Research Activities:

Dr. Gilbert created and serves as the Director of the Women’s Health Research Unit (WHRU) at the RI-MUHC. It is now the largest research unit for gynecologic cancer clinical trials in Canada. Research focuses on improving outcomes in women affected by Gynecologic Cancers. We conduct Phase 1, 2, and 3 trials to investigate novel diagnostic tests, drugs, and surgical procedures either as investigator initiated projects at site or as part of international collaborative effort. As part of the Gynecologic Cancer Group of the Early Detection Research Network (EDRN) – NCI’s Division of Cancer Prevention and work with US colleagues and their development and validation of biomarkers for early detection of ovarian/uterine cancer.

In addition, we are part of cooperative groups such as Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG – the largest cooperative group running clinical trials in North America) European Network of Gynecologic Trial Groups (ENGOT) and Gynecologic Cancer Intergroup (GCIG – Trialists from Canada, Europe, and the US).

Dr. Gilbert serves on the steering committee of many of the seminal trials such as GARNET, RUBY, LEAP that are designed to set the future standard of care for gynecologic oncology. She is thus involved from conception to conclusion and publication of these landmark trials. The WHRU is supported by 5 oncologists and > 40 research staff that include researchers with experience in molecular genetics, computational genetics, biostatistics, regulatory affairs oncology nurses, data managers, and a finance officer. With this infrastructure in place, Dr. Gilbert has been able to mentor the research activities of junior colleagues, by giving them the support and guidance to establish themselves as Scientists and Principal Investigators in their own right.

We attract annual funding of >$8M and contribute more than 2M in overhead to the RI-MUHC annually. The hypothesis-driven investigator-initiated research is based on the molecular basis of carcinogenesis in ovarian and endometrial cancer. She has the privilege of leading a very strong research team from the Department of Molecular Genetics and Computational Genomics, Epidemiology and Statistics, and Mechanical Engineering. Together we have invented a novel test – Doveegene for the early detection of endometrial and ovarian cancer. We have completed Phase 1 and 2 and are now in Phase 3 testing supported by the Gapp grant (Genomic Applications Partnership Program) funded by Genome Canada, Genome Quebec, and the MUHC Foundation.