Congratulations to these CRINA members awarded KWCS grants!

By Ramona Czakert Franson - 23 August 2022

The Cancer Research Institute of Northern Alberta (CRINA) would like to congratulate the following members who were awarded Kids with Cancer Society (KWCS) Operating Grants administered by CRINA. Learn more about their research:

Amit Bhavsar, “Examining the role of TLR4 genetic variation in cisplatin-induced ototoxicity” 

Amit Bhavsar, Canada Research Chair in Pattern Recognition Receptor Pathophysiology, led a U of A research team who identified a receptor in cells that could be key to preventing permanent hearing loss in childhood cancer survivors who are being treated with the drug cisplatin. The researchers believe by inhibiting the receptor, they may be able to eliminate toxic side-effects from the drug that cause the hearing loss. Learn more.

Roger Leng and Mary-Pat Schlosser, "The role of Pirh2 in medulloblastoma and potential therapeutic application”

Roger Leng and his team study cancer-related signal transduction focusing on the tumor suppressor p53 and its family as one of the central mediators of molecular processes involved in tumorigenesis, and translational research focusing on the E3 ubiquitin ligases as anticancer targets. Leng had discovered the mechanism by which p53 is inactivated in cancerous cells, allowing tumours to grow.

Mary-Pat Schlosser’s research focuses on health informatics, patient experience in pediatric oncology and palliative care and the use of non-standard care therapy in pediatric oncology.