Yvonne Myal, BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD

Research summary

Dr. Yvonne Myal's research is dedicated to unraveling the biological intricacies of breast cancer biomarkers and their impact on disease progression and metastasis. Employing a diverse array of methodologies, including in vitro and ex vivo breast cancer cell and tissue cultures, alongside clinically relevant transplantable breast cancer mouse models and molecular biology techniques, her lab endeavors to deepen our understanding of this complex process.

With a particular focus on prolactin inducible protein (PIP), Dr. Myal has developed multiple mouse models to probe its role in breast cancer advancement. Notably, her investigations have unveiled a nuanced dual functionality of PIP in the context of breast cancer progression.

Funding for Dr. Myal's research comes from a variety of sources, including NSERC, CIHR, and the Cancer Research Society, as well as other provincial, national, and international agencies such as Research Manitoba, the Paul Thorlakson Foundation, Health Sciences Centre Foundation (HSCF), Manitoba Medical Service Foundation (MMSF), Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (Prairie region), and Friends You Can Count On (USA).

Her commitment to advancing knowledge in this field is further evidenced by her nomination for the Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Mentorship by the Faculty of Graduate Studies at the University of Manitoba.

Brief bio

Dr. Yvonne Myal is a professor and associate head in the Department of Pathology at the Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba. With a background in molecular biology, she earned her Bachelor of Science (Hons) from the University of Winnipeg before completing her Master's and PhD at the University of Manitoba under the guidance of Dr. Robert Shiu, a renowned breast cancer researcher. Dr. Myal's expertise in generating transgenic and knockout mouse models of breast cancer led her to spearhead the Molecular Biology Diagnostic Laboratory at UM.

Her research primarily revolves around breast cancer biomarkers and their implications in cancer progression and metastasis. She has a special interest in prolactin inducible protein (PIP) and has developed mouse models to elucidate its role in breast cancer. Dr. Myal's contributions to the field have earned her recognition and continuous support from provincial, national, and international funding agencies. Notably, she is funded by NSERC, CIHR, and the Cancer Research Society.

In addition to her research, Dr. Myal is actively involved in leadership roles and committees within the Max Rady College of Medicine and the broader community. In the past she served as the CIHR delegate representative for UM. Her dedication to mentorship has been acknowledged through various awards, including the YWCA/YMCA Woman of Distinction Award and the Sanofi-Aventis Award for Excellence in student mentorship.