Improving Radiation treatment slide

Vy Ngo is investigating chemotherapy resistance in HER2+ breast cancer

Share

1. Welcome back to the TBCRU, can you remind our readers who are you and tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Vy Ngo, and I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Western University, working under the supervision of Dr. Martin Duennwald. I completed my BSc at McMaster University with a Double Honours Specialization in Biology and Psychology. This is my second year in the Translational Breast Cancer Research Unit (TBCRU) program.

2. As a senior researcher, why is the TBCRU Studentship Award important to you, how does it allow you to advance your research? 

Receiving the TBCRU Studentship has been a great honour, as I am pioneering my lab’s first breast cancer project. This award has helped to fund important resources for my work and has opened new opportunities for me to learn, network, and be a part of the breast cancer research community in London. This has allowed me to produce some exciting results that will pave the way for my future work.

3. In a few lines, can you remind us what you are doing and what problems do you hope to solve with your research?

I am investigating chemotherapy resistance in HER2+ breast cancer. HER2+ is a type of breast cancer that produces a protein that promotes the growth of the tumour. I am designing a unique approach using small molecules to enhance breast cancer therapies targeted against HER2. Through this research, I hope to improve treatment outcomes for patients with therapy-resistant HER2+ breast cancer.

4. Since we last spoke, have there been any changes to or any advancements in your research? 

I have found that HER2+ breast cancer cells produce high levels of a protein called Hsp90, and this is associated with reduced patient survival. I also discovered a link between Hsp90 and another protein called Nrf2, which can lead to chemotherapy resistance to chemotherapy. These results provide an exciting avenue for further exploration and will be the focus of my ensuing work.

5. Have you had an opportunity to present your research to your peer researchers? Was it at a national or international meeting or in some other way?

I presented part of this work in a presentation at the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Research Day in March 2019 at Western, and I was awarded the Dr. M. Daria Haust Award for the Best Basic Science Presentation. Part of this work was also included in a presentation at the 62nd Annual Conference of the Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences (CSMB): Model Systems in Cancer Research meeting in Montreal in June 2019, and a poster presentation at the Proteostasis Researchers in Canada, Eh (PRinCE) meeting in Toronto also in June 2019.

6. Did that presentation setting help you share your breast cancer research with the broader scientific community? 

Presenting my work at my department’s Research Day and two national meetings has allowed me to share my work with three different scientific communities. I was able to obtain feedback on my breast cancer research from researchers and experts in various fields.

7. Did any of the feedback or conversations that came about from presenting your research, help you and your research in any way?

I received a lot of great feedback and suggestions from researchers at all three meetings, some of which have been incorporated into my research experiments. I also had the opportunity to meet some new breast cancer researchers whom I gained valuable knowledge and insight from.

8. Now that you have had some more time with your research, how do you think your research will be applied in a real-world situation?

A significant portion of HER2+ breast cancer patients develops resistance to therapy, which is a great challenge. If my research project is successful, then our targeting approach could potentially be used for patients in the future to enhance the efficacy of existing therapies for HER2+ breast cancer patients.

9. Tell us about your involvement in the Breast Cancer Society of Canada fundraising events (Dress for the Cause, Mother’s Day Walk)?

Since becoming a TBCRU trainee in 2018, I have had the privilege to volunteer with fundraising bake sales for Dress for the Cause and raising funds and breast cancer awareness for the annual Mother’s Day Walk in May 2019.

10. What about your participation in other Breast Cancer Society of Canada donor events or tours, how has that impacted your perspective on breast cancer research?

I was given the privilege to attend the 2019 Lawson Impact Awards, where the Breast Cancer Society of Canada received a Community Partner of the Year Award. This opened my eyes to the impact the BCSC has in London and across Canada by supporting scientists and clinicians in improving the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of breast cancer. This reiterated the importance of what we do and motivated me to keep pushing forward in my breast cancer research.

11. What are you currently reading, watching or listening to outside of the lab?

I am currently watching a volleyball TV series called “Haikyuu!!”.

Support researchers like Vy Ngo by considering a donation to the Breast Cancer Society of Canada. Find out how you can help fund life-saving research, visit bcsc.ca/donate today.
Related Stories
Charitable Registration Number: 13796 9861 RR0001
© Breast Cancer Canada 2025
Sign up,
Know more.
Twitter Facebook Instagram Linkedin

Search

Search
Close this search box.

