Dr. David Huntsman
Chief Medical Officer, Canexia Health
Dr. David Huntsman is a Professor of the Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynaecology at UBC, the Dr. Chew Wei Memorial Professor of Gynaecologic Oncology and is the Canada Research Chair in Molecular and Genomic Pathology. Dr. Huntsman directs OVCARE, BC’s multidisciplinary ovarian cancer research team and conducts his research at the BC Cancer Agency and the Vancouver General Hospital.
In addtion to providing most of the data that underpins the management of hereditary gastric cancer, Dr. Huntsman’s research has led to development of predictive and prognostic tissue based cancer biomarkers for ovarian cancer and a wide variety of other tumour types. His team created a blueprint for subtype specific ovarian cancer control and have been leaders in the application of novel genomic technologies to better prevent, diagnose and treat ovarian cancer. Specifically, next generation sequencing was used to discover the key driver mutations in granulosa cell and sertoli leydig cell tumours as well as clear cell, endometrioid and small cell carcinomas. These discoveries are being translated into improved diagnostics and treatment strategies. Based on research into precurosr lesions the OVCARE team has implemented a population based prevention strategy for ovarian cancer that includes opportunistic salpingectomy and more pervasive genetic screening. Huntsman’s most recent research has focused on the cellular origins of clear cell and endometrioid ovarian carcinomas the role of somatic mutations in the development of endometriosis and the transformation of endometriosis into these cancers.
Collaboration and entrepreneurship are both critical ingredients of clinically relevant research. To that end Dr. Huntsman leads several Canadian and international collaborative networks and recently founded a company, Contextual Genomics, to increase the clinical and economic impact of his work.
Dr. David Huntsman is a Professor of the Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynaecology at UBC, the Dr. Chew Wei Memorial Professor of Gynaecologic Oncology and is the Canada Research Chair in Molecular and Genomic Pathology. Dr. Huntsman directs OVCARE, BC’s multidisciplinary ovarian cancer research team and conducts his research at the BC Cancer Agency and the Vancouver General Hospital.
In addtion to providing most of the data that underpins the management of hereditary gastric cancer, Dr. Huntsman’s research has led to development of predictive and prognostic tissue based cancer biomarkers for ovarian cancer and a wide variety of other tumour types. His team created a blueprint for subtype specific ovarian cancer control and have been leaders in the application of novel genomic technologies to better prevent, diagnose and treat ovarian cancer. Specifically, next generation sequencing was used to discover the key driver mutations in granulosa cell and sertoli leydig cell tumours as well as clear cell, endometrioid and small cell carcinomas. These discoveries are being translated into improved diagnostics and treatment strategies. Based on research into precurosr lesions the OVCARE team has implemented a population based prevention strategy for ovarian cancer that includes opportunistic salpingectomy and more pervasive genetic screening. Huntsman’s most recent research has focused on the cellular origins of clear cell and endometrioid ovarian carcinomas the role of somatic mutations in the development of endometriosis and the transformation of endometriosis into these cancers.
Collaboration and entrepreneurship are both critical ingredients of clinically relevant research. To that end Dr. Huntsman leads several Canadian and international collaborative networks and recently founded a company, Contextual Genomics, to increase the clinical and economic impact of his work.
