Pumpkin Art Night
Oct
23
4:00 PM16:00

Pumpkin Art Night

The leaves are falling, the pumpkins are ripening, and an aura of spookiness pervades the land. We invite you to give your gourd a rest from science and paint one instead on Wednesday, October 23rd, 4-6 PM in the BCCRC main floor lunch room. Drinks and snacks will be provided!

Sign up here to reserve a pumpkin for its makeover.

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Sep
25
5:30 PM17:30

5K Run Club

  • BC Cancer Research Centre (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

The run will start at 5:30 PM at the entrance of the BC Cancer Institute. All paces and distances are welcome! Our usual route is a 5 km loop along the waterfront.

Our evening runs will be recurring at 5:30 PM on Wednesdays throughout welcome month and beyond if there is enough interest. If you would like to join our group for the Terry Fox Run on September 15th, let us know at the running group or by email.

We look forward to seeing you there!

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Climbing Day
Sep
22
4:00 PM16:00

Climbing Day

Come join us for an evening of climbing at The Hive bouldering gym! Whether you're new to climbing or can flash a V11 on-sight, we would love to see you there. No equipment is required, just bring your enthusiasm. Spots are limited, so sign up soon.

Register at this link! 

Registration deadline: September 13th
Time: Sunday September 22nd @ 4:00 PM
Location: The Hive Bouldering Gym, 520 Industrial Avenue

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Sep
18
5:30 PM17:30

5K Run Club

  • BC Cancer Research Centre (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

The run will start at 5:30 PM at the entrance of the BC Cancer Institute. All paces and distances are welcome! Our usual route is a 5 km loop along the waterfront.

Our evening runs will be recurring at 5:30 PM on Wednesdays throughout welcome month and beyond if there is enough interest. If you would like to join our group for the Terry Fox Run on September 15th, let us know at the running group or by email.

We look forward to seeing you there!

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Terry Fox Run & Picnic @ Ceperley Park
Sep
15
10:00 AM10:00

Terry Fox Run & Picnic @ Ceperley Park

Join the Terry Fox Run this Sunday, September 15th! This run is a true Canadian tradition with a long history of raising funds for cancer research. The location is beautiful Stanley Park, and the options for distances are 3 km or 10 km.

GRASPODS will also be hosting a picnic after the run!
Register for the picnic here!

You can learn about the Terry Fox Run and register as an individual or form a group through this link.

If you are looking to run as part of a group and don't have one associated with your lab, you can register for this one:
https://run.terryfox.ca/team/stirlinglab

Join the GRASPODs strava group here!
Sign up for the Terry Fox Run via strava here!

Terry Fox Run information:
Time: Registration opens 8:00 AM, run begins at 10:00 AM
Location: Ceperley Park, 8701 Stanley Park Dr, Vancouver, BC, V6G 3E2

Picnic information:
Time: Begins at 10:30 AM
Location: Ceperley Park, 8701 Stanley Park Dr, Vancouver, BC, V6G 3E2

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Swap & Share Fair
Sep
13
3:30 PM15:30

Swap & Share Fair

Do you have books, clothes, or other paraphernalia that you would like to pass on? Bring them along to the Swap & Share Fair for a thrifting-style trading event. Refresh your wardrobe and bookshelf while getting to know other students and their preferences in fashion and literature!

Location: 15th floor of the BC Cancer Research Centre (675 W 10th Avenue)

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Sep
11
5:30 PM17:30

5K Run Club

  • BC Cancer Research Centre (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

The run will start at 5:30 PM at the entrance of the BC Cancer Institute. All paces and distances are welcome! Our usual route is a 5 km loop along the waterfront.

Our evening runs will be recurring at 5:30 PM on Wednesdays throughout welcome month and beyond if there is enough interest. If you would like to join our group for the Terry Fox Run on September 15th, let us know at the running group or by email.

We look forward to seeing you there!

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Welcome Event
Sep
3
3:30 PM15:30

Welcome Event

To all incoming students who will be based out of BC Cancer or VPC, a warm welcome from your Graduate Student and Post Doctoral Society, GrasPods! Join us on September 3rd at 3:30 pm, BCCRI (ground floor, Diamond Lecture Theatre) to learn more about who we are, what we do and to ask questions to our panelists about the graduate school experience. Our panel will have MSc students and PhD candidates from multiple graduate programs. There will be free pizza and beverages too! 