How to

Support an Event

Make a contribution to a fundraiser being held in support of Breast Cancer Canada. You can search for the organization or person you wish to support; or click on the event name to make a general donation to the Raise More initiative of your choice.

Support Now

How to

Sponsor

Thinking about becoming a corporate partner of Breast Cancer Canada? Amazing. We work with all types of organizations. We’ll help you deliver results which are measurable. National or local.

A partnership with Breast Cancer Canada is a win-win. It improves employee engagement, boosts morale, fosters a tighter culture. It raises your organization’s profile and demonstrates your support for breast cancer research. To customers. To employees. To suppliers. Most of all – it makes a positive impact for those affected directly by breast cancer.

We’ll raise money for life-saving breast cancer research, together.

Let’s talk about building your program!

Contact Charlene Politano today to get started.
Email: cpolitano@breastcancerprogress.ca
Phone: 1-800-567-8767 or 416-352-8567

To make an online corporate donation, please click here.

If you would like to explore other ways to give, we invite you to learn more.

How to

Fundraise

Join the Raise More Challenge

The more money we raise, the sooner we can end breast cancer. The more time researchers have in the lab. The more technology they can use. The more support we can get. Advancements in early detection and personalized treatment are in reach, and with your help to raise funds, we can find a cure sooner.

There are many ways to fundraise – whether you want to create a competition or tournament, fundraise with your team, challenge your colleagues, host a pink party, have a bake sale or cook-off, the idea is to raise more for breast cancer research.

Breast Cancer Canada will empower you with all the tools you need for a successful fundraiser, and if you need more information, contact Dawn Hamilton at: dhamilton@breastcancerprogress.ca  

Join the Raise More Challenge

I am a

Corporate Donor

Support life-saving breast cancer research. A corporate donation is a simple and efficient way to demonstrate your corporate support.

To make a one-time or reoccurring corporate donation online, please click here.

Learn more about

How to Sponsor

Thinking about becoming a corporate partner of Breast Cancer Canada? Amazing. work with all types of organizations. We’ll help you deliver results which are measurable. National or local.

A partnership with Breast Cancer Canada is a win-win. It improves employee engagement, boosts morale, fosters a tighter culture. It raises your organization’s profile and demonstrates your support for breast cancer research. To customers. To employees. To suppliers. Most of all – it makes a positive impact for those affected directly by breast cancer.

We’ll raise money for life-saving breast cancer research, together.

Let’s talk about building your program!

Contact Dawn Hamilton today to get started.
Email: hello@breastcancerprogress.ca
Phone: 1-800-567-8767 

To make an online corporate donation, please click here.

I am a

Legacy Donor

Over the last 30 years, many generous donors have left a legacy to Breast Cancer Canada in efforts to advance breast cancer research.

No matter what the form of your gift, you will be remembered by your legacy which will live on through each of the lives you touch with your gift.

Donate Now

Learn more about

Legacy donor

Leave a legacy. Plan for a future gift.

  • Leave a gift in your will
  • Donating a life insurance policy
  • Donate a TFSA, RRSP, or RRIF

Support Breast Cancer Canada with a future gift to create a better future for breast cancer patients. Your gift helps to save lives through early detection and improve outcomes with better treatments.

or more information, please contact: hello@breastcancerprogress.ca


LEAVE A GIFT IN YOUR WILL

This is often called a bequest. It’s the simplest way to make a legacy gift. A gift in your will has no effect on your current income and your estate receives a charitable donation tax receipt. Here’s a sample of simple bequest wording : “To pay the sum of $_________ OR _______% of the residue of my estate to Breast Cancer Canada.”


DONATING A LIFE INSURANCE POLICY

Life insurance is a way to provide financial security for your family. If the needs of your family are already taken care of, a life insurance policy is a smart way to donate to charity including tax savings for your estate. Speak to your financial advisors for your personalized advice and learn how a gift of life insurance can work for you. Here’s the top-line on ways of leaving gifts of life insurance:


Bequeath your policy to Breast Cancer Canada for the future:

  • Name Breast Cancer Canada as the beneficiary of your policy. BCC will receive your insurance proceeds tax-free. Your estate will receive a donation receipt.


