Sandra Dudych

Patient Scholar

Sandra Dudych lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She is a 14-year Carcinosarcoma of the breast cancer survivor. She retired from a 30-year career in communications, marketing, and professional fundraising. After encountering several life-threatening treatment complications with cancer surgery and chemotherapy, Sandra vowed that if she lived, she would use her lived experience to lend the patient’s "voice" to improve cancer care in Canada. She has been a Patient Advisor with CancerCare Manitoba since 2011. She has advised the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer on various committees and initiatives since 2014. Sandra has chaired a Patient Advisory Group for Cancer Care Manitoba and was a Peer Supporter with CancerCare Manitoba's Breast and Gyne Cancer Centre of Hope. Sandra is a recipient of CancerCare Manitoba’s Award of Distinction for her volunteer work to improve the lives of cancer patients in Manitoba. Sandra has been a Canadian Cancer Society Patient Reviewer for the Emerging Scholars Research Grants program. She has also served as a Patient Advisor in the Patient Involvement in Cancer Research Program with with the Canadian Cancer Research Alliance. Recently, Sandra joined Accreditation Canada as a Patient Surveyor.

Milan Heck

Patient Scholar

Milan is a Masters student in the Department of Biochemistry at McGill University. Her cancer journey began in 2015 when she was diagnosed with Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma, with her final treatments ending in April 2023. Her experience with rare disease led to her involvement in patient advocacy which has included speaking at fundraisers, public lectures, and for news segments. She donated her samples to the Alberta Tumor Biobank early on in her treatments, leading to her collaboration with a CAR-T therapy research initiative at the University of Calgary. From both her studies and experiences with cancer, she is passionate about research and hopes to pursue a career in science communication.

Cynthia Mitchell

Patient Scholar

Cynthia Mitchell, a mother, wife, mentor, and advocate lives with stage four cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). She is actively involved in various organizations and charities including the Canadian Cholangiocarcinoma Collaborative (C3), Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, Cholangio-Hepatocellular Carcinoma Canada, Manitoba Cholangiocarcinoma Community, CancerCare Manitoba Foundation, and CancerCare Manitoba Health Research Lab Partnership. Through her advocacy she not only raises awareness about CCA, but also fosters community support and connection among patients and families in Manitoba and beyond.

Anne Goodbody

Patient Scholar

I was diagnosed with Stage 3c High Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma in May 2022, following surgery for suspicious lesions.  After initial chemotherapy, I was stable for over a year, but in 2024 recurrence was confirmed leading to eight more rounds of chemo.  There have been many frightening "curveballs" along the way, including a bowel obstruction requiring surgical intervention and temporary ileostomy, wound infection, febrile neutropenia and thoracentesis.  I feel fortunate to have so far recovered well from treatments and setbacks.

I am an active member of the Ovarian Cancer Canada program for Patient Partners in Research. In this role, I have been a patient reviewer for OCC-funded grant applications and have given presentations describing the patient experience. I am a patient partner for two immunotherapy research programs, led by Dr Brad Nelson of the Deeley Research Centre, BC Cancer. This included active participation on the team that recently received a TFRI New Frontiers Program Project Grant.

Whilst I live with cancer, there are many other facets to my life. I live in Hamilton with my artist husband and we have a wonderful social life. I have a PhD in Biochemistry and am proud of my professional accomplishments having retired 3 years ago from an executive position in the biotechnology sector where I had responsibility for regulatory affairs and clinical research. I have a close-knit family spread across many countries (Scotland, US, Jamaica, Canada); we laugh a lot and have many shared passions including pollinator gardening, birdwatching and hiking.

Raymond Vles

Patient Scholar

Raymond Vles has experienced two cancers in his life, thyroid cancer in his thirties and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) diagnosed in his mid-fifties. Both cancers were successfully treated, and he is now in remission and in good health.

Since 2020 he has been Board Chair of CLL Canada, a volunteer organization of patients and caregivers dedicated to enhancing the lives of Canadians affected by Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) through education, advocacy and access to reliable information. He is also the facilitator of the Quebec CLL Support Group and a patient partner with the Pôle Santé of HEC et Catalis Québec.

He retired in May 2020 after 17 years working for the City of Montreal in various capacities, including Information System Pilot, Change management Consultant and Internal Organizational Development Consultant. Prior to working for the City, he worked as an independent consultant and group facilitator, assisting clients in the public and private sector in the management of environmental and other public policy issues.

Raymond Vles holds a master’s degree in organizational development as well as a Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree in Environmental Studies. He is fluent in spoken and written English and French.

