Detecting ovarian cancer early is a complex challenge, but one that 73% of community members say needs to be a priority. Research like this hasn’t been possible before, but today, science has advanced far enough for us to invest in early detection research and know that we’ll make tangible progress for women facing this disease. That’s why Ovarian Cancer Canada announced our funding of research projects focused on uncovering breakthroughs that help detect ovarian cancer earlier. In this session, you’ll be among the first Canadians to go behind the scenes of one of our most innovative early detection research projects. You’ll see the research in action, hear from the scientists themselves and the patients partnering with them, and have an opportunity to ask the scientists your most burning questions.
This session was part of Ovarian Cancer Canada's 2025 National Symposium.
Speaker bios:
Dr. Chris Mueller is a senior scientist and professor at the Sinclair Cancer Research Institute at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. His research has involved studying epigenetics in different cancers, the relationship between stress and BRCA1, and developing methylation-based liquid biopsies. Chris earned his Ph.D (Microbiology and Immunology) from McGill University. He did 2 sabbaticals at the Curie Institute in Paris where he started his work on developing liquid biopsies. He has received a variety of grants for advancing mDETECT assays to clinical validation including for lung, breast, prostate and ovarian cancers. He cofounded mDETECT in 2022 and is involved in all aspects of company growth.
Sydney Shepherd is a PhD student in the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine at Queen’s University. She completed her undergraduate degree in Life Sciences at Queen’s, where she specialized in cancer research. Her current research in the Mueller Lab focuses on optimizing and validating a blood test for the improved detection and monitoring of ovarian cancer.