Creating a user centric neuro-oncology program through the empowerment of patients and providers

In this presentation we will discuss how academic and entrepreneurial approaches were combined to create a user-centric, rapidly adaptive brain tumour program.

In this webinar, you will learn to:

• Review barriers to care for Canadians diagnosed with brain tumours.
• Introduce the design thinking paradigm for product development.
• Share practical interventions that empower patients and reduce administrative burden for healthcare workers.

Speaker bio:

Dr. Teresa Purzner earned her MD in 2009 and completed four years of neurosurgical residency in Toronto before pursuing a PhD in developmental neurobiology at Stanford University. There, she combined mass spectrometry with developmental biology to identify novel therapeutic targets for pediatric brain tumours, leading to the discovery of a new drug target in medulloblastoma. In collaboration with Stanford SPARK and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium, she helped translate this discovery into a first-in-child clinical trial of a CK2 inhibitor. Her work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Stanford Interdisciplinary Graduate and BioX Fellowship, the Annual Award of the American Academy of Neurological Surgery, the Weston Havens Foundation Award, the AANS Louise Eisenhardt Award, and the Neurosurgery Research and Education Fellowship. In 2021, she was named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40. Dr. Purzner is also the founder of Cerebelly, a science-based baby food company focused on early brain development, now available in over 15,000 stores across North America. Dr. Purzner now runs a neurosurgical practice and translational research lab at Queen’s University with her husband, Dr. James Purzner. Together, they focus on advancing care and scientific understanding for patients with brain tumours through integrated clinical and research innovation.

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