About

Cancer Research, Diagnosis, Treatment. Earlier.

Get to know Pancreas Centre BC.

Pancreas Centre BC

Pancreas Centre BC is dedicated to advancing care for British Columbians with pancreatic cancer by making research discoveries that we can rapidly translate into better treatments.

Founded in 2012, our centre is a unique partnership between the BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver Coastal Health and the University of British Columbia (UBC). Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver Coastal Health's flagship hospital, is known for its expertise in diagnosis, surgery and pathology of pancreatic cancer.

The BC Cancer Agency is world renowned for its progress in cancer detection, treatment and research. Agency experts oversee cancer screening and treatment for the province. In addition, the BC Cancer Agency Research Centre is home to prominent scientists who study cancer biology, genomics and population based outcomes. Many of these researchers are UBC faculty, or affiliated with other Universities across BC.

We exist because generous donors believe that research is the key that will unlock the mysteries of pancreatic cancer and save more lives.

We thank the donors of the BC Cancer Foundation and VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation for making it possible to establish a major pancreatic cancer research centre here in B.C.

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Mission

We can and will save lives if patients, researchers, donors, governments, and funding agencies continue to work together through this unique centre.

The very presence of Pancreas Centre BC strengthens our partnerships and provides a unique opportunity to make B.C. a world leader in research into the early detection and treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Our Mission

Pancreas Centre BC will conduct team-driven translational research to discover the causes of pancreatic cancer development and progression as well as to develop innovative therapy and early diagnosis techniques. These discoveries will be used to develop new services and techniques that will reduce suffering and improve survival for patients.

Centre Goals

  • Outstanding research
  • Best care for patients
  • Mentorship and education of future clinicians and scientists

Research Goals

  • To understand how pancreatic cancer develops
  • To research potential screening methods for people predisposed to pancreatic cancer
  • To research potential new drug delivery systems
  • To identify new drug targets and drug development that will increase long term survival
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Team

The key to making strides in pancreatic cancer treatment is close collaborations between clinicians, scientists and patients.
 

Dan Renouf

Dan RenoufMD, MPH, FRCPC

Medical Oncologist, Co-Director Pancreas Centre BC
BC Cancer Agency; Assistant Professor, Division of Medical Oncology, The University of British Columbia

David F. Schaeffer

David F. SchaefferMD, FRCPC

Consultant Pathologist, Co-Director Pancreas Centre BC
Assistant Professor, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of British Columbia.

Charles Scudamore

Charles ScudamoreMD, MSc, FACS, FRCSC, FRCS

Hepatobiliary Surgeon, Steering Committee Chair Pancreas Centre BC
Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, The University of British Columbia.

Martin Avancena

Martin Avancena

Medical Technologist Research Biobank, Clinical Research Unit

Marcel Bally

Marcel BallyBSc, MSc, PhD

Research Scientist
Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of British Columbia. Adjunct Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of British Columbia. Head, Experimental Therapeutics, BC Cancer Agency Research Centre. Chair, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Centre for Drug Research and Development.

Francois Benard

Francois BenardMSc, PhD

Research Scientist
Professor, Department of Radiology, The University of British Columbia. Head, Division of Nuclear Medicine, The University of British Columbia. Clinical Scientist, BC Cancer Agency.

Jean Buckley

Jean BuckleyMD, RCPSC

Radiologist
Associate Professor, The University of British Columbia.

Andrew K. Buczkowski

Andrew K. BuczkowskiMD, FRCSC

Hepatobiliary Surgeon
Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, The University of British Columbia. Vancouver General Hospital and Provincial Program Leader, Surgical Oncology, BC Cancer Agency.

Michael Byrne

Michael ByrneMD, FRCPC

Gastroenterologist
Vancouver General Hospital; Clinical Professor, Division of Gastroenterology, The University of British Columbia. Director, Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Vancouver General Hospital. Co-Director, Interventional Endoscopy Fellowship, Vancouver General Hospital and St Paul's Hospital. Co-Director, Luminal Clinical Trials Group, Vancouver General Hospital.

Winson Cheung

Winson CheungMD, MPH, FRCPC

Medical Oncologist
Assistant Professor, Division of Medical Oncology, The University of British Columbia. Co-Chair, GI Cancers Outcomes Research Unit, BC Cancer Agency.

