Robarts Research Retreat went virtual again this year!
Program
Keynote
Recruited to MD Anderson in May 2019, Dr. Jaffray is the institution’s inaugural chief technology and digital officer (CTDO), bringing more than two decades of scientific expertise and proven skill as an innovator. In this role, he directs the strategic design, acquisition, management and implementation of an enterprise-wide technology infrastructure at MD Anderson to safeguard the integrity and availability of the institution’s systems and intellectual property assets. While overseeing the Information Services division and Information Security department, Dr. Jaffray also leads efforts to advance data integration, data governance and data security across MD Anderson’s Houston campuses and its national network, as well as coordinate technology-enabled innovation. Additionally, he collaborates with the Strategic Industry Ventures team and the chief scientific officer in advancing meaningful partnerships with industry.
Before joining MD Anderson, Dr. Jaffray served as executive vice president for Technology and Innovation at the University Health Network (UHN)/Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto, Ontario. He led UHN’s information technology transformation, designed the roadmap for digital transformation. He also served in several other leadership roles at UHN, including vice chair of Research for the University of Toronto’s Department of Radiation Oncology, founding director of the STTARR Innovation Centre, and founding director of the Techna Institute for the Advancement of Technology for Health. He held an academic appointment as a Full Professor in the Departments of Radiation Oncology, Medical Biophysics, and IBBME at the University of Toronto. He was active in strategic planning, teaching, and graduate student supervision during his 17 years in Toronto.
Dr. Jaffray holds multiple patents and has authored more than 300 peer-reviewed publications in topics related to cancer, including, the development of new radiation treatment machines, exploring the fundamental limits of imaging system performance, the development of novel nanoparticle formulations for improved detection of cancer, and challenges in global health.
During the course of his career, he has received many honors, including the Sylvia Sorkin-Greenfield Award, the Farrington Daniels Award and the Sylvia Fedoruk Award. In 2018, he received the Gold Medal from the American Society for Radiation Oncology. Dr. Jaffray has an interest in commercialization and has led the development of a variety of commercial products, including software and hardware for safe, high-quality cancer care and the development of numerous radiation therapy technologies, including the development of cone-beam CT guided radiation therapy.
Science, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Panel
Colin MACAULAY, PhD
An innovation educator, life-science startup advisor, and former biotech executive, with more than 15 years in a venture backed biotech startup. As a business development manager at WORLDiscoveries, Colin helps the local research community with IP protection and commercialization, including due diligence, market analysis, and the marketing and licensing of technologies. As entrepreneur in residence with TechAlliance, Colin coach’s new life-science entrepreneurs to translate their new technology ideas into business models by guiding them through product-market fit, competitive analysis, technology transfer, and IP and business strategy. In the biotech sector Colin held increasing levels of responsibility on all aspects of drug development from manufacturing and formulation, to nonclinical pharmacology and safety studies, through to creating clinical and regulatory strategies. Clients in life-science fields including therapeutics, medical devices, and consumer products including probiotics, educational and training tools.
Trevor C. Charles, PhD
Trevor C. Charles, Ph.D., is founder and CSO of Metagenom Bio Life Science Inc., CSO of Ceragen Inc., co-founder of Waterloo Region Black Innovation Centre, Director of Waterloo Centre for Microbial Research, and Professor of Biology at University of Waterloo. He was trained as a microbiologist and bacterial geneticist, with B.Sc. Microbiology from University of British Columbia, Ph.D. Molecular Biology, McMaster University, and Postdoc from University of Washington. He has held faculty positions at both McGill University and University of Waterloo. His work is situated within the context of Circular Bioeconomy.
Maria Drangova, PhD
Dr. Drangova’s research is focused on the development and evaluation of imaging techniques for the diagnosis and treatment guidance of cardiovascular diseases. The scope of her research spans from basic developments of imaging techniques to their integration into therapeutic procedures, including device development. Recent contributions from Dr. Drangova’s lab include a rapid technique for three dimensional micro computed tomography of the murine heart; the development of a remote catheter driver for delivering percutaneous, minimally invasive therapies from a location remote to the patient; she is also working on techniques for multidimensional motion correction in MRI.
Robarts Association of Trainees 