Grant: CIHR Café Scientifique Program - Open Pool

Up to 10 per cent of cancers may be caused by inherited genetic changes. Many people today know they have a higher risk of developing cancer, but they don't know when it will occur. But major changes in our understanding of hereditary cancers are paving the way for a future where they can be monitored and possibly prevented from occurring. New techniques like liquid biopsies and interception vaccines are changing our perception and providing new hope for those at risk of developing hereditary cancer. This session will introduce attendees to hereditary cancers, genetic testing and screening, share the lived experience of having a hereditary cancer syndrome, and dive into the technologies that are on the horizon to fundamentally change the landscape of hereditary cancer. It will also introduce emerging tools that are helping build our understanding of how hereditary cancers develop, and show how improving prevention and diagnosis of hereditary cancers can one day inform our knowledge of all cancers. This open forum will encourage the sharing of ideas and perspectives and support a dialogue between researchers, patient partners and the public.