The Jen Johnston Prize for Research Excellence
** This competition is closed for 2025
The Jen Johnston Prize recognizes outstanding trainee-led cancer research through a published paper where the trainee is sole or co-first author. Established in 2022 through memorial donations honoring Jen Johnston, daughter of former BHCRI Scientific Director Dr. Gerry Johnston, the prize celebrates her legacy and passion for research.
This $1,500 annual award is open to current CRTP trainees or those who completed within two years of the deadline. Eligible applicants may be at any training level (MSc, PhD, postdoctoral fellow, or resident) and from any cancer research discipline.
The winning trainee will present their research at the BHCRI Annual Workshop. The prize focus alternates each year between discovery/fundamental, applied health (including population, psychosocial, and behavioural), and clinical research.
Recipient details will be shared via the BHCRI website and social media.
2026 Award: Applied Health (including population, psychosocial, and behavioural).
2025 Award: Discovery /Fundamental Research
Key Dates
The Deadline for Submission is August 01, 2025. Full Application: MS Word Fillable
For questions, please do not hesitate to contact admin@bhcri.ca.
“This was taken at a sci-fi convention the year before Jen died (Jen is on the left!). Jen was one of the makeup artists for the event. This picture captures Jen's spirit and unwavering sense of fun” – Gerry and Judy Johnston
2024 Recipient – Dr. Heinze
- Institution: Dalhousie University (PhD)
- Research Focus: Activating cancer communities through an exercise strategy for survivors: an effectiveness-implementation trial.
- Impact: Positive impacts that engaging with physical activity and exercise can have on one’s cancer journey.
- Award Significance: Allows Dr. Heinze to share the story of the ACCESS program while channeling the values Jen embodied and push for improvements in how our health system can better support people affected by cancer.
- Platform Presentation:
2023 Recipient – Dr. Perri Tutelman
- Institution: Dalhousie University (PhD); Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Calgary & Alberta Health Services
- Research Focus: Developed and validated tools to assess fear of cancer recurrence in childhood cancer survivors and their parents.
- Impact: First to create child-specific measures for this fear, helping improve psychosocial care post-treatment.
- Award Significance: Honours Jen Johnston’s legacy by supporting research that directly improves the lives of young cancer survivors and their families.
- Platform Presentation: October BHCRI Workshop
2022 Recipient – Marie-Claire Wasson
Marie-Claire Wasson, The First Jen Johnston Prize Winner
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Institution: Dalhousie University, Department of Pathology
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Research Focus: Investigated long non-coding RNAs as potential targets for triple-negative breast cancer treatment.
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Impact: Aims to expand treatment options by identifying new molecular pathways involved in cancer progression.
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Award Significance: Celebrates MC’s commitment to cancer research and her compassionate approach to science and patient care.
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Platform Presentation: May BHCRI Workshop
Pictured below, MC with Judy and Gerry Johnston.
