Ontario: Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute of Mt. Sinai Hospital

Dr. Irene Andrulis, Principal Investigator

Dr. Andrulis, PI of the Ontario ste, is a molecular geneticist at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute (SLRI) of Mount Sinai Hospital where she holds the Anne and Max Tanenbaum Chair in Molecular Medicine. She obtained her BA from the University of Pennsylvania in Biology and Psychology and her PhD from the University of California at Irvine in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry. She is a faculty member in the Department of Molecular Genetics, with a cross-appointment in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, at the University of Toronto. She is co-head of the Fred A. Litwin Centre for Cancer Genetics at the SLRI and Director of the Ontario Cancer Genetics Network (OCGN).

Dr. Andrulis and her colleagues are interested in the identification of factors associated with susceptibility, histopathology and prognosis of cancer. They conduct multi-disciplinary studies to identify genetic alterations that may play a role in breast cancer and to determine the clinical importance of these changes. They use high throughput molecular technologies, biostatistics and bioinformatics and their studies include characterization of novel genes and pathways by biochemical and functional testing. The goals of their studies are to explore the clinical importance of genetic alterations, to identify risk factors and lifestyle modifications early enough to prevent or diminish the effects of cancer, to tailor treatment to increase the likelihood of a cure, and to identify novel targets for new cancer therapeutics.

Dr. Andrulis and her colleagues have recruited and followed clinically two large cohorts of women with breast cancer, one is a group with axillary lymph node negative breast cancer and the other is the Ontario Familial Breast Cancer Registry (OFBCR). More recently, through the OCGN and the OFBCR they are recruiting girls to the LEGACY study. 

 Dr. Julia Knight, Co-Principal Investigator

Julia Knight, PhD is a senior investigator in the Prosserman Centre for Health Research at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital and an Associate Professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Knight is an epidemiologist by training and her research program has largely focused on understanding the genetic and non-genetic causes of cancer, particularly breast cancer, with a view to disease prevention and also on the determinants of and health-related associations with vitamin D. Additional areas of interest include melatonin and circadian disruption, alcohol, hormones, and body composition. A particular area of interest is the study of early events related to the development of breast cancer and the development of intermediate endpoints in order to study these events.

Gord Glendon, Research Project Director

Gord Glendon has an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Genetics from the University of Western Ontario and a Masters in Genetic Counselling from McGill University. Gord has worked in the field of familial predisposition to cancer for over 20 years. His time has been spent in both the clinical and research realms, initially as a genetic counsellor and more recently as the Research Project Director of the Ontario Familial Breast Cancer Registry. His research interest lies in the impact of the presence of cancer upon families and the clinical application of evolving genetic technology. Gord enjoys biking and hiking with the family and has a keen interest in music.

Danielle Hanna, MS CGC, Study Coordinator

Danielle Hanna, MS CGC is a certified genetic counselor at the Ontario Familial Breast Cancer Registry and study coordinator of the LEGACY Girls Study at Princess Margaret Hospital and Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto Ontario.

Ms. Hanna received her MS in Human Genetics from Sarah Lawrence College in New York and is certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling and is a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors. For well over 10 years, she has worked with families in the clinical cancer genetics setting with a primary focus on hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. She loves gardening, baking and lives in Oakville, Ontario, with her husband, two kids, rabbit and two frogs.

Mai-Liis Tammemagi, Study Associate

Mai-Liis Tammemagi is a Study Associate for LEGACY in Ontario and has been with the team since the summer of 2012. She helps with recruitment and retention and has been developing a Junior Scientist Program for participating LEGACY girls. This includes fun and educational activities such as lab tours and science experiments. She received her BEd from Brock University, and completed her undergrad at Concordia University in Art Education. She loves to go running with her husband and their puppy, and this year she ran her first half-marathon.