Oct 9th 2007

"Challenging Multi-Disciplinary Sciences
to Impact Cancer"

Dr. Tom Hudson
Around 50 members, wives and guests attended this very interesting
and informative talk. by Dr. Thomas Hudson

In his presentation Dr. Hudson covered the subject of Cancer from two
different but closely related perspectives.

In the first part he dealt with Genetics - DNA and Genome research. Opening his
talk Dr. Hudson presented facts and data pertaining to leading causes of death
(and disease) in Canada for both men and women comparing them at different
age groups. The data showed that Cancer had overtaken Cardiovascular disease in
North America. He talked about genetic research, briefly explaining DNA sequences,
data bases and the meaning of 'Genome'- a word derived from 'Genes' and 'Chromosomes'.

There were about 30 thousand genes and currently science understood the function
of only about a 3rd of these - the mapping of genes is still at an early stage. The human
genome contained some 3 billion codes. There were similarities but also differences
between each individual's genomes and in those differences since in those differences
lay the makings of the disease. Through examples he showed how progress had
been made in many diseases - certain mutations and DNA changes accounted for
increased risk factors and this applied world wide. The human Genome project had
mapped many diseases and the models for predicting disease could be applied
in developing therapy and countermeasures.

In the second part of his talk Dr. Hudson provided insights into the grand challenges
in cancer research and in developing a multifaceted strategy to impact cancer, one bringing
together many different sciences, disciplines and services. He concluded his talk with an
overview of OICR (Ontario Institute of Cancer Research) strategic plan and OICR projects
touching on areas such as Bio markers for Early diagnosis, the 'One Millimeter Challenge',
innovations in clinical trials, translational medicine and health care services etc.

The talk was followed by Questions from the audience with Dr. Hudson providing
detailed answers. The session ended on the hopeful note that, through research,
a 'Magic Bullet' could one day become available for Prostate (and other) cancers.

About Dr. Tom Hudson

Dr. Tom Hudson is President and Scientific Director of the Ontario Institute
for Cancer Research. He is the Founder and Director of the McGill University
and Genome Quebec Innovation Centre and Assistant-Director of the
Whitehead/MIT Center for Genome Research. In June 1996 he Founded
Montreal Genome Centre at the McGill University Health Centre Research
Institute. In 2003, this group expanded to become the McGill University and
Genome Quebec Innovation Centre. In 2007, Dr. Hudson was
appointed to the rank of Professor (status-only) at the University of Toronto

Dr. Hudson’s interests in human genetic diseases focus on the dissection
of complex genetic diseases. Dr. Hudson is internationally renowned
for his work in Genomics and he is a recipient of numerous awards

Our thanks to Dr. Tom Hudson for a
very interesting and informative presentation.
We look forward to having him back in the future !

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Dr. Hudson