The BC Generations Project relies on a small team of staff who offer extensive expertise in large cohort studies, data management, biospecimen collection and storage, and research administration.
Dr. Parveen Bhatti
Principal Investigator
Dr. Parveen Bhatti is the Scientific Director of the Cancer Prevention program in Cancer Control Research at BC Cancer Agency, and an Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia’s School of Population and Public Health. Dr. Bhatti’s international research program focuses on the use of molecular markers to improve understanding of occupational and environmental risk factors for cancer and identify potential targets for intervention. Research interests include nightshift work and cancer, epigenetic and metabolomic mediators of cancer risk and children’s environmental health.
Dr. Trevor Dummer
Co- Investigator
Dr. Trevor Dummer is an Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia’s School of Population and Public Health and an Affiliated Scientist at the BC Cancer Agency. He is also Co-Principal Investigator for the Atlantic PATH Project, which is regional study partner to the BC Generations Project. Dr. Dummer is a health geographer and Geographic Information Science (GIS) specialist with interests in environmental epidemiology and environment and health interactions, with specific emphasis on the causes of cancer and its prevention. His current projects include evaluating the role of water quality and air quality on cancer risk. He is also involved in studies assessing the role of the built environment (the design and structure of communities) on overweight and obesity.
Dr. Nhu Le
Co-Investigator
Dr. Nhu Le is currently a Distinguished Scientist in Cancer Control Research at BC Cancer Agency, and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Statistics at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Le’s research interests are primarily in the areas of biostatistics, statistical genetics, measurement errors, and spatial statistics with emphasis on application to occupational and environmental cancer epidemiology, including gene-environment interactions. He has a proven track record with more than 150 peer-reviewed publications in these areas. He has been leading or participating in several large cohort and case-control studies. His current research focus is on the identification of environmental and genetics factors, affecting ovarian cancer risk and survival. Dr. Le has also been very active on the developments of novel statistical methods, especially for mitigating adverse impact from misclassification and/or measurement errors in covariates, as well as for spatial interpolation to improve exposure assessments in cancer impact studies.
Dr. John Spinelli
Co-Investigator
Dr. John Spinelli is a Distinguished Scientist and Head of Cancer Control Research at the BC Cancer Agency, Professor in the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia, and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science at Simon Fraser University. Dr. Spinelli’s research focus is on the identification of environmental and genetic risk factors for cancer and in gene-environment interactions, particularly for lymphoproliferative malignancies (lymphoma and myeloma) and breast cancer. He is also active in the development of statistical methodology for epidemiology and other areas of health research. Dr. Spinelli is the author of more than 240 peer reviewed publications.
Dr. Tim Lee
Co-Investigator
Dr. Tim Lee received his PhD in computer science in 2001. He is currently a Senior Scientist in Cancer Control Research at the BC Cancer Agency, and an Associate Professor in the Department of Dermatology and Skin Science, University of British Columbia. His research interests include processing and analyzing dermoscopic images and wide-area skin images, developing non-invasive laser speckle techniques for skin cancer detection and determining risk factors of melanoma.
Dr. Angela Brooks-Wilson
Co-Investigator
Dr. Angela Brooks-Wilson is a Distinguished Scientist in Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre at the BC Cancer Agency, a Professor in Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology at Simon Fraser University and a Professor in Medical Genetics at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Brooks-Wilson leads a cancer genetics research laboratory at the Genome Sciences Centre of the British Columbia Cancer Agency in Vancouver, BC. Her current work focuses on the genetics of healthy aging and the genetics of susceptibility to cancer, particularly blood cancers, in families and populations. She leads the Genomics, Genetics and Gerontology (G3) Team for the Study of Healthy Aging, in which exceptionally healthy elderly individuals (‘Super-Seniors’) are helping to determine the genetic influences that contribute to healthy aging and protect against age-related diseases.
Laura Game
Research Program Manager
Laura Game completed her Bachelor of Business Administration at Simon Fraser University and brings over a decade of experience in research administration to her role at BCGP. She has ensured the successful operation of a variety of epidemiologic studies by providing project coordination, financial management and administrative support. Her past work in an oral cancer study in the department of Cancer Control Research at BC Cancer supported its establishment as a province wide prevention program that continues to screen for early detection.
Treena McDonald
Project Manager, Biosamples
Treena McDonald has a depth of experience gathered from many years of work on both pulmonary and cardiovascular studies. Ms. McDonald earned a Master of Science from the University of British Columbia in 2000 studying cardiomyocyte dysfunction in sepsis. She subsequently went on to manage a genetic study for a cohort of patients with Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome, followed by the addition of four more disease cohorts (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, aortic stenosis and atherosclerosis). Ms. McDonald was also the national coordinator for the Genes and Environment program within Canada’s AllerGen National Centre for Excellence from 2006-2009.
Jessica Chu
Data Coordinator
Jessica Chu completed a Bachelor of Arts in Health Sciences, along with a minor in Communications from Simon Fraser University in 2013. She joined BCGP during her co-op term in 2012 and continued to support this project in a variety of roles.
Jaclyn Parks
Data Access Manager
Jaclyn holds a Master of Science degree specializing in Environmental and Occupational Health from Simon Fraser University. Her past research works have primarily involved the relationship between childhood asthma and allergy with multiple inflammatory environmental exposures in early life. She has interests in environmental epidemiology, health geography, and is keen to leverage the comprehensive data collected by BCGP to identify modifiable risk factors for chronic disease and cancer.
Emeritus leaders
The BC Generations Project would not exist today without strong leadership during its development and start-up. We are grateful for the contributions of those who remain on our team in an emeritus (retired) capacity.
Richard Gallagher
Principal Investigator Emeritus
BC Generations Project
BC Cancer Agency
Clinical Professor Emeritus, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia
Dr. Marilyn Borugian
Director Emeritus
BC Generations Project
BC Cancer Agency