PhD, MD(c) | Translational Oncology | Cancer Genetics | Tumor Microenvironment | Precision Medicine Consulting
Biography
Quick introduction about myself:
I’m Peter, currently an MD/PhD student hailing from London (not that London), Ontario, Canada.
My scientific interest is using large-scale data science and animal models to understand the genetics and tissue microenvironment in cancer and other diseases. My clinical interest is in helping
cancer patients derive clinically-meaninful benefit, using some of the lessons I've learnt in my research.
How I got here:
I have spent quite a few years in school. I grew up in Guelph, did my undergrad at McMaster. While I was there I learnt lots of immunology and virology in the lab of great mentors such as
Dr. Mattew S. Miller.
My MD/PhD training eventually brought me to Western University. My MD training has given me valuable insights on how to best care for patients and the tangible human side of science we do.
On the other hand, my PhD taught me how to decode obscure datasets, survive academic conferences on a diet of coffee and complimentary cookies, and talk to cells (spoiler: cells are less compliant).
I completed my PhD with the fantastic surgeon-scientist
Dr. Anthony C. Nichols, from whom I learnt lots on how to be a very successful clinician-scientist that truly combines clinical impact with scientific curiosity.
I am now back in clinical medicine, learning how to navigate hospital hallways at warp speed.
Academic activity:
I have significant experience designing and analyzing genomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic, and single-cell experiments using tissue samples from both human subjects
and animal models to understand disease pathogenesis and develop clinically-translatable biomarkers. I have prepared grants
for national funding agencies that have led successful funding and have reviewed for more than a dozen journals.
I also do consulting on the side for both academic labs and industry, advising on the design of precision medicine projects and analysis of multi-omic studies.
If you would like to get in touch with me, feel free to contact me with the email below. I would be happy to provide a full CV.
Research Interests
Understanding genetic and non-genetic factors driving tumor microenvironment evolution
Developing genomic, transciprotmic, and immune-based biomarkers that are clinically translatable and feasible for clinical trials
Identifying new targetable pathways combining functional genomics and preclinical animal models
Silver Award, Canadian Student Health Research Forum
Cameron Wallace Award, Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, Western University
Dr. Fredrick Winnet Luney Graduate Research Award,Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, Western University
Michael Kamin Hart Scholarship, McMaster University
McMaster Institute of Infectious Disease Summer Research Fellowship, McMaster University
Bachelor of Health Sciences Summer Research Scholarship, McMaster University
Plenary presentations during the Kian Ang Memorial Plennary Session at the
2022 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancers Symposium by ASTRO, ASCO, AHNS, and SITC, and many other international/national meetings
