Poul Sorensen
Poul Sorensen, a Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Distinguished Scientist at the BC Cancer Agency, has been awarded the Robert L. Noble Prize by the Canadian Cancer Society for outstanding achievements in basic biomedical cancer research.
Dr. Sorenson’s research focuses on molecular abnormalities that underlie childhood sarcomas and brain tumours, and adult cancers of the breast, brain and prostate. He has used findings from his childhood cancer research to better understand the biology of adult cancers, including how cellular stress responses contribute to aggressive tumour behavior.
Early in his career, Dr. Sorensen discovered several new genetic alterations in solid childhood cancers (like Ewing’s sarcoma and Wilms tumour), which typically have less genetic complexity than adult tumours. He used these findings in an innovative way to better understand the biology of adult cancers. For example, Dr. Sorensen identified the ETV6-NTRK3 gene fusion in both childhood sarcoma and a form of breast cancer, which pointed to a new treatment strategy. He has also used his genetic findings to develop new tests to improve the classification of childhood cancers, which are used by clinicians around the world.
More recently, Dr Sorensen drew attention to the crucial role of cancer proteins in cellular stress responses that allow cancer to grow and spread.
His energy and commitment to his work is seen in the extraordinary mentorship and training he offers, as well as the time and expertise he lends to grant review panels.
The Robert L. Noble Prize is given for outstanding achievements in basic biomedical cancer research. It honours Dr. Noble, an esteemed Canadian investigator whose research in the 1950s led to the discovery of vinblastine, a widely used anticancer drug. At the time, vinblastine was one of the most effective treatments available for Hodgkin lymphoma.
The award comes with a $20,000 contribution to the recipient’s research program.