·          Childhood cancer

·          Pharmacogenetics of adverse drug events

·          Late effects of childhood survivors of cancer

·          Clinical trials in pediatric oncology

·          Brain tumors

My focus is in the treatment and long term outcomes of children treated for cancer. My specific focus is in quantifying what complications are seen in survivors of childhood cancer. Specifically, I am interested in trying to identify genetic markers that may identify those who are at risk of a specific complication. We are currently in the process of identifying genes that may explain why 20-50% of children receiving cisplatin have irreversible hearing loss. We have established a database of all adverse events in children treated through the oncology department at BC Children's Hospital. I am also interested in using linked databases to look at hospital utilization in long term survivors. Finally, I am interested in developing clinical trials in pediatric oncology both locally, as well as through the Children's Oncology Group (COG).

Genotype-Specific Approaches to Therapy in Children with Cancer (GATC Cancer Study)

Adverse events due to medications are a common complication of the treatment of childhood cancer. This study is attempting to identify genetic risk factors that may be associated with adverse drug events. We have designed a case-control study to investigate all adverse events, with an initial focus on anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy and cisplatin induced hearing loss.

Through a partnership with Drs Michael Hayden and Bruce Carleton, and a 2 year grant from the C17 Research Network, we have made this study available to all 17 hospitals across Canada that treat childhood cancer.

Late Effects in 5 Year Survivors of Pediatric CNS Cancer

The CAY ACs study, led by Dr Mary McBride, is a linked database study looking at the outcomes in 5 year survivors of childhood cancer. My focus is the late effects, complications and hospitalizations in survivors of childhood brain tumors.