The Ontario Hereditary Cancer Research Network

10/08/2026

We're proud to see OHCRN represented at REACH26, the Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS) Symposium!
Thank you to Chiquita Hessels for including OHCRN on her poster about LFSA Canada's important work.
Chiquita and Bailey Gallinger (also pictured) have been longtime collaborators and supporters of OHCRN. We appreciate their ongoing partnership and commitment to advancing hereditary cancer research and clinical care for those with LFS.
We value our two-way collaboration with Li-Fraumeni Syndrome Association Canada and look forward to continuing to learn from and work alongside the LFS community.
Way to go!

10/07/2026

The Head of OHCRN, Dr. Raymond Kim, will be joining the Canadian VHL Alliance for Care & Connect Day on October 13!
Care & Connect Day is a casual online opportunity to connect with the CVHLA team and fellow members of the VHL community. Dr. Kim will take part in an open discussion about hereditary cancer research and care.
See more here: https://cvhla.ca/event/connecting-warriors-cvhla-care-and-connect-day/

10/05/2026

Next in our Faces of OHCRN series, the head of OHCRN, Dr. Raymond Kim! Dr. Kim is a clinician-scientist leading OHCRN's mission to advance hereditary cancer research. You might be able to spot him dashing between his many roles, including being a medical geneticist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and the head of the Provincial Genetics Program at Ontario Health, always in his trademark flashy sneakers. Dr. Kim likes house music and is a 3rd degree blackbelt in Taekwondo.

09/30/2026

Today is day!
Meet Katie Lark, one of our OHCRN Patient Partners. As a previvor, Katie has an inherited risk of breast and ovarian cancer, but has not been diagnosed with cancer herself.
For the past five years, Katie has helped shaped OHCRN's work by sharing her lived experience as a Patient Partner. She helps to ensure that OHCRN's work addresses the needs of other Previvors like herself.
Thank you, Katie, for helping to make research more meaningful!

09/28/2026

Yesterday, the OHCRN team was proud to sponsor and participate in Ovarian Cancer Canada’s .
Thanks to your generosity, we raised over $1,000 to help advance ovarian cancer research!
The weather was beautiful, and it was meaningful to see such a strong turnout of survivors, advocates, and families and friends walking together in memory of loved ones. Research is essential to improving early detection and developing more effective treatments, and we are grateful to be part of a community working toward a better future for people with cancer.

09/21/2026

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Ovarian cancer symptoms can be easy to miss because they can be subtle. Common symptoms include bloating, abdominal or pelvic pain, feeling full quickly when eating, and frequent urination. These symptoms are common and usually caused by something other than cancer, but if they are new, persistent, and/or worsening, it's important to speak with a healthcare provider.
Photo credit: Drobot Dean (Adobe Stock)

09/14/2026

Next in our Faces of OHCRN series, our second summer student, Mya.
This past summer, she worked on a research project to address barriers to Indigenous data sovereignty at OHCRN. Through her project, Mya has made recommendations for the implementation of a cultural competency training package for researchers seeking Indigenous hereditary cancer data from OHCRN, as well as recommendations for an Indigenous data access committee.
Stay tuned as we introduce the head of OHCRN, Dr. Raymond Kim.

09/10/2026

Next in our Faces of OHCRN series, we're highlighting the students who worked with us this summer! First up, Ella.
This past summer, she worked on a research project that aimed to improve OHCRN’s recruitment and outreach for Indigenous populations. Her work explored the barriers Indigenous people face throughout the hereditary cancer pathway and analyzed how these challenges shape participation in hereditary cancer research.
Stay tuned as we introduce more of the team behind OHCRN.

09/08/2026

Meet the face behind our Facebook account!
We're kicking off our new "Faces of OHCRN" series with Tamara Braid, OHCRN's Clinical Program Manager.
Tamara is a genetic counsellor who has spent her clinical career supporting individuals and families affected by hereditary cancer. Today, she helps lead OHCRN's work as it relates to recruitment, clinical partnerships and ethics, all with the goal of making hereditary cancer research more accessible and impactful.
Stay tuned as we introduce more of the team behind OHCRN.

08/12/2026

OHCRN is participating in the Ovarian Cancer Canada in Toronto's Ashbridges Bay Park on Sunday, September 27. 3000 Canadians are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year, and up to 25% may be caused by inherited changes in genes like BRCA1, BRCA2 and MSH2.
Consider donating to Ovarian Cancer Canada or joining the OHCRN team by visiting our team's page: https://bit.ly/3RMhzYx

By fundraising together, we’re breaking barriers in ovarian cancer research and care, proving that change is within reach.