On March 24, the Allan Slaight Breakthrough Forum on Cancer Neuroscience brought together top researchers in cancer, neuroscience, and mental health. The forum was designed to foster cross-institutional collaborations and serve as a catalyst for transformative projects at the intersection of neuroscience and cancer research. It was made possible by the Allan Slaight Breakthrough Fund.
Hosted by the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (PM) and joined by the Krembil Research Institute and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), the event welcomed more than 60 principal investigators. The gathering provided a unique platform for exchanging insights, exploring new research directions, and building lasting collaborations.
The forum opened with remarks from institutional leaders, Drs. Aaron Schimmer (Director of PM), Jaideep Bains (Director of Krembil), Aristotle Voineskos (Senior Vice-President of Research and Science at CAMH, Joint Vice-President for the CAMH-UHN Partnership), and Brad Wouters (Executive Vice President of Science and Research at UHN). Their addresses underscored the urgency and importance of integrating cancer, neuroscience, and mental health research. Dr. Schimmer highlighted the forum’s potential to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration and encouraged researchers to seize this opportunity to elevate cancer neuroscience research to new heights.
Panel discussion on the topic of cancer models. (L-R) PM Senior Scientist Dr. Trevor Pugh, Krembil Senior Scientist Dr. Karun Singh, and PM Senior Scientist Dr. Brian Raught.
Throughout the day, attendees engaged in thought-provoking discussions on cancer models, the cancer microenvironment, nervous system signaling within the cancer microenvironment, the molecular control of cognition, and the molecular impact of stress.
With ten expert-led talks, interactive panel discussions, and dedicated networking sessions, the forum spurred new scientific questions and opportunities to bridge the gap between cancer biology and neuroscience.
"I have thoroughly enjoyed this interdisciplinary symposium, which focused on the importance of mental health in cancer and strategies we can use to understand and improve it," said Dr. Madeline Li, a psychiatrist and the lead in psychosocial oncology at PM. She connected with several researchers from KrembiI and CAMH to discuss links between depression and cancer, and expressed her excitement for potential new projects.
Dr. Neil Vasdev, Director of the Azrieli Centre for Neuro-Radiochemistry at CAMH, asked a question from the audience.
To support the momentum generated at the event, PM, Krembil, and CAMH established a Joint Seed Grant Program in Cancer Neuroscience to fund promising collaborative projects emerging from the forum. The goal of this funding opportunity is to foster impactful research that ultimately improves patient outcomes.