Media Releases

Wasundara (Wasu) Fernando, under the supervision of Dr. Vasantha Rupasinghe, recently received the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Training Program award for her work studying molecules in certain foods that could potentially treat breast cancer.

Key Points:

• Supported by the Terry Fox Strategic Health Research Training Program in Cancer Research in the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the program is offered twice each year to a limited number of students who are involved in cancer research at a recognized institute in Atlantic Canada. Fernando was the only recipient from Dalhousie University.

• Born in Sri Lanka and now a Master’s degree student at Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Agriculture and under the supervision of Dr. Vasantha Rupasinghe, Wasu is studying molecules in certain foods that could potentially treat breast cancer. More specifically, she is investigating anti-cancer properties found in natural compounds of apples and fish oil that can be combined to treat triple negative breast cancer.

• Triple negative breast cancer is a form of breast cancer that tests negative for estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and human epidermal growth factor receptors. It is reported that triple negative breast cancer has a low prognosis and it cannot be treated by hormone therapy or Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 therapy. Wasu is looking at other ways to treat this type of breast cancer.

• Wasu plans to expand her research to both triple negative breast cancer and estrogen dependent breast cancers. She hopes to apply her research beyond Canada.

Pull Quotes:

• “Nearly 15% of all types of invasive breast cancer are triple negative breast cancers,” Wasu explains. “I’m looking at certain compounds found in natural food products that can be used to treat the disease.” Wasundara Fernando, Master's student, Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture.

• “I’m looking at a combination of two components,” Wasu explains. “One from apple peels and one from fish oil and investigating their anti-cancer properties to see how they can act against triple negative breast cancer.” Wasundara Fernando, Master's student, Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture.

• “In my thesis research, my findings so far indicate that the combinations of these compounds do in fact show promise as a treatment for triple negative breast cancer.” Wasundara Fernando, Master's student, Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture.

Images:

	Photo Credit: Download Hi-Res image
	Wasundara Fernando Photo Credit: Download Hi-Res image
	Apple peel Photo Credit: Download Hi-Res image

Contacts:

• Stephanie Rogers, Communications Manager, Dalhousie Agricultural Campus 902.893.7247 s.rogers@dal.ca