A AV俱乐部 researcher is poised to lead a revolution in cancer treatment through global partnerships.
, recently appointed executive director of Cancer Immunotherapy, Innovation and Global Partnerships in the Faculty of Medicine, is developing innovative immunotherapy options for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancers.
Cancer immunotherapies are a form of precision medicine that train our immune system to fight cancers and don鈥檛 have the usual harmful side effects of traditional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation. Dr. Gujar is developing various forms of cancer immunotherapies such as cancer vaccines, cancer-killing viruses, and light-activable anti-cancer drugs. Through strategic international partnerships, Dr. Gujar will leverage the resources needed for his ground-breaking research enterprise to rapidly advance cancer immunotherapy discoveries in clinics and save lives sooner.
Ensuring medical discoveries reach patients faster
The global COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that medical innovations can be developed more quickly than previously shown. Accelerating the discovery and development process requires prompt access to highly qualified personnel, sufficient patient populations for clinical testing, and immunotherapy manufacturing facilities, components not available in Atlantic Canada, and limited across the country.
Through global partnerships, Dr. Gujar will work to overcome these regional challenges and limitations to drive innovation and accelerate the translation of exciting medical discoveries in patients.
鈥淲e know that we need major improvements in how we diagnose, prevent and treat cancer, and more importantly, we need it faster,鈥� says Dr. Gujar. 鈥淲e don't have time to wait for another 15 years for every innovation to be translated in patients, and so we are working with global partners to access the best of the best capacities in the world.鈥�
Access for all
Dr. Gujar has established formal partnerships with various academic, clinical and industry leaders around the world, including those in India, France, Germany, Denmark, and the United States. This initiative is set to take the lead in driving the rapid development of new cancer immunotherapies and to make these therapies available and affordable to patients around the world.
鈥淐ancer immunotherapy is very expensive right now,鈥� says Dr. Gujar. 鈥淲e are working with true global partnerships hoping we will be able to create affordable cancer immunotherapy that will be available not only for Canadians, but to all the global citizens worldwide. We want all people to have access to these amazing therapies.鈥�
A world leader in cancer care
Dr. Gujar is positioned to take AV俱乐部 from a world-class to a world-leading institute in the field of cancer immunotherapy. He would like to see this important research create opportunities to work in partnership with global organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN). From a strategic perspective, this initiative will align the Faculty of Medicine鈥檚 future directions not only with AV俱乐部, but with the international players who are pushing for better human health.
Though he looks forward to sharing AV俱乐部鈥檚 exciting work, Dr. Gujar reiterates the importance of collaboration and contributing to the greater good.
鈥淲e know success cannot be achieved by working in silos,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut when we work together as a global community, we can do amazing things.鈥�
As executive director of Cancer Immunotherapy, Innovation and Global Partnerships, Dr. Gujar鈥檚 initial assignment has been made possible with the generous support from (DMRF).