J Gregory Cairncross

Dr. Gregory Cairncross is Head of the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Calgary.

Dr Cairncross is best known for his research contributions to the field of neuro-oncology. He discovered that oligodendrogliomas, a tumor of brain cancer, are sensitive to chemotherapy and also discovered a molecular marker of sensitivity and long survival in this type of cancer. Testing for loss of chromosomes 1p and 19q is used worldwide to assist in the diagnosis and care of those with oligodendrogliomas. This discovery provided a new framework for basic research and clinical trials in his field. 

Dr Cairncross has published extensively on brain tumor biology and therapy. He is a past recipient of the Farber Award for Brain Tumor Research of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the Research Excellence Award of the American Association for Brain Tumor Research and Merit Award of the European Association of Neuro-Oncology. His current research interests include the detection of genetic signatures in gliomas by modern imaging and the identification of clinically relevant molecular markers in glial tumors.

Dr Cairncross is a graduate in Medicine from the University of Western Ontario and former Head of the Department of Oncology at the University of Western Ontario. He established the Brain Tumor Committee of the National Cancer Institute of Canada, Clinical Trials Group. He holds the Alberta Cancer Foundation Chair in Brain Tumor Research and currently directs the Clark H Smith Brain Tumor Centre in Calgary.