quality standard of care is important – particularly given they receive treatment over several sessions. 

However, this consistency can be challenging to maintain as each patient’s body is different. Positioning the breast accurately is key to ensuring the radiation targets the right area, yet variations in body shape and size can make this difficult.