Appointments:
Adjunct Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Université de Moncton; Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke
Affiliations:
Vitalité Health Network, Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre, Department of Clinical Genetics, 330 Université Ave, Moncton, NB, E1C 2Z3
Atlantic Cancer Research Institute, 27 Providence Street, Moncton, NB, E1C 8X3, Canada
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Université de Moncton, Moncton, NB, Canada; New Brunswick Center for Precision Medicine, Moncton, NB, Canada
Research Interests:
Bioinformatics, Transcriptomics, Genomics, Hemato-oncology, Cardiovascular Disease, Pharmacogenomics, Biomarkers
Finding signals of drug response and aggressive disease in blood
My research is focused on using alterations in blood cells as a surrogate for measuring response to anti-cancer drugs and monitoring disease course. This is, of course, mostly relevant to hematological diseases, which can be measured directly in blood. However, in the era of immunotherapy, hints as to the efficacy of therapy may exist within immune cells themselves, even for solid tumors. I use methods such as whole-transcriptome sequencing for identifying molecular signatures associated with diagnosis, prognosis, positive response, resistance to therapy, and likelihood of side-effects.
What brought you to your current institution?
I was recruited as a clinical bioinformatics specialist with the Vitalité Health Network following my PhD and postdoctoral work. In this role I perform my own independent research, collaborate with physicians on clinical research projects and support bioinformatics pipelines used by the molecular genetics lab.
Hometown: Néguac, NB
Why are you interested in your area of research?
During much of my PhD and my postdoc, I worked with and studied blood cells, leukemia and liquid biopsies. I have also worked with charitable organizations such as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada which has further grown my interest in studying blood cancers and immune cells.
Involvement with BHCRI to date:
I am an Associate member of BHCRI since 2021