GCI Hosts the 2024 Gairdner Symposium on Diet, Bodyweight, and Cancer Risk

From October 17-18^th, the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute (GCI) hosted the 2024 Gairdner Symposium on Diet, Bodyweight and Cancer Risk. With well over 200 participants, this event was one of the largest conferences organized and hosted by the GCI since its inception. The symposium brought together researchers from around the world to foster collaboration and broaden understanding of obesity-related chronic diseases and cancer.  Lesley Fellows, Vice-Principal and Dean of McGill’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, delivered opening remarks which summarized the challenges addressed at the symposium, noting that “cancer is more than just a medical problem… it’s a whole person and all of their complexities”.

With collaboration at the heart of the GCI’s mission, the co-operative spirit at the  conference was remarkable. Researchers from  institutions across Montreal, Quebec and the  globe shared their work and engaged in  productive discussions around advancing  science and forging partnerships to find the  knowledge to cure obesity related health concerns. The institutions represented included the CR-CHUM, IRCM, LDI, RI-MUHC, Concordia, Universtié de Montréal, Université Laval, CHU de Québec, and many other local and international institutions.

Speakers at the conference shared exceptional scientific findings. The first of two plenary lectures at the conference was delivered by Daniel Drucker, M.D., Gairdner Award Laureate from Sinai Health. He offered insights into how obesity drugs like Ozempic can be a tool in the fight against a number of health concerns and obesity related cancers. Jeffery Freidman, Ph.D., M.D., also a Gairdner Award Laureat and plenary lecture presenter, delivered a fascinating presentation on how his landmark discoveries in the molecular and neurological regulation of food intake can shape the future of obesity research.

The symposium featured a special lay lecture titled: Why We Eat What We Eat, featuring renowned experts Dana Small, Ph.D., Mark Schatzker, and Joe Schwarcz, Ph.D. The lecture provided a deeper understanding of how the modern food environment influences behaviour and long-term health. Another highlight of the event were 34 poster presentations from trainees, which prompted many exciting and interesting discussions. Trainees Faiz Hussain and Rielly Pidgeon received awards for their exceptional poster presentations.

Heather Munroe-Blum, former McGill University Principal and Vice-Chancellor and current Chair of the Gairdner Foundation, gave the conference closing remarks. She reflected on the exceptional science presented and the promise of working together to tackle challenges in obesity, cancer, and related health challenges.

The highly successful event was made possible through the support of philanthropic sponsors Novo Nordisk, the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé, the Gairdner Foundation, and the Norman Zavalkoff Family Foundation, as well as an educational partnership with Obesity Canada. 30 volunteers supported the proceedings, which were organized by Trina Johnson, Ph.D., Yu Gu, Harvey Smith, Ph.D., and Morag Park, Ph.D. The scientific organizing committee included GCI researchers Peter Siegel, Ph.D., Daniela Quail, Ph.D., and Lawrence Kazak, Ph.D.

The 2024 GCI Gairdner symposium made clear that the intersection of metabolism and oncology holds immense potential for breakthroughs in cancer treatment. From exploring metabolic vulnerabilities to enhancing immunotherapy, the research shared promises to reshape the future of cancer care. With continued collaboration and innovation, we’re one step closer to turning these insights into life-saving therapies.