Stephen Chung

Stephen ChungMD, PhD, FRCSC

Hepatobiliary Surgeon
Professor, Department of Surgery, The University of British Columbia. Head, Section of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Vancouver General Hospital and The University of British Columbia. Medical Director, Surgical Services for Vancouver General Hospital and The University of British Columbia Hospital. Scientific Director, British Columbia Transplant Society.

Carol Cremin

Carol CreminMSc, CCGC

Genetic Counselor
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Genetics, Genetic Counselor in the Hereditary Cancer Program at the BC Cancer Agency in Vancouver.

Erik Dierks

Erik Dierks

Vice President, Development
BC Cancer Foundation.

Fergal Donnellan

Fergal DonnellanMD, MRCPI

Gastroenterologist
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, The University of British Columbia.

Nancy Ferguson

Nancy Ferguson

Research Technician
Clinical Research Unit VCH Research Institute

Blake Gilks

Blake GilksMD, FRCPC

Consultant Pathologist
Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of British Columbia. Head, Division of Anatomical Pathology, Vancouver General Hospital.

Sharlene Gill

Sharlene GillMD, MPH, FRCPC

Medical Oncologist
BC Cancer Agency; Assistant Professor, Division of Medical Oncology, The University of British Columbia. Associate Faculty Member, Division of Gastroenterology, The University of British Columbia. NCIC Co-Chair, Colon Cancer Intergroup Task Force.

Alison Harris

Alison HarrisMBChB, MRCP, FRCR(GB), FRCPC

Radiologist
BC Cancer Agency; Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Radiology, The University of British Columbia. Head, Division of Abdominal Imaging, Vancouver General Hospital.

Julie Ho

Julie HoMHA, CHE

Project/Laboratory Manager

Carolyn Hoeschen

Carolyn HoeschenNP(F), MN, BN, BSc

Nurse Practitioner, Pancreas Centre BC
BC Cancer Agency, GI Systemic Therapy

Sarah Howard

Sarah Howard BSc

Research Facilitator in the Hereditary Cancer Program at BC Cancer Agency.

David Huntsman

David HuntsmanMD, FRCPC

Genetic Pathologist
Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of British Columbia. Director, OvCaRe. Director, Centre for Translational and Applied Genomics(CTAG). Co-Director, Hereditary Cancer Program (HCP), BC Cancer Agency. Co-Director, Genetic Pathology Evaluation Centre (GPEC).

Stephanie Irvine

Stephanie IrvineBSc. RD

Clinical Research Dietitian, Pancreas Centre BC

JANEL KOPP

JANEL KOPPBSC, PHD

Research Scientist
Assistant Professor, Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences and Associate Member, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of British Columbia.

Steve Kalloger

Steve KallogerBSc, MSc

Manager, Microarray Unit, Pancreas Centre BC
Manager, Pancreatic Cancer Research Outcomes, Pancreas Centre BC

Joanna Karasinska

Joanna KarasinskaPHD

Staff Scientist
Pancreas Centre BC

Hagen Kennecke

Hagen KenneckeMD, FRCPC

Medical Oncologist
Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Medical Oncology, The University of British Columbia. Professional Practice Leader, Division of Medical Oncology, BC Cancer Agency Vancouver Centre, BC Cancer Agency. Member, National Cancer Institute of Canada. Member, CTG GI Site Committee. Member, Neuroendocrine Tumor Task Force of the NCI GI Steering Committee.

Christian Kollmannsberger

Christian KollmannsbergerMD, FRCPC

Medical Oncologist
Medical Oncologist, BC Cancer Agency; Clinical Associate Professor, Division of Medical Oncology, University of British Columbia Co-Chair, Clinical Research Unit for Genitourinary and Phase I Clinical Trials

Eric C. S. Lam

Eric C. S. LamMD, FRCPC

Gastroenterologist
St. Paul's Hospital; Clinical Associate Professor, Division of Gastroenterology, University of British Columbia; Director, St. Paul's Hospital Endoscopic Ultrasound Program.

Frances Lasser

Frances LasserMA

Business Advisor, Pancreas Centre BC

Howard Lim

Howard LimMD, PhD, FRCPC

Medical Oncologist
Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Medical Oncology, The University of British Columbia. Program Director, Medical Oncology Training Program, BC Cancer Agency.

Marco Marra

Marco MarraBSc, PhD, FRSC, FCAHS

Molecular Geneticist
Professor, Department of Medical Genetics, The University of British Columbia. Adjunct Professor, Simon Fraser University. Director, BC Cancer Agency’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre. Senior Scientist, BC Cancer Agency Research Centre. Canada Research Chair in Genome Science, The University of British Columbia.

