Moving the needle: Women & women's health at the forefront of science 2025

Treliving Family Chair in Women’s Mental Health,
Senior Scientist, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health,
Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto,
Lead, Women’s Health Research Cluster

Dr. Liisa Galea is the Treliving Chair in Women’s Mental Health at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto after serving as a Professor at the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health at the University of British Columbia for 25 years. She leads the Women’s Health Research Cluster (>750 members worldwide). Dr. Galea is a world-renowned expert in sex hormone influences on brain and behaviour in both health and disease states, with a focus on stress-related psychiatric disorders and dementia. Liisa's research goal is to improve brain health for all by examining the influence of sex and sex hormones in health and disease. She has won numerous awards, is chief editor of a top neuroendocrinology journal and is in the top 1% of cited researchers worldwide. has context menuhas context menu

Surgical Oncologist, Division of Surgical Oncology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Associate Professor, University of Toronto Co-Program Director, Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship Provincial Skin Cancers Lead, Ontario Health

Nicole Look Hong completed her undergraduate degree from Queen's University with a major in life sciences and a minor in music. She obtained her MD at the University of Toronto where she also completed her general surgery residency. During her residency, she completed a Masters degree in clinical epidemiology as part of the surgeon scientist training program. After completion of her surgical residency, Dr. Look Hong completed a fellowship in surgical oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham & Women's Hospital and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. During this time, she was also able to expand her interest in health economics at the Harvard School of Public Health. Dr. Look Hong's clinical practice focuses on breast cancer and melanoma. Her research interests focus on economic evaluations, surgical innovation, and the application of qualitative methodology in surgical studies. She is appointed as an associate professor in the Department of Surgery, and cross appointed to Sunnybrook Research Institute, and the Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation.

Shurjeel Choudhri is the Senior Vice President and Head of Medical and Scientific Affairs (M&SA) for Bayer Inc. Before assuming his current role, Dr. Choudhri was a Global Clinical Leader, Anti-Infectives with Bayer Global Clinical Development. Prior to joining Bayer, Dr. Choudhri was an assistant professor in the Departments of Medical Microbiology and Internal Medicine at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg. He was also the director of the AIDS program at the St. Boniface General Hospital in Winnipeg; and the Manitoba satellite director for the Canadian HIV Clinical Trials Network. Dr. Choudhri obtained his MD from the University of Manitoba and also did his specialty training in internal medicine and sub-specialty training in infectious diseases in Manitoba. Following completion of his training, he completed a senior research fellowship in Nairobi, Kenya. In 1996, he was awarded the Young Investigator Award by the Canadian Association of HIV Researchers. Dr. Choudhri has authored or co-authored over 100 scientific abstracts and over 50 publications in peer reviewed journals. He is a passionate advocate for mobile and digital Health and for promoting Canada as a destination for clinical research.

“Bayer is a life science company and a global leader in healthcare and nutrition. With our innovative products, we are contributing to finding solutions to some of the major challenges of our time. With life expectancy continuing to rise, we improve quality of life for a growing population by focusing our research and development activities on preventing, alleviating and treating diseases. We are also making an important contribution to providing a reliable supply of high-quality food, feed and plant-based raw materials. We are committed to operating sustainably and addressing our social and ethical responsibilities.
In Canada, we have over 1,000 passionate employees in three divisions: Pharmaceuticals, Consumer Health and Crop Science. For more information, please visit bayer.ca. “

Megan Dover is a principal and co-founder at Cross Border Impact Ventures (CBIV), with extensive experience in impact investing, angel investing, venture advisory, M&A, business strategy and Financial Planning & Analysis. At CBIV, she invests in Series A stage health technology companies in North America and Europe that address unmet needs for women and children globally.

Michelle McBane is a managing director and co-founder at StandUp Ventures with extensive experience in venture capital, managerial and product development as well as sales and marketing in both engineering and scientific industries. At StandUp, she invests in early- and later- stage companies in ICT and Health.