Today, Dr. Michael J. Strong, President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, announced that Dr. Fei-Fei Liu has been appointed Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Cancer Research for a term of four years, effective September 1, 2022.
Dr. Liu is one of Canada's leading cancer researchers and clinical research specialists. She has worked for more than three decades as a clinician scientist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, one of the sites of the University Health Network in Toronto, where she is a Senior Scientist, Chief of the Radiation Medicine Program and Head of the Department of Radiation Oncology. Dr. Liu is also a Professor in the Departments of Radiation Oncology, Medical Biophysics, Otolaryngology, and Institute of Medical Science and Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Toronto. Dr Liu's research focuses on investigating and developing novel molecular therapeutic strategies that can be delivered in conjunction with radiation therapy for head and neck, breast, and cervical cancers. More recently, Dr. Liu and her team have focused on unraveling the mechanisms and identifying therapeutic strategies for radiation fibrosis and lymphedema, which are two common side effects of cancer treatment that significantly impact cancer survivors.
The Institute of Cancer Research is one of CIHR's thirteen Institutes. As Scientific Director, Dr. Liu will develop and advance research and training initiatives that address cancer research priorities in Canada while supporting the implementation of CIHR's Strategic Plan. During Dr. Liu's term, the Institute will be based at the University Health Network.
