Cancer Researcher for a Day

ABOUT THE PROGRAM:  Research is often the main component behind a cancer patient’s hope. Understanding the importance of research in finding cures to the many different types of cancer, improving treatments, and enhancing supports and outcomes for survivors and their families can be empowering.  With this in mind, on November 10th, 2017, WCRG launched the Cancer Researcher for a Day initiative. This program uses research as a tool to support children/youth and their families through their cancer journey and encourage them to be research ambassadors. This program is made possible with the support of the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation. 

HOW IT WORKS: A child/youth cancer survivor and their siblings are invited to participate in a hands-on research experience that will include experiential learning in a number of laboratories across the University of Windsor campus, as well as a half-day clinical trials ‘rotation’ at Windsor Regional Hospital Cancer Centre.

PROGRAM LAUNCH: Dereck Lau (a brain cancer survivor) and Morgyn Lau were our first emerging scientists to experience this program. University of Windsor participating labs included: Porter (Biological Sciences), Trant (Chemistry and Biochemistry), Rueda (Computer Science), Krause (Human Kinetics), and Pandey (Chemistry and Biochemistry).   Windsor Regional Hospital’s Clinical Trials Department welcomed Dereck and Morgan to the Cancer Centre where they opened a clinical trial trying to assess the “difference between two squash”. They made clinical observations, conducted a CT Scanned on the squash, and even took some squash “blood” for analysis. The day ended with an informative presentation on their findings during a lunch in-service. Check out images of the two days.