Recognizing Outstanding Contributions to the Canadian Cancer Research Community 
The CCRA Awards, initiated in 2011, recognize and celebrate on a biennial basis the outstanding contributions of individuals who have had a remarkable impact on cancer research and the cancer research community. In 2025, two new award categories were introduced: Excellence in a First Nations, Inuit and Métis Community Project and Excellence in First Nations, Inuit and Métis Cancer Research.
We are please to announce the recipients of the 2025 awards. Sitansisk Wolastoqey (St. Mary’s First Nation) is the recipient of the inaugural award for Excellence in a First Nations, Inuit and Métis Community Project for the “Radiant Spirits: Indigenous Mammogram and Breast Health Initiative.” The individual awardees in alphabetical order are: Dr. Christine M. Friedenreich for Exceptional Leadership in Cancer Research; Dr. Nada Jabado for Outstanding Achievements in Cancer Research; Dr. Lana Ray for Excellence in First Nations, Inuit and Métis Cancer Research; Dr. Sevtap Savas for Exceptional Leadership in Patient Involvement in Cancer Research; and Dr. Barbara Vanderhyden for Distinguished Service to Cancer Research. The 2025 awards will be presented at the Canadian Cancer Research Conference in Calgary on November 2, 2025.
Sitansisk Wolastoqey (St. Mary’s First Nation), recipient of the inaugural award for Excellence in a First Nations, Inuit and Métis Community Project, is being recognized for the “Radiant Spirits: Indigenous Mammogram and Breast Health Initiative. Launched in October 2024, this initiative has improved breast screening access for Indigenous women in the Sitansisk Wolastoqey. It is rooted in Indigenous leadership and community engagement, laying the foundation for future, sustainable programming focused on equity and cultural safety in cancer care. For more, please view the brief video below and read this inspiring interview with Sherry Parsons who is accepting the award on behalf of Sitansisk Wolastoqey.
Dr. Christine M. Friedenreich, recipient of the Philip E. Branton Exceptional Leadership in Cancer Research Award, is an Adjunct Professor and Lead, Academic Research and Education, Preventive Oncology, Departments of Oncology, Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary. She is being recognized for the transformative and international impact of her research on the role of physical activity in the fields of cancer prevention and survivorship which has informed national and international public health guidelines, policies and initiatives, and her pivotal role in championing equity and diversity in the cancer research workforce. For more, please view the brief video below and read this inspiring interview with Dr. Friedenreich.
Dr. Nada Jabado, recipient of the award for Outstanding Achievements in Cancer Research, is a Senior Scientist in the Child Health and Human Development Program at the Centre for Translational Biology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, and Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at McGill University. She is being recognized for her groundbreaking discovery of regulatory histone mutations as a fundamental cancer hallmark and her paradigm-shifting finding that brain tumours arise from stalled development in embryonic neural hierarchies – work that has transformed our understanding of pediatric and young adult brain tumours and opened new avenues for diagnosis and treatment. For more, please view the brief video below and read this inspiring interview with Dr. Jabado.
Dr. Lana Ray, recipient of the inaugural Excellence in First Nations, Inuit and Métis Cancer Research Award, is an Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Resurgent Methodologies for Indigenous Health, Health Disciplines, Athabasca University, Co-Director, Anishinaabe Kendaasiwin Institute (AKI), Adjunct Faculty Member, Lakehead University, and Anishinaabe-Opwaaganasiniing scholar. She is being recognized for her work to address significant gaps in Indigenous health research including implementation of Traditional Healing for the prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases, the inadequate engagement of health research with land and settler colonialism, and the urgent need for Indigenous-led governance and data management solutions. For more, please view the brief video below and read this inspiring interview with Dr. Ray.
Dr. Sevtap Savas, recipient of the Exceptional Leadership in Patient Involvement in Cancer Research Award, is a Professor, Human Genetics and Oncology, Division of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University. She is being recognized for the critical role she has played in the development and growth of the Newfoundland and Labrador Public Interest Group on Cancer Research and the Atlantic Cancer Consortium Patient Advisory Committee, and her commitment to the inclusion and capacity-building of people with lived and living experience from equity-deserving communities as patient partners in public engagement and cancer research. For more, please view the brief video below and read this inspiring interview with Dr. Savas.
Dr. Barbara C. Vanderhyden, recipient of the Distinguished Service to Cancer Research Award, is a Senior Scientist, Cancer Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Corinne Boyer Chair in Ovarian Cancer Research, University of Ottawa and Distinguished Professor, Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa. She is being recognized for her decades-long dedication to public engagement, ensuring that scientific advancements reach patients, families and communities, and her pioneering work developing and championing novel and inclusive science promotion and education programs for elementary, high school and university students, building science literacy and inspiring Canada’s next generation of scientists. For more, please view the brief video below and read this inspiring interview with Dr. Vanderhyden.
Learn more about previous CCRA Awards recipients: