David Huntsman

Dr. David Huntsman is a professor in the Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of British Columbia (UBC). He is the Dr. Chew Wei Memorial Professor of Gynaecologic Oncology and holds the Canada Research Chair in Molecular and Genomic Pathology. Huntsman is co-founder and director of OVCARE, BC’s multidisciplinary ovarian cancer research team, and conducts his research at the BC Cancer Agency and the Vancouver General Hospital.

In addition to providing most of the data that underpins the management of hereditary gastric cancer, Dr. Huntsman’s research has led to the development of predictive and prognostic tissue-based cancer biomarkers for ovarian cancer and a wide variety of other tumour types. His team created a blueprint for subtype-specific ovarian cancer control and have been leaders in the application of novel genomic technologies to better prevent, diagnose and treat ovarian cancer. Based on research into precursor lesions, the OVCARE team has implemented a population-based prevention strategy for ovarian cancer that includes opportunistic salpingectomy and more pervasive genetic screening. Huntsman’s most recent research has focused on the cellular origins of clear cell and endometrioid ovarian carcinomas, the role of somatic mutations in the development of endometriosis, and the transformation of endometriosis into these cancers.

Huntsman leads several Canadian and international collaborative networks and founded Contextual Genomics to increase the clinical and economic impact of his work.

An up to date list of publications by Dr. Huntsman is available here.