Transfer ownership of a paid-up policy to Breast Cancer Canada now:

  • Want to gift us your existing, paid-up policy right now? Make Breast Cancer Canada the beneficiary and owner of your policy. You will receive a donation receipt for the fair market value of the policy. BCC may redeem the policy now, or hold it and receive the face value in the future – however your gift can be put to best use.


Transfer ownership of a policy on which premiums are still owing to BCC now:

  • Premiums still owing? You can still opt to transfer your policy ownership to BCC. You’ll receive a donation receipt for the policy’s fair market value. Want to make it an ongoing gift? Transfer the ownership to BCC, and still continue to pay the premiums owing. You’ll receive donation receipts for those payments too.


DONATE A TFSA, RRSP, RRIF

Register a significant difference in the lives of those affected by breast cancer. Donate the proceeds of a registered account: Tax-free savings account (TFSA); Registered retirement savings plan (RRSP); Registered retirement income fund (RRIF). It’s a smart way to make a major contribution. Without reducing your current assets. Without subjecting the funds to probate fees. While reducing taxes on your estate through a donation receipt.

Making a gift like this is easy. Designate Breast Cancer Canada as the beneficiary of your registered account.  You benefit from the full use of your account(s) during your lifetime. We receive any remaining funds after your passing.

For more information, contact: hello@breastcancerprogress.ca

I am a

Individual Donor

When you support Breast Cancer Canada, you are helping to improve and save lives through better treatments and early detection of breast cancer.

Donate Now

Learn more about

Gifting securities

Donating securities is becoming more popular, and supports Breast Cancer Canada just like cash donations. Gifts of publicly traded securities (stocks, bonds, mutual funds) are an easy, tax-effective way to make a contribution towards life-saving research that helps with early detection, better treatments, and ultimately  Securities can be of any size and given immediately, or you can bequeath them to Breast Cancer Canada in your will. Just like a cash donation, you’ll get a donation tax credit for your gift of securities.

Today, most securities are held electronically and are easily transferred from your brokerage account to our BCC brokerage account. Your Financial Advisor can make all the arrangements.

For more information, contact: hello@breastcancerprogress.ca

Send e-cards in memory or honour

Bravery is beautiful. That’s why we encourage you to make a donation in honour of a loved one’s own experience with breast cancer. With your donation, we’ll send a email to acknowledge the dedication to the individual or family.

Make a donation with  eCard by dedicating your donation:

Let’s get started

Corporate matching

Multiply the impact of your donation

Fact: thousands of companies will match donations made by employees.

It’s true, and it’s very generous. Want to know if your company will match your donation to BCC? Use the search tool below. It also has access to all the forms, guidelines, and instructions you need to submit a company-matchable gift donation today.

Search Tool

Monthly Giving

Support life-saving breast cancer research every month of the year.

 

When you make a monthly contribution to Breast Cancer Canada, you provide stable funding for year-round campaigning and allow us to continue to support research projects across Canada.

 

To join, simply pre-authorize a monthly deduction from your credit card.

  1. Online:  Donate Now
  2. By Phone: Sign up as a monthly donor by calling Toll Free: 1-800-567-8767
  3. By Mail


Breast Cancer Canada, National Office
415 Exmouth Street Unit # 101
Sarnia, ON N7T 8A4

You will need to provide us the credit card type, number and expiry date, and the amount you would like to give each month.

How to

Volunteer

Volunteers are Breast Cancer Canada’s most important resource, and the backbone of our organization. From helping build our PROgress research to helping breast cancer patients, to supporting events, special fundraising projects and administrative tasks, our volunteers are dedicated to making a positive, life-changing impact.

We ensure our volunteers have the best possible experience and apply the Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement.

You can help us end breast cancer by:

  • Volunteering with one of our fundraising campaigns. Or a BCC signature event
  • Helping with local community events where you live
  • Joining our PROgress research at a local hub
  • Assisting us with virtual office tasks

Learn more about our volunteer driven Regional Hubs.

Regional Hubs are an integral part of Breast Canada Canada. We connect communities and those committed to our mission to make the goal local. Together, we can save lives through advancing breast cancer research, coast to coast.

Connect to learn more about what is happening in your area: volunteer@breastcancerprogress.ca