Faculty profile

Catherine O'Brien

ResearcherSurgery and CancerUniversity of Toronto

This profile is built from public research funding records (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC) and PubMed. We have not imported them from a University of Toronto directory, so their courses and email address may be missing. Find their university profile.

Catherine O'Brien

Researcher

Surgery and Cancer

Health Sciences

University of Toronto

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Supervision signals

Has led research grants, which requires an independent research appointment. Ask their department whether they supervise graduate students.
5 publications in the last five years, latest in 2026.
Principal investigator on 8 research grants (8 CIHR), most recently in 2022.
Supervised 3 trainees who won CIHR awards, most recently in 2025.

These signals come from public records, including CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions. Ask the professor or the graduate program whether they are taking new students.

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Collaborators

Grants

Publications by year

Counts cover the works listed on the university profile; citation counts come from Dimensions.

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Signals and details

Research

Colorectal Cancer Chemotherapy Patient Derived Xenografts Cancer Stem Cells Self-Renewal Colon Cancer Gut Microbiota Mismatch Repair

Latest papers

A Consensus Approach to the Incorporation of Total Neoadjuvant Therapy in a Treatment Algorithm for Stage I-III Resectable Rectal Cancer.
Current oncology (Toronto, Ont.) · 2026
Picosecond infrared laser mass spectrometry for 10-second identification of lymphoproliferative imposter tumours in patient-derived xenografts.
Scientific reports · 2026
In vivo CRISPR screens identify a dual function of MEN1 in regulating tumor-microenvironment interactions.
Nature genetics · 2024

All 16 publications

Latest funding

Functional Genomic Screening to Identify Essential Regulators of Colorectal Cancer Drug Tolerant Persistor Survival
CIHR · 2025 · Supervisor
$120,000
Integrative single-cell approaches to detect and target cell-cell communication in colorectal cancer
CIHR · 2025 · Co-investigator
$1,143,676
Investigating the Role of microRNA in Colorectal Cancer Drug-Tolerant Persister State
CIHR · 2024 · Supervisor
$120,000

All 13 grants and awards

16 publications.

A Consensus Approach to the Incorporation of Total Neoadjuvant Therapy in a Treatment Algorithm for Stage I-III Resectable Rectal Cancer.

Chadi SA, Kazazian K, Savage P, Brezden-Masley C, Burkes R, Chen E, Govindarajan A, Hosni A, Jang R, Kennedy E, Kim J, Lukovic J, Mesci A, O'Brien C, Quereshy F, Salawu A, Stotland PK, Swallow CJ

Current oncology (Toronto, Ont.)2026

DOI: 10.3390/curroncol33050274 PMID: 42187591

Picosecond infrared laser mass spectrometry for 10-second identification of lymphoproliferative imposter tumours in patient-derived xenografts.

Ye LA, Vlaminck D, Fiorante A, Dabija LG, Talbot F, Froment J, Azaizeh A, Hou L, Li M, Wang Y, Cao P, Shouk D, Shouk R, Tsao MS, Ailles L, O'Brien C, Lok BH, Pham NA, Zarrine-Afsar A

Scientific reports2026

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-33064-w PMID: 41501313

In vivo CRISPR screens identify a dual function of MEN1 in regulating tumor-microenvironment interactions.

Su P, Liu Y, Chen T, Xue Y, Zeng Y, Zhu G, Chen S, Teng M, Ci X, Guo M, He MY, Hao J, Chu V, Xu W, Wang S, Mehdipour P, Xu X, Marhon SA, Soares F, Pham NA, Wu BX, Her PH, Feng S, Alshamlan N, Khalil M, Krishnan R, Yu F, Chen C, Burrows F, Hakem R, Lupien M, Harding S, Lok BH, O'Brien C, Berlin A, De Carvalho DD, Brooks DG, Schramek D, Tsao MS, He HH

Nature genetics2024

DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-01874-9 PMID: 39227744

18F-Fluoroazomycin Arabinoside (FAZA) PET/MR as a Biomarker of Hypoxia in Rectal Cancer: A Pilot Study.

Metser U, Kohan A, O'Brien C, Wong RKS, Ortega C, Veit-Haibach P, Driscoll B, Yeung I, Farag A

Tomography (Ann Arbor, Mich.)2024

DOI: 10.3390/tomography10090102 PMID: 39330748

N6-Methyladenosine Reader YTHDF1 Promotes ARHGEF2 Translation and RhoA Signaling in Colorectal Cancer.

