Partners in Discovery Blog

My research focus at the University of Pennsylvania eventually developed into cancer immunology research, and you may wonder how this happened. Well that is a great question, one I often begin to answer by explaining how there are very few human diseases that we have truly eradicated or cured. History tells us that our best successes have come from eradication of infectious diseases like...

It’s with a heavy heart that I must raise your attention today to the passing of a great friend to the BC Cancer Foundation and a model Vancouver citizen. On New Year’s Eve, Vancouver business leader Milton K. Wong succumbed to pancreatic cancer. Mr. Wong was enthusiastic about adding to the vibrancy of Vancouver and a powerful ambassador of the importance of philanthropy and research. As co-...

Clearly I have over-extended my invitation, so this is my last post (and with 2012 just around the corner, the next blogger is already on standby, I’m told).

I note that there are a lot of “I,” “me,” “my” and “mine” in my posts, but it certainly was not my intent to make this a self-serving exposé on Brian Toyota.

In fact, the sum total of all that I have described in terms of...

I like being a brain surgeon. I like my work. The operating room is my office, and I get to say things like “STAT” and “scalpel.” Although, I have never once said “STAT” except to imitate some character on M.A.S.H., and I have always called a “scalpel” a “knife” for reasons I don’t really remember.

I know I can under-impress people after they find out what I do. I rarely have...