International leader speaks at Future of Health Care Forum
A number of groups and organizations have teamed up to present the Inaugural Future of Health Forum at the Kelowna Innovation Centre this Friday (Oct.18).
The event put on by Accelerate Okanagan, B.C. Cancer, Interior Health and the University of B.C. will be focused on cancer care and was designed to foster connection and provide a platform for the exchange of ideas around research and innovation in cancer care.
The schedule of events follows the patient journey from preventing and detecting the disease through to diagnosis and treatment to finding ways
to support survivors and a patient’s quality of life.
The keynote will be delivered by Dr. Connie Eaves, an international leader in stem cell research and winner of the prestigious 2019 Canada Gairdner Wightman Award for her paradigm-shifting discoveries and advocacy for early-career scientists and women in science.
“Dr. Eaves is an extraordinarily creative and accomplished biomedical scientist at the forefront of cancer research. Her discoveries of stem cells in normal bone marrow, leukemia and breast tissue and their role in human cancer have led to paradigm-shifting insights.” said Phil Barker, Vice-Principal and Associate Vice-President, Research and Innovation at the University of British Columbia. “She is also known for her dedication to
training new generations of researchers from around the world to help find cures for cancer and her research is a superb demonstration of the value of collaborating across disciplines.”
She is a Professor of Medical Genetics at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and a Distinguished Scientist in the Terry Fox Laboratory at BC Cancer which she co-founded in 1981 and where her work has helped advance our understanding of how normal and cancer stem cells develop, particularly in the early stages of leukemia and breast cancer.
“Throughout her distinguished career, Dr. Eaves has demonstrated outstanding national and international leadership,” said Brea Lake, CEO at Accelerate Okanagan. “The cross-functional nature of her work with the Terry Fox Laboratory, BC Cancer, Canadian Stem Cell Network, UBC, the National Cancer Institute of Canada, and Canadian Breast Cancer Research Alliance is such an inspiring example of what is means to collaborate
and spark innovation.”
For more information about the event, visit www.futureofhealth.ca.
Quick Facts:
* 1 in 2 Canadians will develop cancer in their lifetime
* Cancer is the leading cause of death in BC
* The number of new cancer cases in BC will increase by 57% from 2012 to 2030 as a result of the aging population, growth of the population, and people living longer
* Approximately 60% of adults diagnosed with cancer are expected to live at least five years after their initial diagnosis