In this episode of ‘Behind the Breakthrough’ Princess Margaret Cancer Centre scientist Dr. Michael Hoffman explains how he leverages the power and speed of computers to understand the origins of cancer. He says cancer is a disease of the DNA –the genetic code that determines our individual characteristics. Essentially, our DNA acts as a program telling our cells what to do. In the case of cancer the wrong program gets run and cells divide in an unrestricted manner. The goal of Dr. Hoffman’s lab is to determine if there is a way of predicting when the wrong program gets run –before it ever happens.
We also learn that from age 4 Dr. Hoffman was in awe of the magic of computers, and how he turned his love for computers into a career in the emerging field of computational biology. He also speaks to the critical importance of training the next generation of cancer researchers, and how he views Twitter as a virtual meeting place for scientific exchange
Dr. Andrea Furlan on groundbreaking new treatments for chronic pain
Check out UHN’s Krembil Brain Institute podcast, Your Complex Brain
Behind the Breakthrough Special Edition - ”UHN Oral History Project’” with Dr Alan Hudson
Behind the Breakthrough Special Edition - ”UHN Oral History Project” with Dr. Bernie Langer
Dr. Angela Cheung pioneers research on the symptoms and treatment for long hauler Covid patients
Dr. Andres Lozano on investigating DBS to treat Alzheimer’s disease
Dr. Babak Taati on pioneering the use of computer vision to help seniors live safer, healthier lives.
Dr. Joan Wither on searching for the genetic and immune system abnormalities that lead to systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases
Dr. Gang Zheng on harnessing the promise of nanotechnology for the detection and treatment of cancer
Dr. Jordan Feld on shifting from discovering a pill that cures Hepatitis C to investigating a treatment for mild COVID
Dr. Catherine O’Brien on the world-first discovery that colorectal cancer cells hibernate like bears to evade chemotherapy
Dr. Deepali Kumar on the world first discovery that 3rd dose of COVID Vaccine significantly boosts protection against the coronavirus for transplant patients
Dr. Beate Sander on the economics of infectious diseases and guiding public health policy during the Covid-19 pandemic.
BTB Season 3 Special Edition with Dr. Brad Wouters, UHN EVP of Science and Research
Dr. John Dick on his famous discovery of cancer stem cells, and the puzzle of research
Dr. Mansoor Husain on breakthrough drug for diabetes and heart disease
Dr. Alex Mihailidis on helping us live at home longer
Dr. Ralph DaCosta on a better way to visualize cancer and his serendipitous invention
Dr. Sonya MacParland on developing the world’s first map of the liver
Dr. Heather Baltzer on pioneering hand trauma treatment.
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