Previous Announcements
Introducing Rebecca Malott, Quality Control Lead
November 25, 2024
Welcome Rebecca Malott, who is joining the Riddell Centre as the Quality Control Lead in the Biomanufacturing Program. In her new role, Rebecca will oversee QC activities for cell therapy products, including assay development and validation, and routine testing of clinical products.
University of Calgary researcher studying cancer ‘designer viruses’ thanks to $9.5M gift
November 21, 2024
A University of Calgary research team studying ‘designer viruses’ to fight cancer brought their treatment to clinical trials thanks to a $9.5 million gift from the Canadian Cancer Society four years ago.
Introducing Selena Gill, Senior Administrative Assistant
November 19, 2024
Welcome Selena Gill, who is joining the Riddell Centre as the new Senior Administrative Assistant. Selena will provide administrative support to Dr. Douglas Mahoney, and several clinician scientists within the Centre.
Family donates $30M to campaign at the Arthur Child
November 18, 2024
A fundraising campaign for the recently opened Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Calgary has officially been wrapped up, thanks in large part to a “monumental” donation from philanthropists Stan and Marge Owerko, who donated $30 million to the OWN.CANCER campaign.
Cancer care forever changed in southern Alberta after OWN.CANCER fundraising campaign exceeds $250 million goal
November 15, 2024
More than 17,000 donors helped support world-leading research, innovation and care at the new Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Calgary.
Recent publication in Nature Communications
November 15, 2024
Mahoney, D. J., Zemp, F. J., Canton, J., et al. VSV∆M51 drives CD8+ T cell-mediated tumour regression through infection of both cancer and non-cancer cells. Nature Communications (2024).
$9.5M gift from CCS fueling groundbreaking cancer research
November 14, 2024
A $9.5-million gift from the Canadian Cancer Society is fuelling groundbreaking research for rare and hard-to-treat cancers at UCalgary. Shonalie Biafore, whose daughter passed away, is inspired by the Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute’s work to help other people living with cancer.
How special cells act as 'sentinels' of the immune system
November 14, 2024
Groundbreaking research by University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine team opens door to new immunotherapies and enhanced vaccines
Dr. Franz Zemp to lead Synthetic Immunology Research Enabler
November 6, 2024
Welcome Dr. Franz Zemp, who has accepted his new position as a Staff Scientist and Manager at the Riddell Centre. In this role, Dr. Zemp will be leading the Synthetic Immunology Research Enabler and overseeing educational initiatives within our Centre.
Chimdindu Ohaegbu joins as Biomanufacturing Technician
November 4, 2024
Welcome Chimdindu Ohaegbu, who is joining the Riddell Centre's Biomanufacturing Program as a Biomanufacturing Technician. Chimdindu will be helping drive the development, optimization, and scale-up of our cell and virus therapy products.
Recent publication in Science Immunology
November 1, 2024
Canton, J., Gonzales, G. A., Huang, S. et al. The pore-forming apolipoprotein APOL7C drives phagosomal rupture and antigen cross-presentation by dendritic cells. Science Immunology (2024).
Dr. Pierre Billon named to Avenue's Top 40 Under 40 2024
October 30, 2024
As part of Avenue Magazine's Top 40 Under 40 Class of 2024, Dr. Pierre Billon is among this year's list of young Calgarians who excel in their fields, contribute to our community and inspire us all.
Dr. Varsha Thoppey Manoharan joins Bioinformatics Enabler
October 28, 2024
Welcome Dr. Varsha Thoppey Manoharan, who has joined the Riddell Centre's bioinformatics enabler as a Staff Scientist. She brings exceptional computational skills to the analysis of bulk, single cell, and spatial datasets that allow deep exploration of tumor evolution and heterogeneity.
LEAP Magazine on the best and brightest in cancer research
October 21, 2024
Dr. Kevin Hay was highlighted in the LEAP Fall 2024 issue, delving into how his research focuses on using immunotherapy to target cancer cells.
Recent publication in Blood
September 25, 2024
Lee, H., Bahlis, N. J., Neri, P. et al. Impact of soluble BCMA and non-T-cell factors on refractoriness to BCMA-targeting T-cell engagers in multiple myeloma. Blood (2024).
Varsha Thoppey Manoharan defends her PhD thesis
September 17, 2024
Congratulations to Varsha Thoppey Manoharan, supervised by Dr. Sorana Morrissy, who has defended her PhD thesis, "Deconvolution of spatial transcriptomic heterogeneity in the glioblastoma ecosystem".
Riddell Centre at Believe in the Gold Run 2024
September 14, 2024
Thank you to everyone who participated in volunteering, running or supporting the Riddell Centre and childhood cancer research at the Believe in the Gold run in September!
