From Idea to Impact: The Story of the Canadian Conference on Ovarian Cancer Research

🎙️ Season 7 of the GOSH Podcast kicks off with highlights from the 2026 seed2STEM program! This episode features Samantha Xu and Dawson Isbister, two students from the 2026 seed2STEM Summer Research Program for Indigenous Youth — an initiative designed to increase Indigenous representation in STEM by providing meaningful, paid research opportunities for Indigenous youth. Samantha and Dawson join us to share their experiences working within research labs, what they’ve learned along the way, and what they took away from the program. This summer marks the second official year that BC Cancer, in partnership with the GCI, is an official host institution. For the first time, the GCI expanded placement opportunities to the Knowledge Mobilization Team. In this new role, we welcomed seed2STEM trainee Kayleigh Courtorellie, who co-developed this episode. 🎧 Tune in to the first episode of Season 7.Resources:https://icord.org/seed2stem/For more information on the Gynecologic Cancer Initiative, please visit https://gynecancerinitiative.ca/ or email us at [email protected]  Where to learn more about us:  Twitter – @GCI_Cluster Instagram – @gynecancerinitiative Facebook – facebook.com/gynecancerinitiativeTikTok – @gci_gosh

In recognition of Endometrial Cancer Awareness Month, this episode features Jennifer Graham, a three-time cancer patient and patient advocate with the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network (MOHCCN). Jennifer shares her experiences navigating breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancer, reflecting on the emotional realities of diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and living with uncertainty. Together, we discuss the importance of support systems, how cancer shaped her perspective on life and advocacy, and the role of patient voices in improving cancer research and care. Through her story, Jennifer offers an honest and hopeful conversation about resilience, community, and moving forward through even the most difficult moments.For more information on the Gynecologic Cancer Initiative, please visit https://gynecancerinitiative.ca/ or email us at [email protected]  Where to learn more about us:  Twitter – @GCI_Cluster Instagram – @gynecancerinitiative Facebook – facebook.com/gynecancerinitiativeTikTok – @gci_gosh

In this episode of the GOSH Podcast’s Next Gen in 10 series, we are joined by Alison Luo, a Master’s student at the University of British Columbia supervised by Dr. Paul Yong. Alison discusses her research on pain sensitivity and central sensitization in endometriosis using clinical mechanical testing, as well as her work validating a prediction model for pain-related quality of life outcomes after endometriosis surgery. Together, we explore how better understanding pain processing may help inform more personalized approaches to endometriosis care.For more information on the Gynecologic Cancer Initiative, please visit https://gynecancerinitiative.ca/ or email us at [email protected]  Where to learn more about us:  Twitter – @GCI_Cluster Instagram – @gynecancerinitiative Facebook – facebook.com/gynecancerinitiativeTikTok – @gci_gosh

In recognition of Cancer Research Month 💜🎗️, we sit down with Dr. Barbara Vanderhyden to reflect on the origins and evolution of the Canadian Conference on Ovarian Cancer Research (CCOCR). What began as a small, ambitious idea in 2001 has grown into a national, multidisciplinary forum bringing together basic scientists, clinicians, epidemiologists, and psychosocial researchers from across Canada.In this episode, we discuss the importance of collaboration in advancing ovarian cancer research, the role of trainees within this community, and how CCOCR continues to shape research, partnerships, and progress nationwide. We also look ahead to this year’s conference at UBC and what attendees—especially trainees—can expect to take away.Resources:https://ovariancanada.org/events/canadian-conference-on-ovarian-cancer-research?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23711798144&gbraid=0AAAAADsQjwFfTQHlk_3CNNNXiFv76oiL3&gclid=CjwKCAjw46HPBhAMEiwASZpLRDt6xWhR4LtqEnxWsonv3joiqBGxaEAM78_hbI5MCEBrPwI1WTQoABoCmT8QAvD_BwE For more information on the Gynecologic Cancer Initiative, please visit https://gynecancerinitiative.ca/ or email us at [email protected]  Where to learn more about us:  Twitter – @GCI_Cluster Instagram – @gynecancerinitiative Facebook – facebook.com/gynecancerinitiativeTikTok – @gci_gosh

🎙️ Next Gen in 10 is back! This episode features Arabella Helgason, a UBC Master’s student supervised by Dr. Aline Talhouk, whose research examines how endometrial cancer surveillance currently works for Lynch syndrome carriers — and how it might be improved. Using population data, Arabella is exploring surveillance patterns and investigating new approaches, including the potential role of self-sampling. 🎧 Tune in to learn how trainee research is helping rethink cancer surveillance.For more information on the Gynecologic Cancer Initiative, please visit https://gynecancerinitiative.ca/ or email us at [email protected]  Where to learn more about us:  Twitter – @GCI_Cluster Instagram – @gynecancerinitiative Facebook – facebook.com/gynecancerinitiativeTikTok – @gci_gosh

