Next Gen in 10: How the Vaginal Microbiome Could Revolutionize Cancer Detection

🎙️ New on the GOSH Podcast's "Unmuted: Equity in Focus" series!How can language empower women to take charge of their health? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Lesa Dawson, Dr. Reetinder Kaur Brar, and Jessie Kaur Lehail about their groundbreaking project Bridging Language and Health: Creating Culturally Competent, Gender-Sensitive Health Education for Punjabi Women.Together, they’re redefining what equitable care means—by creating translation frameworks that honour culture, gender, and community voice. 💬✨🎧 Tune in to hear how this team is ensuring that language is not a barrier to care, but an invitation.Resources:CBCNews: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6911282For 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 Next Gen in 10🎙️, Sabrina chats with Dollina Dodani, a PhD candidate in Bioinformatics at UBC. Under the supervision of Dr. Aline Talhouk, Dollina is exploring how the vaginal microbiome 🧫 could be used to improve early screening and detection of endometrial cancer. She shares how she’s using machine learning and transfer learning to build a “General Vaginal Microbiome Classifier” — a computational tool that could transform how we diagnose gynecological diseases. From decoding complex data 📊 to uncovering microbial clues 🔍, this episode dives into the intersection of biology, AI, and women’s health.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 first episode of the Unmuted: Equity in Focus 🎙️ series, hosts Carly and Sabrina sit down with Dr. A.J. Lowik, a sociologist, educator, and advocate whose work centers on making health research and care more inclusive. Together, they explore why sex and gender both matter in gynecologic cancer research and treatment, and what it means to create care systems that recognize and meet the needs of trans and non-binary people. Dr. Lowik shares insights on the barriers trans patients face in cancer care, the impact of cisnormativity on treatment decisions, and how inclusive approaches can ultimately benefit everyone. They also explain strategies for designing more valid, reliable, and inclusive gynecologic cancer research — from rethinking data collection to ensuring representation in study design. From fertility considerations to gender-affirming possibilities within treatment, this conversation highlights why inclusion is essential to equity in gynecologic oncology. Join us as we unmute voices and perspectives that are too often overlooked — and imagine what truly inclusive cancer care can look like. Resources:Article that explores trans folks, cancer and euphoria: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10101894/Canadian research project looking specifically at trans gyne cancer: https://queeringcancer.ca/projects-gyne-cancer-careBlog post from the Society of Gynecologic Oncology about creating gender-affirming care spaces: https://www.sgo.org/blog/creating-inclusive-affirming-gynecologic-cancer-care-during-pride-month-and-beyond/Review article that looks at trans peoples gynecologic oncology needs: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13669-024-00386-x 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 special bonus episode of the GOSH Podcast, we feature a Pathology Research Rounds session with Dr. Blake Gilks, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of British Columbia and Regional Medical Director of Laboratories at Vancouver General Hospital.Dr. Gilks reflects on a career defined by mentorship, curiosity, and collaboration — one that has shaped the practice and progress of gynecologic pathology in Canada and beyond. He shares insights from decades of clinical and research leadership, including his work refining the classification of ovarian, endometrial, and vulvar carcinomas, and his pivotal role in advancing opportunistic salpingectomy as a prevention strategy for ovarian cancer.As a mentor, collaborator, and co-founder of OVCARE, BC’s gynecologic cancer research program, Dr. Gilks has inspired generations of pathologists and researchers to approach discovery with both scientific rigor and compassion.🎧 Join us for a thoughtful conversation on mentorship, discovery, and the lasting impact of a career devoted to advancing women’s cancer research.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

Join us on this episode of Next Gen in 10 as Sabrina sits down with Alice Mei, an undergraduate neuroscience student at UBC 🧠. Alice shares her research on contraceptive use patterns in British Columbia and explores how these trends may relate to ovarian cancer risk 🎗️. From surprising shifts in birth control choices to the challenges of working with large population-based data 📊, this episode dives into the science, insights, and real-world implications of her findings. Whether you’re curious about reproductive health, cancer research, or the next generation of scientists, this conversation is full of valuable takeaways! 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, co-hosts Carly and Sabrina sit down with Karen Bemister, a passionate advocate and patient partner in research from Ontario, Canada. Karen shares her journey as a patient partner—someone with lived experience who collaborates with researchers not as a participant, but as an equal team member. Together, we explore the value of patient-oriented research, where patients help shape studies, guide priorities, and ensure the work truly reflects the needs of patients and communities. Tune in to learn how centering patients leads to more meaningful, relevant, and impactful research. 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 on the GOSH Podcast! ✨ In our very first Next Gen in 10 episode, we’re spotlighting Sabrina, an MSc candidate at in the WACH UBC program. Her research focuses on preventive care for BRCA mutation carriers—a group at higher risk for breast and ovarian cancer. Under the mentorship of Dr. Gillian Hanley, Sabrina is exploring preventative interventions that can help reduce cancer risk and improve outcomes for hereditary high-risk groups. Tune in to hear about the next generation of research shaping the future of gynecologic cancer prevention.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

We’re back—and it’s Season 6 of the GOSH Podcast! 🌟🎙 In this episode, our new co-host Sabrina sits down with her mom, Sharon Grover, a BRCA2 carrier and gynecologic cancer previvor. Sharon opens up about what it means to live with an inherited cancer risk, the preventative steps she’s taken, and how she balances motherhood, teaching, and her love of sports and the outdoors. This heartfelt conversation highlights both the challenges and resilience of living as a previvor, while underscoring the importance of family, awareness, and proactive health choices.Resources:BRCA in BC Website: https://brcainbc.ca/BRCA Support BC: https://www.brcasupportbc.org/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 powerful episode of the GOSH Podcast🌟🎙, host Carly sits down with Samantha—recurrent cervical cancer survivor, double ostomate, and fierce advocate for women’s health. From navigating life after multiple surgeries to building a platform that empowers others through storytelling, Samantha shares her unfiltered journey with honesty, humor, and heart. Tune in to hear how she’s turning survivorship into activism, breaking stigma around ostomies, and reminding us all that cancer doesn’t define us—resilience does. 🩵🤍Resources:Samantha's Instagram: @gosamgrowCarly's Instagram Ostomate and the City: @ostomate_and_the_cityFor 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, host Carly returns to speak with Ashley Greer, a resilient cervical cancer survivor and passionate advocate. Diagnosed in late 2023, Ashley shares her powerful story of navigating treatment—including chemotherapy, radiation, and multiple surgeries—and how she found strength and purpose through it all. Now cancer-free, Ashley is on a mission to raise awareness about early detection and inspire others with her experience of life after cancer. Tune in for an honest, moving, and empowering conversation. Resources:Ashley's Instagram: @ashleys.pathCarly's Instagram: @ostomate_and_the_cityFor 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