People often ask what led me to a career in cancer research. For me, it really began when I developed an early fascination with understanding how cells work. Growing up in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, I was fortunate to have a supportive family that encouraged my curiosity and education, and ultimately gave me the confidence to pursue a career in science, and later, cancer research in particular.
I completed my undergraduate degree in Honours Biology and Pharmacology through the co-operative education program at McMaster University. The co-op experience introduced me to pharmaceutical research and gave me my first opportunity to see how laboratory science can improve health. I completed my PhD in Medical Sciences at McMaster under the supervision of Dr. Johnathan Lee. My doctoral research focused on the molecular mechanisms that regulate cell growth and division, an area of biology that continues to shape my research today.
Following my PhD, my husband, Don, and I moved to La Jolla, California, where I completed a postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Dan Donoghue at the University of California, San Diego. During that time, I contributed to research characterizing the human Speedy (Spy1) protein, work that became an important part of my scientific foundation. It was also during those years that our two sons were born.
Building a Research Program
In 2004, I joined the University of Windsor as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences. Building my own laboratory gave me the opportunity to pursue scientific questions that had interested me since graduate school while mentoring students who shared that same curiosity.
Today, my research focuses on cancer biology, cell biology, and cell cycle regulation. My laboratory studies how changes in the normal processes that control cell division contribute to cancer development. Understanding those biological mechanisms provides a stronger foundation for future advances in cancer detection and treatment.
Our work has been supported by organizations including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Terry Fox Foundation, the Cancer Research Society, and the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research.
Leadership Through Collaboration
I have always believed that meaningful research happens when people work together across disciplines. That belief led me to serve as the Founding Director of WE-SPARK Health Institute from 2019 to 2024. Through WE-SPARK, we brought together researchers, healthcare professionals, hospitals, academic institutions, and community partners from across the Windsor-Essex region to address shared health challenges. Helping build that initiative into what it is today remains one of the most rewarding chapters of my career.
I also served as Vice President of Research and Scientific Director at St. Joseph’s Health Care London, where I provided leadership for the organization’s research strategy, governance, and scientific programs within an academic healthcare environment.
Alongside those roles, I continue to contribute to national research through my work with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Research Canada.
Mentoring the Next Generation
Mentorship has always been one of the most fulfilling aspects of my career. Every student, trainee, and research staff member brings new ideas, different perspectives, and tremendous potential. Helping them develop as scientists is just as rewarding as publishing new discoveries.
Research depends on curiosity, persistence, collaboration, and thoughtful questions. I hope every trainee who leaves my laboratory carries those values forward throughout their own career.
As I look ahead, I remain motivated by the opportunity to deepen our understanding of cancer biology while supporting the next generation of researchers. Scientific progress is built through discovery, collaboration, and a commitment to learning, and I feel fortunate to contribute to that work every day.