Inaugural population cancer research chair announced

Halifax, NS – Dr Louise Parker has been appointed the first Canadian Cancer Society Nova Scotia Division chair in population cancer research. Made possible through a partnership with Dalhousie University and Capital District Health Authority, and funding from the Canadian Cancer Society Nova Scotia Division, and Fred and Elizabeth Fountain and the QEII Foundation, the appointment of Dr Parker aims to address the high rate of cancer in the province through evidence based cancer prevention strategies and health and society research.

Dr Parker is a past recipient of the Bronze Marie Curie Award from the French Association for Cancer Control for her work on neuroblastoma screening. “Men and women in Nova Scotia are at higher risk of cancer than most other Canadians and we don’t really know why,” she says. “My appointment to the Canadian Cancer Society Nova Scotia Division chair in population cancer research gives me a great opportunity to work with scientists, doctors, other health professionals and the public to find out why Nova Scotians have such a high risk of cancer and see if we can reverse this upward trend.”