[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/oncresearchday.jpg” caption=”Undergraduate and graduate students showcased their research at last week’s Oncology Student Research Day. Photo by Irma Longo-Tosoian”]Last week, the Department of Oncology held its fifth annual Student Research Day at the Juravinski Cancer Centre. Student projects focused on bridging the gap between research and clinical practice in cancer research.

The Oncology Student Research Day drew all the sub-specialities of oncology together under one umbrella.

“Students were able to share their ongoing research in a collaborative way,” says Dr. Sachi Voruganti, an associate professor of radiation oncology.

Post-graduate students in internal medicine, medical physics, and medical and radiation oncology showcased their research through oral and poster presentations. Undergraduate students in medical sciences also presented their work.

Dr. Mark Levine, chair of the Department of Oncology, spoke about the importance of student research symposiums.

“Our students are the future,” said Levine. “They are the next generation of cancer researchers, and our next leaders in the academic cancer world. Our mandate is to ensure that there are replacements. To do that, we have to train the investigators of tomorrow.”

Over 20 presentations were judged based on the originality of the project along with the scientific value of the research.

Larry Pan, a radiation oncology resident, received first place for his oral presentation entitled Smoking Cessation in Radiation Oncology as the Missing Drug in Clinical Trials: Identifying the Barriers to Cessation in Oncology Patients.

Tiffany Tam, another radiation oncology resident, received second place for her research in low-dose rate prostate brachytherapy: Dosimetric Evaluation of Stabilizing Needles and Seminal Vesicle Implants.

“This event was very well organized,” says Tam. “I think it's a great medium through which we can support the residents and research students to encourage new ideas.”

Suman Chatterjee, a urology resident, received third place for his project on computerized tomography measurement of visceral adiposity to predict plasma adiponectin levels and presence of metastatic disease in patients with clear cell renal carcinoma.

Ming Pan, a radiation oncology resident whose poster presentation was entitled, The Influence of Gold Seed Implantation on Defining Target Volumes for Conformal Radiotherapy of Prostate Cancer, came in first place.

Sara Kuruvilla, a medical oncology resident, had two poster presentations. She was awarded second place for her poster on the assessment of deliverability of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

The third place for poster presentations went to M.Sc. candidate Helen Lin. Her project studied the effects of androgens on fatty acid oxidation in prostate cancer cells.

“It was a great job by everyone,” said Dr. Michael Trus, who presented the awards.

Another goal of Voruganti's vision for this event, which she initiated, was for the “residents to be able to recognize and honour the contributions of faculty members as role models and advocates.”

Clinical teaching awards were presented to radiation oncology professor, Dr. Ian Hodson, and medical oncology professor, Dr. Richard Tozer. Special thank you awards were given to Radiation Oncology Program director Dr. Ian Dayes, Medical Oncology Program director Dr. Bindi Dhesy and Interim Medical Oncology Program director, Dr. Som Mukherjee.

Voruganti was also presented with a special award for her contributions as the past program director of the Radiation Oncology Resident Program.

“Dr. Voruganti has shown tremendous leadership and dedication to the well-being and education of residents,” said Larry Pan, who presented the award. “She has spent countless hours of her own time, creating and improving the Radiation Oncology Program to what we have today.”