What’s new at the Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute?

For International Childhood Cancer Day, the Goodman Cancer Institute highlights research tackling rare childhood and adolescent cancers, including new work revealing a druggable vulnerability in the aggressive ovarian cancer SCCOHT and earlier studies on DICER1 syndrome.

On World Cancer Day, we reflect on how Jerry Pelletier’s lifetime of scientific discovery—and his final gift to research—continue to advance precision cancer care, particularly for rare and hard-to-treat cancers.

Acral melanoma—common in people with skin of color yet poorly understood—has long been overlooked in research. At McGill’s Goodman Cancer Institute, Dr. Simon Roy is combining cutting-edge epigenetics, spatial biology, and precision tumour models to rethink how this aggressive melanoma is studied, diagnosed, and treated.

A new study from the GCI describes an engineered system that delivers immunotherapy directly to metastatic lymph nodes. Published in PNAS, the approach aims to enhance anti-tumour immunity while limiting side effects.

Women scientists at the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute are leading breakthroughs in tumour mapping, metastasis, and immunology—driving more than 70% of first-authored publications in 2025 and strengthening discovery from trainee to faculty levels.

On December 4, 2025, Researchers and trainees from across the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute came together for GCI Research Day, a signature annual event celebrating scientific excellence, collaboration, and trainee leadership. From rapid-fire thesis talks to keynote insights and award-winning posters, the day highlighted the depth, creativity, and momentum of cancer research at the GCI.

Science becomes visible when research meets creativity. Hosted by McGill’s EtOH seminar series and the Goodman Cancer Institute, the Science-meets-Art exhibit invited researchers to reimagine scientific images as works of art—transforming microscopy, medical imaging, and data into a gallery that revealed the beauty, curiosity, and creativity at the heart of discovery.

This Giving Tuesday, we highlight how donor generosity empowers the next generation of cancer researchers at the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute (GCI).

Seven GCI researchers have secured nearly $1 million in funding from the Cancer Research Society. Their projects span breast, prostate, colorectal cancer, melanoma, immunotherapy, and metabolic and epigenetic research—underscoring GCI’s leadership in advancing high-impact cancer science.