1. What drove/inspired you to become a medical oncologist?

I think oncology was always present in my life in some way. My father is an oncologist, and growing up I always looked up to him — not only for the kind of doctor he was, but also for the way he cared for people during very difficult moments in their lives. Over time, I realized that oncology was also the field that best combined the things I value most in medicine: deep connections with patients, honest and careful communication, and science that is constantly evolving. We understand complex information, make difficult decisions, and navigate the treatment journey together with these individuals.

 

2. Why lung cancer?

My interest in lung cancer grew during my oncology training, especially through exposure to precision oncology and molecular tumor boards. Lung cancer is one of the best examples of how biomarkers can completely change the treatment plan for a patient. EGFR, ALK, ROS1, RET, MET, KRAS, and many other alterations have transformed the field. It is an ever-evolving area that is constantly changing. I was also inspired by mentors who showed me how clinical care and research can be connected in a very practical and meaningful way. Lung cancer is challenging, but it is also one of the most exciting areas in oncology because the field moves so fast and the impact for patients is seen every day.

 

3. Why did you come to Canada and Princess Margaret?

I came to Canada to further specialize in thoracic oncology at a centre like Princess Margaret, which offered the opportunity to learn from leaders and mentors with the best expertise in lung cancer. I aimed to gain experience both in the clinical field, by seeing and caring for this subset of individuals, and in a research environment where clinical questions can be translated into projects and answers.

For me, this fellowship has been an opportunity to grow clinically and academically, and to bring this experience back to Brazil in the future, especially with the goal of improving access to biomarker-driven care and clinical research.

 

4. How did you get involved in COMBIEL?

I had the luck and honor to become involved with COMBIEL through my thoracic oncology fellowship and my research work with Dr. Geoffrey Liu and the team. I was lucky to join a group with a strong focus on clinically meaningful research in lung cancer. COMBIEL has been an amazing environment to connect clinical data with molecular data. I have had the opportunity to work with a great team, including biostatisticians, clinical specialists, data specialists, and researchers, altogether with the mentorship of a great leader like Geoff!

 

5. Are you doing any research currently?

Yes. I am currently involved in lung cancer research projects focused on real-world outcomes in oncogene-driven NSCLC, including ROS1-positive lung cancer, as well as projects evaluating molecular testing strategies.

One of my current projects focuses on real-world results and treatment patterns of patients with rare ROS1-rearranged tumors. As this is a rare condition within the lung cancer population, this project adds to our overall literature in terms of how these individuals actually perform outside a clinical trial scenario and how to guide real-world treatment decisions. I've been under the mentorship of Dr. Geoffrey Liu for this project.

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I am also currently working on a GWAS project with Dr. Shepherd evaluating germline alterations associated with increased risk of thromboembolic events in patients with lung cancer. In addition, I am working on BAL NGS and its concordance with tissue and plasma NGS with Dr. Leighl. The goal is to understand how bronchoalveolar lavage can contribute to biomarker detection in lung cancer, especially when tissue is limited or plasma may have lower sensitivity.

 

6. What has been the most valuable part of working with COMBIEL?

The most valuable part has been learning how to build clinically relevant research from real-world questions. I have had the opportunity to discuss data in depth, understand the importance of methodology, and see how different perspectives improve a project.

 

7. What do you hope to achieve in the future?

My goal is to become an academic thoracic oncologist and continue working in clinical care and research. I hope to contribute to projects that improve access to precision oncology and clinical trials, especially in settings where biomarker testing and research opportunities are more limited. In the future, I would like to use what I learned at Princess Margaret and COMBIEL to help develop lung cancer research and improve individualized care for patients in Brazil.