Wang S, Gao S, Zeng Y, Zhu L, Mo Y, Wong CC, Bao Y, Su P, Zhai J, Wang L, Soares F, Xu X, Chen H, Hezaveh K, Ci X, He A, McGaha T, O'Brien C, Rottapel R, Kang W, Wu J, Zheng G, Cai Z, Yu J, He HH

Gastroenterology2022

DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2021.12.269 PMID: 34968454

Adequacy of lymph node harvest following colectomy for obstructed and nonobstructed colon cancer.

Azin A, Hirpara DH, Draginov A, Khorasani M, Patel SV, O'Brien C, Quereshy FA, Chadi SA

Journal of surgical oncology2021

DOI: 10.1002/jso.26274 PMID: 33141434

Optimizing the Care of Malignant Bowel Obstruction in Patients With Advanced Gynecologic Cancer.

Lee YC, Jivraj N, Wang L, Chawla T, Lau J, Croke J, Allard JP, Stuart-McEwan T, Nathwani K, Bowering V, Karakasis K, O'Brien C, Shlomovitz E, Ferguson SE, Buchanan S, Ng P, Cyriac S, Tinker L, Dhani N, Oza AM, Lheureux S

Journal of oncology practice2019

DOI: 10.1200/jop.18.00793 PMID: 31550202

VacA generates a protective intracellular reservoir for Helicobacter pylori that is eliminated by activation of the lysosomal calcium channel TRPML1.

Capurro MI, Greenfield LK, Prashar A, Xia S, Abdullah M, Wong H, Zhong XZ, Bertaux-Skeirik N, Chakrabarti J, Siddiqui I, O'Brien C, Dong X, Robinson L, Peek RM, Philpott DJ, Zavros Y, Helmrath M, Jones NL

Nature microbiology2019

DOI: 10.1038/s41564-019-0441-6 PMID: 31110360

Sensitive tumour detection and classification using plasma cell-free DNA methylomes.

Shen SY, Singhania R, Fehringer G, Chakravarthy A, Roehrl MHA, Chadwick D, Zuzarte PC, Borgida A, Wang TT, Li T, Kis O, Zhao Z, Spreafico A, Medina TDS, Wang Y, Roulois D, Ettayebi I, Chen Z, Chow S, Murphy T, Arruda A, O'Kane GM, Liu J, Mansour M, McPherson JD, O'Brien C, Leighl N, Bedard PL, Fleshner N, Liu G, Minden MD, Gallinger S, Goldenberg A, Pugh TJ, Hoffman MM, Bratman SV, Hung RJ, De Carvalho DD

Nature2018

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0703-0 PMID: 30429608

Malignant Bowel Obstruction in Advanced Gynecologic Cancers: An Updated Review from a Multidisciplinary Perspective.

Lee YC, Jivraj N, O'Brien C, Chawla T, Shlomovitz E, Buchanan S, Lau J, Croke J, Allard JP, Dhar P, Laframboise S, Ferguson SE, Dhani N, Butler M, Ng P, Stuart-McEwan T, Savage P, Tinker L, Oza AM, Lheureux S

Obstetrics and gynecology international2018

DOI: 10.1155/2018/1867238 PMID: 29887891

Functional Genomic Screening to Identify Essential Regulators of Colorectal Cancer Drug Tolerant Persistor Survival

SupervisorCIHR2025DRA : Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Doctoral Program (CGRS D)

Principal investigators: Kleine, Nicholas

Keywords: Cancer Signalling; Colorectal Cancer; Crispr Screen; Drug Tolerant Persisters

$120,000

Integrative single-cell approaches to detect and target cell-cell communication in colorectal cancer

Co-investigatorCIHR2025Project Grant

Principal investigators: Schwartz, Gregory

Keywords: Algorithms; Anti-Cancer Drug Resistance; Artificial Intelligence; Cancer Heterogeneity; Cell-Cell Communication; Data Integration; Machine Learning; Multi-Omics; Single-Cell; Spatial Transcriptomics

$1,143,676

Investigating the Role of microRNA in Colorectal Cancer Drug-Tolerant Persister State

SupervisorCIHR2024Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Principal investigators: Kwan, Ka Yu Carissa

Keywords: Colorectal Cancer; Crispr-Cas9 Screen; Drug-Tolerant Persisters; Microrna; Patient-Derived Xenograft; Rna Therapeutics; Rna-Sequencing

$120,000

Investigating the Role of Drug Tolerant Persisters in Driving Colorectal Cancer Metastasis.