Register here: https://forms.gle/1KaUzD7SZREufuuk6

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The Bennett Distinguished Lecture
Aug
6
3:00 PM15:00

The Bennett Distinguished Lecture

This year's edition of the Bennett Distinguished Lecture will feature Dr. Olivera Finn from the University of Pittsburgh as she discusses her pivotal role in developing one of the first and most impactful cancer vaccines to date. All audiences welcome!

Olivera (Olja) J. Finn is the University of Pittsburgh Distinguished Professor of Immunology and Surgery and Founding Chair of the Department of Immunology, the position she held from 2001 to 2013. She was Program Leader of the Cancer Immunology Program at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute from 1991 to 2014.

After receiving her PhD in Immunology at Stanford University in 1980, and completing her postdoctoral training there in 1982, Dr. Finn moved to Duke University and in 1991 to the University of Pittsburgh. She gained prominence through her original focus on transplantation biology and later through her basic and applied research focused on tumor antigens and the development of cancer vaccines. She has an extensive track record of research accomplishments reported in over 200 peer-reviewed papers and numerous reviews and book chapters. She is the discoverer of the MUC1 tumor antigen and has published extensively and continuously for the last 25 years on her basic and preclinical work on the development and evaluation of MUC1 cancer vaccines. She has been a co-investigator on a dozen clinical trials of various MUC1 vaccines in pancreatic, colon, breast, prostate and lung cancer. Dr. Finn and her team also identified cyclin B1 as a tumor antigen and published several papers on its excellent potential as a cancer vaccine. Her current efforts are on the development of preventative cancer vaccines.

Dr. Finn is an active member of the American Association of Immunologists where she served seven years as Council member and one year as President. She also served two terms as Councilor of the International Union of Immunology Societies (IUIS) and is currently Chair of the IUIS Committee on Gender Equality and Career Development. She is also member of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and Past Chair of the Steering Committee of the AACR Cancer Immunology (CIMM) Working Group. She is also a member of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC). She has served on NCI study sections and was a member of the NCI Board of Councilors. She has trained 25 PhD and MD/PhD students in her laboratory and over 60 postdoctoral fellows, many of whom hold important positions in academic institutions or biomedical companies. She received twice the Mentor of the Year Award from the University of Pittsburgh. In 2016, Dr. Finn was the recipient of the AAI Life Time Achievement Award as well as NCI Outstanding Investigator Award. In 2017 she was honored with the AACR CIR Lloyd Old Cancer Immunology Prize. In 2019, Finn was awarded the SITC Richard V. Smalley Memorial Award, a prestigious award for clinicians and scientists who have an enormous impact on cancer immunotherapy research. Also in 2019, she was inducted into the inaugural class of AAI Distinguished Fellows and in 2022 into Fellows of the SITC Immuno-Oncology Academy.

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Art Night!
May
29
4:00 PM16:00

Art Night!

Join us on Monday, May 29th, from 4:00 pm onwards for Art Night. This time we are painting canvases, but if you want to work on your tote bag from last month please feel free to bring it (or collect one with Leticia if you haven't done so). Register here!

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Let's Go Hiking!
Apr
29
8:30 AM08:30

Let's Go Hiking!

For all outdoorsy lovers join GrasPods on April 29th for a hike to stunning Stawamus Chief. Mesmerizing views and croissants at the peak are guaranteed.

To sign up and get more details about the hike, please email our sports coordinator (Taras Shyp, tshyp@bccrc.ca). The number of spots may be limited depending on the number of potential drivers.Stawamus Chief HikeWhen: Saturday, April 29th at 8:30 AM

Where: Meet at the BC CRCRoute: depending on people`s fitness, we may be doing one (3-4 h) or all three (6-8 h) peaks (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/british-columbia/stawamus-chief-trail).

All levels are welcome, but be prepared for a good exercise! Proper hiking shoes/boots are a must- have.

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GrasPods Career Event
Apr
25
4:00 PM16:00

GrasPods Career Event

Are you a graduate student or postdoctoral fellow struggling to determine your future career path? Don't miss the upcoming career event on behalf of GrasPods! It will be held on April 25 at 4:00-5:30 pm in the BCCRC lecture theater room. Food will be provided! Register here now

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Art Night-Tote Bag Painting
Apr
24
4:00 PM16:00

Art Night-Tote Bag Painting

Join us on Monday, April 24th, from 4:00 pm onwards for Art Night. We are happy to announce that Asmae El-Bouhali and Alisha Lettman, from the Faculty of Medicine Wellness and Counselling team, will be joining us to introduce themselves and the mental health resources available. This month you will get your own tote bag to paint, so come ready to create something that goes with your grocery shopping looks! Register at: https://forms.gle/DyVfmCsq5ePGtH6B8

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