Robert McMaster

Robert McMasterMSc, PhD, DPhil

Research Scientist
Professor and Head, Department of Medical Genetics, The University of British Columbia. Director, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI). Director, Transplant Immunology, British Columbia Transplant Research Institute. Member, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Microbiology and Infection Committee. Chair, BC Clinical Research Infrastructure Network.

Barb Melosky

Barb MeloskyMD

Medical Oncologist
Medical Oncologist, BC Cancer Agency; Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Medical Oncology, University of British Columbia Chair, Colorectal Screening Committee

Andrew Metcalfe

Andrew MetcalfeBSc.

Research Assistant
University of British Columbia

Ryan Morin

Ryan MorinMSc, PhD

Research Scientist
Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry and School of Computing Science, Simon Fraser University Scientist, Genome Science Centre, BC Cancer Agency

David A. Owen

David A. OwenMB, FRCPC

Consultant Pathologist
Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of British Columbia.

Jim O’Hara

Jim O’Hara

Vice President, Leadership Giving
VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation

Robyn Roscoe

Robyn RoscoeBSc, PMP

Manager
Director, Management and Administration, BC Cancer Agency’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre.

KASMINTAN SCHRADER

KASMINTAN SCHRADERMBBS, FRCPC, PHD, DABMG

Medical Geneticist
Medical Geneticist Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Genetics, The University of British Columbia. Staff Physician, Hereditary Cancer Program, BC Cancer Agency.

Maja Segedi

Maja Segedi MD, MPH, FRCSC

Clinical Assistant Professor – Division of General Surgery Active Staff, Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery Vancouver General Hospital

Michelle Storms

Michelle StormsBScN RN CCRP

Clinical Research Unit Manager
Clinical Research Unit VCH Research Institute

Garth Warnock

Garth WarnockMD, MSc, FRCSC, FACS

General Surgeon
Professor, Department of Surgery, The University of British Columbia. Co-Director, Ike Barber Human Islet Transplant Laboratory and British Columbia Islet Transplant Program.

Cassia Warren

Cassia Warren

Masters Student
University of British Columbia and Pancreas Centre BC

Douglas L. Webber

Douglas L. WebberMD, FRCPC

Consultant Pathologist
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of British Columbia.

Alan Weiss

Alan WeissMD, FRCPC

Gastroenterologist
Clinical Professor, Division of Gastroenterology, The University of British Columbia. Director, GI Endoscopy Unit, BC Cancer Agency.

Kim Wiegand

Kim WiegandPhD

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Kim Wiegand is currently a Banting postdoctoral fellow at the Biomedical Research Centre at UBC, and has been working with Dr. Michael Underhill and Dr. David Schaeffer since September 2013. Her current work focuses on pancreatic cancer, tumour-stroma interactions, and targeting of the activated stromal component of pancreatic cancer. Prior to starting as a postdoctoral fellow at UBC, she completed her undergraduate degree at The University of Victoria, majoring in Microbiology then completed her PhD in the laboratory of Dr. David Huntsman in the Pathology Department at UBC. She is a native of British Columbia, born in Kelowna, but now happily calls Vancouver home. source: http://www.vchri.ca/feature-stories/articles/2014/12/11/people-profile-kim-wiegand

Hui-li Wong

Hui-li WongMBBS, FRACP

Medical Oncology Clinical Research Fellow
BC Cancer Agency and Pancreas Centre BC

Charles Zwirewich

Charles ZwirewichMD, FRCPC

Radiologist
Clinical Professor, Department of Radiology, The University of British Columbia.
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Training

Providing clinicians and researchers the opportunity to access additional postgraduate training is one of Pancreas Centre BC's main areas of focus.

Because of our diversity, we can offer a fertile environment for basic, translational and clinical research.

We currently support an anatomical pathology-specific gastrointestinal/pancreatobiliary clinical fellowship for a board-certified pathologist and a gastrointestinal oncology fellowship for a board-certified medical oncologist. In addition, we support postgraduate research fellows that work with our collaborators on pancreas-specific research projects.

We will continue to expand our training capacity to ensure that B.C. patients access the best — and best-trained — researchers and clinicians possible.

For training opportunites, please send your inquiries to: pancreascentrebc@gmail.com.

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