SupervisorCIHR2023CIHR REDI Early Career Transition Award - General

Principal investigators: Rehman, Sumaiyah

Keywords: Barcoding; Chemotherapy; Colorectal Cancer; Crispr Screen; Drug Tolerant Persisters; In Vivo; Metastasis; Multiomics; Patient Derived Tumor Models; Relapse

$270,000

Inhibition of CBP/p300 bromodomain activity increases chemosensitivity of p53 mutant colorectal cancers through inhibiting p53 aggregation

Nominated PICIHR2022Project Grant - Priority Announcement: Cancer Research

Principal investigators: O'Brien, Catherine A

Keywords: Acetylation; Aggregation; Cbp/P300 Bromodomain Activity; Cbp/P300 Bromodomain Inhibitor; Chemotherapy; Colorectal Cancer; Immunocompromised Mouse Model; Mutant P53; Patient Derived Organoids; Patient Derived Xenografts

$100,000

Molecular drivers of the drug tolerant persister state in patient-derived colorectal cancer models

Nominated PICIHR2020Project Grant

Principal investigators: O'Brien, Catherine A

Keywords: Autophagy; Chemotherapy; Cholesterol Efflux; Colorectal Cancer; Drug Tolerant Persisters; Lxr, Abca1, Abcg1; Minimal Residual Disease; Mtor; Patient Derived Xenografts; Xenograft

$960,075

Canada Research Chair - Tier 2

Nominated PICIHR2019Canada Research Chairs - CIHR Funded - Tier 2

Principal investigators: O'Brien, Catherine A

Keywords: Crc

$600,000

Colorectal cancer stem cell plasticity: A novel therapeutic target

Nominated PICIHR2015Foundation Grant

Principal investigators: O'Brien, Catherine A

Keywords: Cancer Stem Cells; Clonal Heterogeneity; Colorectal Cancer; Epigenetics; Novel Therapies; Plasticity; Self-Renewal

$1,220,659

The impact of the gut microbiome and environment on the development of colorectal cancer

Principal investigatorCIHR2015Environments, Genes and Chronic Disease - LOI

Principal investigators: Martin, Alberto; O'Brien, Catherine A

Keywords: Carbohydrates; Colon Cancer; Gut Microbiota; Lynch Syndrome; Mismatch Repair; Mlh1; Msh2; Prebiotics; Probiotics

The impact of the gut microbiome and environment on the development of colorectal cancer

Principal investigatorCIHR2015Environments, Genes and Chronic Disease

Principal investigators: Martin, Alberto; O'Brien, Catherine A

Keywords: Adenomatous Polyposis Coli; Colitis; Colon Cancer; Gut Microbiota; Mismatch Repair; Nod1 And Nod2; Prebiotics; Probiotics

$2,000,000

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

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Paper to mentionMention their CIHR grant from 2022

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Colorectal Cancer Dear Professor O'Brien, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "A Consensus Approach to the Incorporation of Total Neoadjuvant Therapy in a Treatment Algorithm for Stage I-III Resectable Rectal Cancer." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your CIHR-funded project "Inhibition of CBP/p300 bromodomain activity increases chemosensitivity of p53 mutant colorectal cancers through inhibiting p53 aggregation" (2022), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]

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Catherine O'Brien

Research

Latest papers

Latest funding

A Consensus Approach to the Incorporation of Total Neoadjuvant Therapy in a Treatment Algorithm for Stage I-III Resectable Rectal Cancer.

Picosecond infrared laser mass spectrometry for 10-second identification of lymphoproliferative imposter tumours in patient-derived xenografts.

In vivo CRISPR screens identify a dual function of MEN1 in regulating tumor-microenvironment interactions.

18F-Fluoroazomycin Arabinoside (FAZA) PET/MR as a Biomarker of Hypoxia in Rectal Cancer: A Pilot Study.

N6-Methyladenosine Reader YTHDF1 Promotes ARHGEF2 Translation and RhoA Signaling in Colorectal Cancer.

Adequacy of lymph node harvest following colectomy for obstructed and nonobstructed colon cancer.

Optimizing the Care of Malignant Bowel Obstruction in Patients With Advanced Gynecologic Cancer.

VacA generates a protective intracellular reservoir for Helicobacter pylori that is eliminated by activation of the lysosomal calcium channel TRPML1.

Sensitive tumour detection and classification using plasma cell-free DNA methylomes.

Malignant Bowel Obstruction in Advanced Gynecologic Cancers: An Updated Review from a Multidisciplinary Perspective.

Frequent collaborators

Stephanie Lheureux

Jenny Lau

Eran Shlomovitz

Neesha Dhani

Ming-Sound Tsao

John Kim

Jennifer Croke

Erin Kennedy

Arash Zarrine-Afsar

Xianping Dong

Tracy McGaha

Anna Spreafico

Neil Fleshner

Marcus Butler

Lillian Siu

Shane Harding

Alejandro Berlin

Amit Oza

Jelena Lukovic

Karineh Kazazian

Karim Ramji

Geoffrey Liu

Guy Faulkner

Robert Rottapel

Laurie Ailles

Mathieu Lupien

Anand Govindarajan