Dr. David Spaner speaking at the CLL Conference at Ryerson University in Toronto on November 16, 2019.

Dr. David Spaner is a Senior Scientist, Biological Sciences, Odette Cancer Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute and an Associate professor, department of medical biophysics, University of Toronto

He is renowned for his work in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) and the goal of his research laboratory is to understand the biology of this cancer and develop better treatments for it.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common leukemia in Canada and is often fatal. A new drug called Ibrutinib has been of great help to CLL patients but does not cure them. Dr. Spaner's group has found that CLL cells are kept alive in the presence of Ibrutinib by proteins called cytokines. Learning the best way to block the effects of cytokines should improve the lives of patients on Ibrutinib.