Grant: Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Ovarian cancer is a devastating disease affecting thousands of women every year in Canada. An estimated 3,000 Canadian women were diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2022, and 1,950 have died from the disease. Ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women, accounting for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. Less than half of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer survive more than five years. Symptoms may not appear until late stages of the disease and there is currently no screening process for early detection. Research is essential to developing new methods for early detection and new treatments to battle late stages of ovarian cancer and increase survival for women in Canada and around the world. The telomerase (hTERT) gene is hyperactive many cancers, including ovarian cancer, and has been identified as a potential target for treatment. Although this led to multiple telomerase-targeting approaches, disappointingly, none have been successful in clinics. However, our team uses a different approach called synthetic lethality to identify potential targets that specifically affect cancers where hTERT is hyperactive and not regular cells. The goal of this project is to identify potential targets for treatment for ovarian cancer and use targeted therapies to fight off the cancer. We also plan to apply these therapies in combination with existing therapies to amplify the efficiency of treatment against ovarian cancer. The results of this project will identify new targets to battle ovarian cancer and provide preclinical evidence to support the development of new ovarian cancer therapies.