Humans of LMP: Jane Bayani

Each month we speak to a member of the Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology community and find out more about them as part of an initiative from our Wellness, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Committee (WIDE).

This October, for Breast Cancer Awareness month, we feature Dr. Jane Bayani, an alumna of the LMP research stream programs and now a Principal Research Scientist and Co-Director of Diagnostic Development at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR), alongside her academic role in LMP.

How long have you been at LMP and what does your role involve?

Although I obtained my LMP appointment in 2021, I did my Master’s and Doctoral work in the department, so I’m a long-time LMPer!

Tell us about your research

My research focuses mainly on early breast and prostate cancer and identifying relevant biomarkers for improve risk stratification and recurrence.

Early hormone receptor positive breast cancer has the benefit of anti-hormone therapies which have improved the outcomes for patients with this subtype of breast cancer. However, there are patients who will experience a recurrence during their anti-endocrine therapy. With several new targeted therapies available in the advanced or metastatic setting, there could be opportunities to offer these earlier in their treatment journey if they are identified as being at risk of recurrence.

My work has identified a gene expression signature to identify those at high risk of recurrence and when linked to genomic profiling, could stratify these high-risk patients to existing therapies targeting those pathways. In this way, we have a rational basis for selecting a treatment that matches the biology of their cancer.

For early prostate cancer, the outcome for very-low risk disease is good and requires minimal intervention. Patients with high-risk disease follow an aggressive treatment plan. However, there is an intermediate risk group for which clinical decision making is unclear, with patients experiencing outcomes like low-risk disease and others like high-risk disease. My ongoing work in this space seeks to continue validation of an early prostate molecular risk score trained and validated in these intermediate risk cancers in prostate biopsies. The goal is to reduce the unnecessary overtreatment of low-risk disease while accelerating aggressive treatments for those that have features of high-risk disease.

What led you to pursue your current career path?  

I always had a curiosity for biology as a kid. I didn’t really have a plan after my undergraduate degree, but I was fortunate enough to work for a new investigator from LMP who was starting up his lab and it was this opportunity that opened the world of molecular cancer research to me. 

As a technologist in this lab, I was exposed to novel technologies, their applications, and various collaborations. My PI encouraged that curiosity and convinced me to pursue graduate studies after a successful time as a research technologist. Though not a conventional career path, I have no regrets in the way it unfolded as it enriched my learning experience outside of pure academics.

What working achievement or initiative are you most proud of? 

I’m proud of the work and the team that I lead at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) and the network of collaborations I’m part of. I’m most proud of the biomarker signatures that we’ve developed and the on-going work to implement them in a clinical setting.

What was the best career advice you ever received?  

The best career advice I received was to always try to do something that’s out of your comfort zone, because it’s what keeps us moving forward and learning.

What has been an important learning experience in your life? 

Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Who is an influential person in your life and why?

I have been fortunate to be mentored by many people, but the most influential person with respect to my career was that new LMP PI who took a chance on an inexperienced newly graduated person who really had no idea which direction to go. Through his example with me and others in the lab, he built a cohesive and supportive research group and positive work environment.

What would it surprise people to know about you?

I’m trying to work my way to visiting the various wonders of the world.. mostly the ancient ones!

What activities do you enjoy doing outside of work? 

I like to paint and during the COVID pandemic I started working with resin. In the spring and summer months I enjoy pottering in the garden.

What is your favourite album, film and novel? 

Album: Def Leppard  - Pyromania

Film: Star Wars

Novel: The Dark Tower series by Stephen King

Where/what is your favourite place? 

I enjoy desertscapes and hiking in canyons, but nothing beats Ontario in the fall with the changing colour of the leaves, especially the Escarpment. 

If you were stuck on a deserted island but had all your basic needs taken care of (i.e. food and water), what two items would you bring with you and why?

I’d bring an axe so I could build things using resources on the island and then make sure I had books across different genres. I’m hoping I’m stuck on a deserted tropical island!