Raymond has two adult children and lives with his spouse in Montreal, Canada.

Michelle Audoin

Patient Scholar

Michelle Audoin is an experienced and passionate patient advocate and community collaborator. She uses her living experience of cancer to shine a light on some of the disparities Black women experience when navigating a breast cancer diagnosis. Her advocacy work has also brought her to the research community where she contributes her knowledge and experience in support of clinical research and trials, which include roles at CCTG, OICR PFAC, 3CTN, Princess Margaret and Women’s College Hospital.

After attending her first cancer conference, Michelle understood the importance of partnerships between both the research and patient advocate community, noting that knowledge empowers patients to not only understand cancer biology, but to also help set their priorities regarding the future of cancer research and treatments. She also sees the impact these relationships have on researchers who gain insights into the living experiences of people living with or supporting someone with a cancer diagnosis and how to make their work more accessible and generalizable to diverse communities.

Michelle uses her background as an elementary school teacher to educate others by sharing her story and experiences on podcasts, panels, and awareness campaigns. She is most proud of raising two amazing and compassionate kids who support her cancer advocacy and patient engagement work.

Harjeet Kaur

Patient Scholar

My name is Harjeet Kaur, and I am a Stage IV cancer survivor, patient influencer, and advocate. In August 2019, I was diagnosed with Subcutaneous Panniculitis T-cell Lymphoma with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare and aggressive blood cancer. My journey has been one of resilience, hope, and determination to make a difference in the lives of others.

As a patient influencer, I use my social media platform @Hk_Thriver (Instagram) to raise awareness about cancer, share my experiences, and inspire hope among others navigating their cancer journeys.

My work focuses on empowering patients and families, while actively breaking the stigma surrounding the word "cancer," especially in the South Asian community.

In 2022; I co-founded Chai and Hope, a community that provides culturally sensitive support for South Asian cancer patients and fosters open conversations about cancer. I also collaborate with organizations like the Canadian Cancer Society and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada, and I serve as a Patient Partner with the Riddle Centre for Cancer Immunotherapy.

Through my advocacy and online presence, I strive to educate, inspire, and connect with others, ensuring that no one feels alone in their fight against cancer.

Daryna Skybina

Patient Scholar

Daryna is working as a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) in Ontario. She completed her training at the University of Toronto in Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy and has been actively involved in research throughout her studies.  She is very passionate about mental health advocacy and has professional experience in hospital, hospice, and community settings. Her personal experiences have further fueled her passion and motivated her to focus her work on supporting individuals with chronic and advanced illnesses. She is interested in continuing her studies to apply her personal and professional experience to research in the field of psychosocial oncology. In her free time, Daryna enjoys travel, reading, arts and crafts, and spending time with loved ones.

Jessica López Espinosa

Academic Scholar

Dr. Jessica López Espinosa is a physician and Master’s student in Immunology at the University of Calgary, working under the supervision of Dr. Jongbok Lee at the Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute. Her research focuses on developing an accessible and effective cellular therapy for leukemias and lymphomas. As a childhood cancer survivor, she is driven by a passion for advancing treatments that improve patient outcomes while minimizing toxic side effects.

After earning her MD from Tecnológico de Monterrey School of Medicine in Mexico, she gained experience in patient care and translational research. At the Houston Methodist Research Institute, she contributed to projects on nanoparticle-based therapies for brain injuries, brain magnetic stimulation for stroke and DNA repair mechanisms in cancer. Her clinical training includes clerkships at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center, the Instituto Nacional de Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, and the ABC Medical Center.

With aspirations to become a physician-scientist, educator, and advocate for equitable cancer treatments, she is dedicated to bridging the gap between research and patient care. Outside of her academic work, she enjoys reading fantasy and mythology novels, skiing, playing volleyball, and exploring diverse cuisines and cultures. A coffee and matcha enthusiast, she draws inspiration from stories of resilience and adventure, paralleling her own journey in medicine and research.

Dylan Thomas

Academic Scholar

Dylan Thomas earned a Bachelor of Science in Translational and Molecular Medicine from the University of Ottawa in 2023 and is currently pursuing a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology at the same institution. His research, conducted under the supervision of Dr. Carolina Ilkow at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, focuses on developing targeted cancer vaccines using self-amplifying RNA and extracellular vesicles.