New episode alert! 🎙️How can we move beyond BMI to better understand endometrial cancer risk? In this episode, Dr. Aline Talhouk and Dr. Andrea Neilson discuss the RESTORE study and the use of the Progesterone Challenge Test (PCT) as a functional way to assess hormonal activity in the endometrium — and identify who may truly be at higher biological risk.We talk through the study design, as well as early findings showing strong feasibility and participant engagement. The conversation also explores how this approach could support more targeted prevention strategies moving forward.🎧 Listen now!For more information on the Gynecologic Cancer Initiative, please visit https://gynecancerinitiative.ca/ or email us at [email protected]  Where to learn more about us:  Twitter – @GCI_Cluster Instagram – @gynecancerinitiative Facebook – facebook.com/gynecancerinitiativeTikTok – @gci_gosh

Can we better predict who will benefit from endometriosis surgery? In this episode, Sabrina speaks with Dr. Dwayne Tucker about developing the Endometriosis Pain Index — a machine learning–based tool designed to help guide surgical decision-making and set realistic expectations for pain outcomes. From predictive modelling to patient-centred care, this conversation explores how data can transform how we approach endometriosis treatment.🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.#Endometriosis #WomensHealth #SurgicalCare #HealthResearch #NextGenIn10ResourcesEndometriosis pain index: development of a model to predict poor pain-related quality of life after endometriosis surgery through machine learning analysis of registry data https://journals.lww.com/pain/fulltext/9900/endometriosis_pain_index__development_of_a_model.1125.aspxPelvic pain comorbidities associated with quality of life after endometriosis surgery https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37148956/Somatic PTEN and ARID1A loss and endometriosis disease burden: a longitudinal study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39701665/Assessing the Utility of artificial intelligence in endometriosis: Promises and pitfalls https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38686828/For more information on the Gynecologic Cancer Initiative, please visit https://gynecancerinitiative.ca/ or email us at [email protected]  Where to learn more about us:  Twitter – @GCI_Cluster Instagram – @gynecancerinitiative Facebook – facebook.com/gynecancerinitiativeTikTok – @gci_gosh

In this episode, Sabrina sits down with Dr. Jennifer Ritonja, a scientist in the Department of Population Health Sciences at the BC Cancer and epidemiologist specializing in modifiable risk factors for women’s cancers. Together, they explore what life-course research tells us about physical activity, body fatness, vitamin D, and the realistic potential of lifestyle-based prevention for ovarian cancer. Does timing matter? Is being active at one stage of adulthood enough? And how do we distinguish between what’s truly modifiable versus what’s simply associated? This conversation dives into the science behind prevention — and the methodological challenges of identifying meaningful risk factors across decades of life. 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.#CancerEpidemiology #OvarianCancer #PreventionScience #WomensHealth #LifeCourseEpidemiology #PublicHealthResearchFor more information on the Gynecologic Cancer Initiative, please visit https://gynecancerinitiative.ca/ or email us at [email protected]  Where to learn more about us:  Twitter – @GCI_Cluster Instagram – @gynecancerinitiative Facebook – facebook.com/gynecancerinitiativeTikTok – @gci_gosh

How does contraceptive choice influence ovarian cancer risk?On this episode of the GOSH Podcast, we discuss BEACON, a five-year CIHR-funded research program examining the biologic and population-level links between contraception and ovarian cancer prevention. We are joined by Dr. David Huntsman, Dr. Gillian Hanley, and Dr. Laura Schummers, stepping in for Aim 3 Lead Dr. Wendy Norman, to explore how this interdisciplinary team is integrating molecular pathology, epidemiology, and health policy to better understand how contraceptive decisions may shape ovarian cancer risk.Listen now at the link in our bio!For more information on the Gynecologic Cancer Initiative, please visit https://gynecancerinitiative.ca/ or email us at [email protected]  Where to learn more about us:  Twitter – @GCI_Cluster Instagram – @gynecancerinitiative Facebook – facebook.com/gynecancerinitiativeTikTok – @gci_gosh

In this episode, we’re joined by Tessa Woodside, MSc student at UBC, whose research examines hormone therapy use and breast and endometrial cancer risk using large, real-world health data from BC and Alberta.Tessa walks us through her research questions, methods, early findings, and why the details of hormone therapy matter when we talk about cancer risk.🎧 Tune in to hear how population-level data can answer questions clinical trials often can’t.For more information on the Gynecologic Cancer Initiative, please visit https://gynecancerinitiative.ca/ or email us at [email protected]  Where to learn more about us:  Twitter – @GCI_Cluster Instagram – @gynecancerinitiative Facebook – facebook.com/gynecancerinitiativeTikTok – @gci_gosh