Professor/Associate head
Max Rady College of Medicine
Pathology
401 - 727 McDermot Avenue
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 3P5
Yvonne Myal, BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD
Cross-appointments
Department of physiology and pathophysiology
Research themes
- Breast cancer
- Breast cancer biomarkers
- Breast cancer progression
- Metastasis
Research interests
- Breast cancer biomarkers
- Prolactin inducible protein (PIP)
- PIP knockout mouse models
- Transplantable mouse models
- Tight junction protein, Claudin 1
- Triple negative breast cancer
- Metastatic process of breast cancer
Keywords
- Breast cancer
- Prolactin inducible protein
- Claudin1
- Tight junction proteins
- CRISPR
- Immune response
- Lung/brain metastasis
Research affiliations
Senior Scientist at the CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute
Research groups
Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Site group, University of Manitoba
Research summary
Dr. Myal’s research program focuses on identifying breast/breast cancer biomarkers and understanding the biological role of these markers in the progression of breast cancer. Her lab uses several molecular biology approaches in conjunction with other strategies ranging from in vitro and ex vivo breast cancer cell/tissue cultures, to a number of clinically relevant transplantable breast cancer mouse models. Dr. Myal has a long standing interest in the prolactin inducible protein (PIP). Her laboratory developed the first PIP knockout (KO) mouse model, as well as the first transgenic and more recently, a first CRISPR PIP-KO mouse model to address the role of PIP in vivo. Her studies have revealed a dual functionality of PIP during breast cancer progression. These exciting observations have contributed to a deeper understanding and provided further insight into the role of PIP, not only in breast cancer progression, but in the metastatic process as well.
Biography
Dr. Myal received her Bachelor of Science (Hons) from the University of Winnipeg and conducted research in parasitology under the supervision of Dr. Marie Novak. She then completed her MSc and PhD with Dr. Robert Shiu, a breast cancer researcher, at the UM department of physiology where she developed many skills in molecular biology. Her postdoctoral training was in physiology, where she garnered skills in mouse blastocysts injections and generating transgenic and knockout mouse models of breast cancer with the collaboration of Dr. Mary Lynn Duckworth and Dr. Shiu. She then joined the department of pathology as a principal investigator and director of the Molecular Biology Diagnostic Laboratory. She currently oversees a breast cancer research program at the Max Rady College of Medicine, with a primary focus on breast cancer biomarkers and triple negative breast cancers.
Dr. Myal is currently a professor and associate head in the department of pathology at the Max Rady College of Medicine. She has a cross appointment in the department of physiology and pathophysiology and is a senior scientist at the CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute. She has served in many leadership roles including chair on numerous committees at the Max Rady College of Medicine, UM and the wider community. Dr. Myal currently also serves as the CIHR delegate representative for UM.
Dr. Myal’s research has been continuously supported by many provincial, national and international funding agencies, including Research Manitoba, the Paul Thorlakson Foundation, HSCF, MMSF, CancerCare Manitoba Foundation; Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), NSERC, CBCF (Prairie) and Friends You Can Count On (USA). Dr Myal is currently funded by NSERC, CIHR, and the Cancer Research Society.
Education
- Doctor of Philosophy, PhD, University of Manitoba
- Master of Science, University of Manitoba
- Bachelor of Science (Honors), University of Winnipeg
- Bachelor of Science, University of Winnipeg
Awards
- YWCA/YMCA Woman of Distinction Award for Science, Technology and the Environment (2011)
- CIHR Synapse Award for contributions in promoting Science at the High School and Elementary School level (2012) Nominee
- Sanofi –Aventis Award for Excellence in student mentorship at the Elementary and High School level
- Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Mentorship, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Manitoba (Nominee, 2020)
- Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Mentorship, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Manitoba (Nominee, 2018)
- University of Manitoba Rh Award, for outstanding contribution to scholarship and research in the Health Science (2003)
- Career Development Research Award in Basic Science, Manitoba Medical Services Foundation (2003-2006)
- Ken Hughes Young Investigator Award (2003)
- University of Manitoba Merit Award for Research and Scholarship in the Sciences category (2006)
- University of Manitoba Merit Award for Research and Scholarship in the Sciences category (2003)
- New Investigator Establishment Award, Manitoba Health Research Council (1998-2001)
Contact us
Pathology
Max Rady College of Medicine
401 Brodie, 727 McDermot Avenue
University of Manitoba (Bannatyne campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P5 Canada
204-789-3538
204-789-3931