Beyond his academic pursuits, Dylan is actively involved in community outreach and patient engagement initiatives. He contributes to several programs aimed at bridging the gap between cancer researchers and the public, including:

• Let’s Talk Cancer, an organization that helps high school students in Ottawa better understand cancer and its therapies.
• The Cancer Research Program Trainee Committee, which organizes lab tours for cancer patients and events to connect researchers with the patient community.
• ThomasVSCancer, an educational Instagram account designed to make cancer biology and research more accessible to those without a scientific background.

Motivated by his lived experience of having a brother battling brain cancer, Dylan is deeply passionate about patient-centered research. He is eager to connect with patients from across Canada to explore ways in which researchers and patients can collaborate to develop more effective, life-saving cancer therapies.

Paul Jerard Layug

Academic Scholar

Paul is a graduate student in the laboratory of Dr. Yale Michaels at the Paul Albrechtsen Research Institute, CancerCare Manitoba and Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, where he is dedicated to developing better and safer CAR T cell therapies to improve T cell fitness and mitigate risks like cytokine release syndrome and on-target, off-tumour toxicities. He recently earned his Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Genetics from the University of Manitoba. He conducted his Honours thesis under the supervision of Dr. Tamra Ogilvie, investigating alternative splicing in medulloblastoma. This study was seminal to discovering an aberrant cancer stem cell program in the most aggressive subtype of this pediatric brain tumour. As an Academic Scholar in the 2025 BioCanRx Cancer-Stakeholder Alliance Learning Institute, Paul is eager to engage with patients, clinicians and scientists in meaningful discussions about advancing cell-based immunotherapies in Canada. He is committed to contributing to a future where innovative cancer treatments are effective, safe, and accessible to all.

Grace Bernard

Academic Scholar

Hi! I’m Grace and I’m a first year PhD student studying at the BC Cancer Research Centre. My research focuses on developing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells that target solid tumours, specifically for use in pancreatic and ovarian cancers. I became very passionate about science communication during my undergraduate degree and decided to channel this into a podcast that I created with one of my labmates in 2024 called "What the HEK Is immunotherapy". Within the podcast we aim to break down high level topics related to immunotherapy through interviews with researchers and other students in an attempt to make immunotherapy more approachable and understandable for people who may not have a scientific background. When I’m not working on science-related topics you can usually find me knitting (or doing something yarn-related), reading a book, or watching movies with my friends!

Khushi Rathod

Academic Scholar

Hi, I’m Khushi Rathod, a Master's student in Dr. Ilkow's lab at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. My research focuses on developing oncolytic viruses as targeted treatments for pancreatic, colorectal, and lung cancers. I believe that the most impactful science comes from collaboration between researchers, clinicians, and patients, and I'm passionate about contributing to that collective effort. I'm excited to be part of the BiocanRx Learning Institute and I look forward to meeting everyone and building a network.

Gillian Carleton

Academic Scholar

Gillian is a Research Associate at the Deeley Research Centre in Victoria, BC. The overarching goal of their work is to improve the efficacy and safety of T cell-based immunotherapies using CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, with a particular focus on CAR-T cell therapies for ovarian cancer and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Gillian is also a passionate champion of inclusive research practices at a national and local level, and has served as a member of the BioCanRx Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) committee and as co-chair of the Deeley Research Centre EDI committee.

Heejae Lee

Academic Scholar

Heejae is an exercise immunotherapy researcher at the University of Calgary, specializing in the integration of exercise physiology with cutting-edge immunotherapy to improve cancer treatment. His research is focused on a promising treatment for acute myeloid leukemia called double-negative T (DNT) cell therapy, in which healthy donor-derived immune cells are extracted, equipped with anti-cancer properties, then infused into patients. Heejae’s work explores how introducing pre-donation exercise interventions in healthy donors can optimize the functional quality of DNT cells, including enhanced metabolic fitness and memory phenotypes, which could lead to better treatment outcomes. In addition to his research, Heejae is a clinical exercise physiologist providing tailored exercise programs for individuals living with and beyond cancer to support their physical and psychosocial well-being. Through his innovative research and clinical practice, Heejae is deeply committed to advancing cancer care and making a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals affected by cancer.

Victor Negrea Puskas

Academic Scholar

Hello, my name is Victor, and I am a research assistant within the Nelson Lab at Deeley Research Centre in Victoria, BC. I am currently investigating how antibody-producing immune cells lead to better patient outcomes. Understanding these mechanisms could play a critical role in improving future cancer immunotherapies. I am enthusiastic to share the knowledge and experiences gained from this opportunity with our Canadian community. Outside of the lab, I stay active by coaching a U11 basketball team (Go Wolves!), running marathons and spending time outdoors with friends.