Michael Smith Health Research BC is pleased to announce that Dr. Sunil Kalia is the recipient of the 2019 Health Professional-Investigator Award for his research into “Utilizing a multimodal optical device to detect cancer“.
Dr. Kalia’s research proposal:
Two out of every five individuals will develop cancer during their lifetime. My research program focuses on cancer prevention and diagnosis, using skin cancer as an initial platform. Skin cancer accounts for two thirds of all cancer cases and is an easily accessible organ to study using optical devices. Biopsies are typically used to detect skin cancers. Disadvantages of skin biopsies include possible disfigurement and complications, lengthy processing time, and occasionally inaccurate or inconclusive results. As well in some patients that are at high risk, taking multiple biopsies may not be practical and is costly. In this proposal, we will determine if an optical device combining different optical methods can readily and accurately detect skin cancer.
Ultimately, we expect this optic device to provide a noninvasive and instantaneous diagnosis that would be available to the patient and clinician at the bedside. This novel method of combining different spectroscopy methods to be able to collectively evaluate skin lesions and help in the diagnosis of skin cancer would be a significant achievement in the screening of cancer. Early and improved detection using a noninvasive method would help to improve morbidity and mortality in those affected with cancer.
About Dr. Kalia:
Dr. Sunil Kalia completed his undergraduate medical training at the University of Calgary. He completed his internship and residency in Dermatology at the University of British Columbia, and was the first resident to enroll in the CIHR-SRTC and simultaneously complete a Masters in Healthcare and Epidemiology. He also completed photodermatology training in United States, Australia and Europe. During his residency he received many awards for his research and scholastic accomplishments.
His clinical interest includes photodermatology which encompasses skin diseases induced by ultraviolet radiation such as with acute exposure like polymorphous light eruption and with chronic exposure inducing skin cancer. In addition, he uses various light sources such as phototherapy, photodynamic therapy and lasers to treat many skin conditions. His research interests include epidemiology and health outcomes with a focus in photodermatologic conditions. Dr. Kalia is one of the Principal Investigators within the Photomedicine Institute and is researching the use of optical devices to enhance the diagnosis of skin conditions.