Dr. Angela Huang receives 2024 CCS Research Training Award
September 13, 2024
Congratulations to Dr. Angela Huang, Postdoctoral Fellow supervised by Dr. Nicolas Jacquelot, on receiving a 2024 Canadian Cancer Society Research Training Award! Dr. Huang has received funding for her research in Understanding how immune cells protect against the development of breast cancer.
Lorenzo Lindo receives 2024 CCS Research Training Award
September 13, 2024
Congratulations to Lorenzo Lindo, PhD Student supervised by Dr. Kevin Hay, on receiving a 2024 Canadian Cancer Society Research Training Award! Lorenzo has received funding for his research in Improving cellular therapies for people with multiple myeloma.
Dr. Kathy McCoy joins Canadian Academy of Health Sciences
September 11, 2024
Congratulations to Dr. Kathy McCoy on her induction into the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, for her demonstrated leadership and distinctive contributions to advancing health sciences. Dr. McCoy joins a distinguished group of Canada's leading health and biomedical scientists and scholars.
Dr. Jongbok Lee receives 2024 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada Operating Grant
September 11, 2024
Recognized for his research project, Mix-and-match, off-the-shelf CAR-DNT therapy for B-cell malignancies, Dr. Lee's team is exploring the potential of CAR-DNT as an innovative CAR-based treatment strategy that is accessible and more effective for leukemia patients.
Jethro Langley receives Phillips Emerging Scholar Award
September 11, 2024
Congratulations to Jethro Langley, PhD student supervised by Dr. Pierre Billon, who has been awarded the Phillips Emerging Cancer Scholar Award!
Jessica López Espinosa receives funding from CONAHCYT
September 11, 2024
Congratulations to Jessica López Espinosa, MSc trainee supervised by Dr. Jongbok Lee, who has been awarded the 2024 Postgraduate Scholarship for Masters and Doctorates in Sciences and Humanities Abroad from the Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y TecnologÍas (CONAHCYT) in Mexico.
New publication in Journal of Investigative Dermatology
August 9, 2024
Thoppey Manoharan, V., Morrissy, S., Nikolic, N. et al. Spatial and Single-cell Transcriptomics Reveal Oncofetal Reprogramming of Fibroblasts is Associated with Malignant Degeneration of Burn Scar. Journal of Investigative Dermatology (2024).
Leanne Palichuk receives Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship
August 6, 2024
Congratulations to Leanne Palichuk, MSc Student supervised by Dr. Jongbok Lee, who has received the Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship (AGES) which recognizes outstanding academic achievement in graduate studies.
Jessica López Espinosa named Rejeanne Taylor Research Prize recipient
August 6, 2024
Congratulations to Jessica López Espinosa, MSc Student supervised by Dr. Jongbok Lee, on receiving the Rejeanne Taylor Research Prize in Precision Cancer Research!
Dr. Hyojin Song recognized as one of top 10 early-cancer data scientists to receive prestigious 2024 Health Informatics & Data Science Award
July 30, 2024
Congratulations to Dr. Hyojin Song, a postdoctoral associate under the supervision of Dr. Sorana Morrissy, on being awarded the 2024 Health Informatics & Data Science Award, as funded by the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network (MOHCCN). These funds support research aimed at developing and applying complex data with the goal of improving diagnostics and therapies for patients with multiple cancer types to support groundbreaking research in precision oncology.
Molecular regulator for lymphoid cells discovered in mice
July 4, 2024
"We found that when we deleted the transcription factor in these innate cells, the mice developed a lot more tumours," says Dr. Angela Huang, a postdoctoral researcher in the Jacquelot Lab. "This proves that the molecular regulator is important for the cells that are responsible for fighting off tumours in these mice."
New publication in Nature Review Clinical Oncology
July 3, 2024
Neri, P., Leblay, N., Lee, H. et al. Just scratching the surface: novel treatment approaches multiple myeloma targeting cell membrane proteins. Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology (2024).
Dr. Pierre Billon among 17 CSM faculty members awarded NSERC Discovery Grants, worth a total of $4.07M
July 3, 2024
In addition to being awarded a 2024 NSERC Discovery Grant for his work defining the interplay between DNA repair and CRISPR-based genome editing technologies, Dr. Pierre Billon also received a Discovery Launch ECR Supplement.
Congratulations to Esha Kaul on a successful thesis defense!
June 18, 2024
Esha Kaul, supervised by Dr. Craig Jenne (Primary Supervisor) and Dr. Doug Mahoney (Co-Supervisor), defended her MSc thesis, "Investigating the role of pericyte infection in Vesicular Stomatitis Virus stimulated immune activation". Congratulations Esha!
