Sabine Mai, BSc, MSc, PhD

Dr. Sabine Mai is a professor of physiology and pathophysiology, biochemistry and medical genetics, human anatomy and cell science at the University of Manitoba. She is a also a senior investigator at the CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute.

With a PhD in molecular biology, postdoctoral training in cancer and immunology, and awards such as the Cognition Challenge Award and Canada Research Chair Tier 1, Dr. Mai is a true visionary in her field. Dr. Mai has dedicated her career to uncovering the mysteries of cancer initiation and progression with the goal of improving patient care.

In 2018, Dr. Mai was honored with a prestigious Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Genomic Instability and Nuclear Architecture in Cancer, cementing her status as a leader in her field. And her impact has not gone unnoticed, as she was named one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award Winners in 2015.

As the founder and director of the Genomic Centre for Cancer Research and Diagnosis (GCCRD), a cutting-edge molecular imaging facility, Dr. Mai and her team are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the world of cancer research. With more than $33 million in grants and funding, the GCCRD is a multi-disciplinary research hub that leverages super resolution microscopy to examine the nuclear architecture of the genome of cancer cells. The team has used this pioneering imaging to develop 3D telomere organization as a structural biomarker for multiple cancers, including prostate cancer, multiple myeloma, and glioblastoma.

Dr. Mai's innovative work doesn't stop there. In 2014, she founded Telo Genomics Corp, located at the world-renowned MaRS Discovery District in Toronto, to bring her clinical research findings to the forefront of personalized cancer treatment. And as a mentor to over 1,500 trainees from Canada and around the world, she is paving the way for the next generation of cancer researchers.