Our patient-oriented research program is based at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre and the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute. The program opened in 2011 with the establishment of the Quebec Pancreas Cancer Study, which is a genetics and genomics research study with real-time return of research results to patients. Since its inception, the program has expanded to include biliary tract and other related cancers.
Meet our team
Principal Investigator
George Zogopoulos MD, PhD, FRCSC, FACS
Dr. George Zogopoulos is a surgeon-scientist with a translational research program on the genetics and oncogenomics of pancreaticobiliary cancers. His clinical practice focuses on the surgical treatment of pancreatic, biliary, and hepatic malignancies as well as abdominal organ transplantation with an interest in transplant oncology. He has been a junior and senior scholar of the Fonds de recherche du Québec and recipient of the Michal & Renata Hornstein Career Award for Surgical Excellence.
He completed his clinical training at the University of Toronto, where he obtained his medical degree, followed by residency in general surgery. Dr. Zogopoulos then pursued a clinical fellowship in hepato-pancreato-biliary and abdominal organ transplant surgery at the Toronto General Hospital. His research training was completed at McGill University and at the University of Toronto. He obtained his Ph.D. in Experimental Medicine at McGill University, and he enrolled in the surgeon-scientist program of the University of Toronto to pursue postdoctoral research training in cancer genetics with Dr. Steven Gallinger.
Dr. Zogopoulos’ research leadership roles include co-Chair of the Pancreatic Disease Oriented Group of the Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG), member of the Board of Directors of the Cancer Research Society, Quebec Regional Representative on the Steering Committee of the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network (MOHCCN), MUHC Institutional Lead for the Quebec Cancer Consortium (QCC) and Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network (MOHCCN), member of the Pancreas Task Force of the USA National Cancer Institute, and Executive Member of the Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection (PRECEDE) Consortium.
Genetic counsellor
Adeline Cuggia, MSc, CCGC
Adeline Cuggia is a Canadian certified genetic counsellor and research coordinator working in cancer genetics research since 2015. Passionate about genetics and research, she studied molecular biology at Université de Sherbrooke and did multiple research internships in Sherbrooke and Vancouver before completing her Master’s degree in Genetic Counseling at Université de Montréal in 2014. She is specialized in pancreatic cancer genetics and surveillance of individuals at high-risk for pancreatic cancer and has expertise in patient registry and clinical trial management. She is also a creative person who enjoys playing music, reading, and roleplaying games in her free time.
Clinical Research Coordinators
Jennifer Gardner
Institutional Lead Coordinator, Quebec Cancer Consortium (QCC)
Jennifer Gardner is the MUHC Institutional Lead Coordinator for the Marathon of Hope-Quebec (MOH-Q) and the Quebec Cancer Consortium (QCC). She is also the clinical coordinator for the COMPASS-B-MUHC trial and the MUHC Institutional Liaison Coordinator for the Quebec Clinical Research Organization in Cancer (Q-CROC). Prior to her current position, Jennifer Gardner held clinical research positions in Neonatal Intensive Care, Breast Cancer and Clinical Epidemiology at the MUHC and CHUM. In her personal time, Jennifer has a passion for singing, directing her choir and enjoys bowling.
Tess Aalto
Tess Aalto is a clinical research coordinator for the Quebec Pancreas Cancer Study (QPCS). After studying Biological Sciences and Health at Brandeis University in Boston, Tess moved to Montreal to pursue her interest in cancer research. In her spare time, Tess loves to play music, powerlift, embroider, and enjoy the outdoors.
Stacey Tsimiklis, BSc, GrDip
Stacey Tsimiklis is the clinical research coordinator for the pancreatic cancer surveillance program of the Quebec Pancreas Cancer Study (QPCS) and the MUHC site coordinator Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection (PRECEDE) Consortium. Passionate about cancer and genomics, she studied biology at Concordia University before receiving a Graduate Diploma in Biotechnology & Genomics. Her dedication lies in merging her profound care for patients with advancing impactful cancer research.
Research Lab Members
Alicia Gomez Mendez
Alicia Gomez Mendez has a MSc in Molecular Biology from the Université de Montreal. Her expertise is in genomics and biospecimen management. She oversees the operations of the laboratory, biospecimen repository and patient-derived xenograft platform.
Dinghong Qiu
Dinghong Qiu has a Bachelor degree in cell biology and a Master’s degree in Molecular Biology. Her responsibilities include processing of samples for omic analyses and managing the lab’s laser capture microtome platform.
Qing Wu
Qing Wu grew up and obtained her MD in Beijing, China. She has been working at the MUHC Research Institute since 1997. She has added her expertise to our patient-oriented research program and her responsibilities include processing of registry and trial biospecimens for omic studies.
Joan Miguel Romero, MSc
Joan Miguel Romero is an MD-PhD student at McGill University. He completed his MSc at the University of Toronto focusing on T cell-inflammation in pancreatic cancer. His doctoral dissertation focuses on biomarkers of cancer inflammation and immunotherapy, as well as the role of immunotherapy in homologous-recombination deficient pancreas cancer.
Ruomeng Fang, BSc
Ruomeng Fang completed her BSc at McGill University, majoring in Pharmacology and Therapeutics. She is studying the classical and basal-like molecular subtypes of pancreas cancer, with a focus on the co-existence of these two subtypes.
Alumni – Graduate Students
- Yifan Wang MD PhD, Experimental Medicine, 2017/7-2024/6
- Bryn Golesworthy MSc, Human Genetics, 2019/9-2021/8
- Tatiana Lenko MSc, Human Genetics, 2018/9-2021/9
- Amanda Tanti MSc, Experimental Medicine, 2017/9-2019/4
- Yen-I Chen MSc, Experimental Medicine, 2017/9-2019/8
- Cavin Wong MSc, Human Genetics, 2015/9-2017/12
- Jing Yong Patrick Park MSc, Experimental Medicine, 2015/9-2017/8
- Alexandra-Zoe Andrei MSc, Experimental Medicine, 2012/9-2015/12
- Alyssa Smith PhD, Experimental Medicine, MD-PhD Program 2012/9-2018/8