Breast Cancer Researcher Karen A. Gelmon Honoured at Gala Hosted by Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada (IMRIC) award presented

VANCOUVER, April 25, 2012 /CNW/ - The Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (CFHU) honoured researcher and oncologist Dr. Karen A. Gelmon on April 22 at a gala celebration supporting breast cancer research held at the Rocky Mountaineer Station.

Dr. Gelmon was recognized for her outstanding scientific contributions in the screening and early detection of breast cancer. Dr. Gelmon is leading a new partnership with scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem to collaborate on genetic sequencing, epigenetics, immunology, stem cell research and cancer imaging.

Dr. Peter Hotz, President of the Vancouver Chapter, CFHU, presented the award at the sold-out event co-hosted by CFHU and the BC Cancer Foundation.

"I am so very honoured to receive this award and the acknowledgement of my work," said Dr. Gelmon. "My career has allowed me to merge my fascination with scientific research with my clinical work, rewarding me with the sense that I can truly have a positive impact on my patients. It's an ongoing learning experience, requiring the collaborative efforts of many, including the organizations that fund and share research. I am excited by this new partnership with the Israeli team of scientists. Fostering scientific collaboration and enabling the promotion of the work of these scientists is something I am very proud to be part of."

"We are thrilled to recognize the achievements of Dr. Gelmon," said Dr. Hotz.  "She is leading the charge in breast cancer research in Canada, making breakthrough advancements which continue to move our fight forward. By bridging her discoveries at the University of British Columbia with those of the IMRIC team at Hebrew University, we now have a leading-edge team of international experts generating new and progressive solutions in patients' diagnoses and treatments."

About Dr. Karen Gelmon

Dr. Gelmon is a Professor of Medicine at the University of British Columbia and a Medical Oncologist at the British Columbia Cancer Agency (BCCA). She is Co-Chair of the National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group (NCIC-CTG) Breast Site Committee, and a member of The Breast Cancer Intergroup Committee and of the Breast International Group. She is past Chair of the Investigational New Drug Committee of the NCIC-CTG, and of the BC Provincial Breast Tumour Group which oversees guidelines and care for the entire province. She is Clinical leader of Advanced Therapeutics department of the BCCA. Dr. Gelmon sits on the International Advisory Board of The Lancet, The Lancet Oncology and Clinical Breast Cancer. She is the author of more than 400 papers in oncology journals and is a regular blogger and contributor to a magazine devoted to those living with breast cancer. As well, Dr. Gelmon sits on the Board of the BC Cancer Foundation and on the Medical Advisory Board of the BC/Yukon Chapter of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. In 2003, she was the recipient of a YWCA Woman of Distinction award.

About the Canadian Friends of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Canadian philanthropist Allan Bronfman founded the Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (CFHU) in 1944 to proactively seek out and broker academic and applied medical and scientific research partnerships between Canada and Israel for the benefit of all. A national not-for-profit organization with chapters across Canada, CFHU creates platforms to stimulate and share new ideas between leading minds of both countries, while supporting this exchange through fundraising and public awareness campaigns.  In addition, CFHU establishes scholarships and recruits Canadian students to attend the Rothberg International School. For more information, please visit: www.cfhu.org.

About Hebrew University of Jerusalem

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, founded in 1925, is Israel's first university. The university's founders, including: Chaim Weizmann, Albert Einstein, Martin Buber and Sigmund Freud, were leaders, thinkers and humanitarians whose genius inspired their vision of a great university that would have no limits or borders. The founding charter declared that the institution would be open to every qualified man and woman irrespective of religion, race or nationality. Ranked as one of the world's leading research universities, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem's faculty and researchers are at the forefront of the international scientific and academic communities. Many top prizes and awards have been won by its graduates and faculty including eight Nobel Prizes. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is a pluralistic institution where science and knowledge are advanced for the benefit of humankind in an atmosphere free of discrimination and prejudice. For more information, please visit: www.huji.ac.il/huji/eng/.

About the Institute for Medical Research Israel - Canada

An initiative of CFHU, the Institute for Medical Research-Israel Canada (IMRIC) is located at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. IMRIC brings together Israel's and Canada's expert scientists to discover innovative approaches to find solutions to the world's most challenging medical problems.  The Institute conducts applied biomedical research to investigate the causes of disease, their treatments and their prevention.  Through collaboration, the Institute's research extends across many medical sciences, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases and infectious diseases.  For more information, please visit: www.imric.org.

Mark Lowe
Seefeld Group
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