Grant: DRA : Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Doctoral Program (CGRS D)

Lung cancer is the most common and deadliest cancer both in Canada and in the world. One of the most common mutations that drives lung cancer formation and progression is in the gene Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR). When a lung cancer has a mutation in EGFR, it can be treated using a type of targeted therapy called a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). TKI treatments are very effective short term and have fewer side effects compared to traditional chemotherapy. Unfortunately, almost all patients eventually become resistant to - or stop responding to - TKIs, usually around 1 year of treatment. The overall goal of my project is to find other mutations specifically in EGFR mutant lung cancers that could be targeted with novel drugs. Using a combination of innovative genomic approaches and models of lung cancer, we hope to find new targets for drug development which could be used alone or in combination with TKIs to prolong patient survival. By investigating targets that play a role in both tumour formation and treatment resistance, we are looking for the most effective way to stop the cancer from progressing. This project will increase our understanding of lung cancer biology, treatment resistance, and lay the foundation for future drug development and clinical trials. Our approach aims to minimize treatment side effects by looking for cancer specific weaknesses, ensuring that we don't just extended survival, but also improve the quality of life for patients battling this devastating disease.