Meet Some of the 2026 Canderel Rising Star Award Recipients

Thanks to Canderel’s support, 21 undergraduate students have the opportunity to pursue research projects at the Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute (GCI) this summer. Today we highlight several of these students, whose diverse journeys have led to the GCI. This summer’s cohort is a reminder that cancer research draws talent from every corner of the life sciences, and curiosity is what unites them.

The trainees arrive from a striking range of programs: Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, and Biology, spanning students entering their second year all the way to those about to begin master’s degrees. Elina Brazeau, a U3 Biochemistry student in Prof. Philippe Gros’s Lab, was drawn to the GCI’S reputation for bridging molecular biology and therapeutic intervention. Eliza Murphy, studying Microbiology and Immunology with Prof. Peter Siegel, credits the community itself: “Everyone, not just those in my lab, are incredibly kind, supportive and passionate. The GCI was a perfect choice to get involved in cancer research with a wonderful group of researchers.” For Sasha Segal, entering their fourth year of Honours Biology in the Yamanaka lab, the decision grew organically from a work study position that turned into genuine attachment to the lab.

Others were drawn by the GCI’s atmosphere of collaboration. Emma Louie, working in Prof. Vincent Giguère’s team, and Oscar Frohlich, working with Prof. Michel Tremblay were both simply captivated by cancer research itself. Adrianna Dilollo, working in the Walsh lab, cited the GCI’s multidisciplinary, innovative environment, while Sally Li, soon starting her master’s degree in Prof. William Muller’s lab, values the chance to learn from researchers belonging to various scientific disciplines. Zhong Kai Zhou, in Prof. Nahum Sonenberg’s lab, saw an opportunity for hands-on experience alongside knowledgeable mentors, and Mia Giles, in the Chen lab, was inspired by research with the potential to translate directly into better patient care.

Their research projects are just as varied, a genuine reflection of the GCI’s wide range of expertise. From silencing inflammatory proteins in glioblastoma models, to mapping how extracellular matrix proteins mature across development, to optimising messenger RNA vaccine delivery and probing chromatin remodelers in prostate cancer. Yet across every interview, common threads emerge: a fascination for hands-on discover, gratitude for the freedom the Canderel Rising Star Award provides to focus fully on research, and a true sense of belonging to the GCI community.

Whether they arrived through a work study position, a chance introduction to a lab, or a deliberate search for a multidisciplinary environment, these nine trainees show that there is no single route into cancer research at the GCI, only a shared drive to understand it better.

To learn more about the Canderel Rising Star Undergraduate Award: https://www.goodmancancer.ca/en/financial-support