Dr. Rayjean Hung

• 2026–2030; Canadian Representative, Scientific Council, International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization
• 2024–present; Canadian Representative, G7 Cancer Working Group – Prevention and Early Detection
• 2023–present; Full Member, Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto  
• 2022–present; Research Committee, HeLTI International Consortium
• 2021–present; Toronto Academic Health Science Network (TAHSN) Representative, Implementation Committee, Data Science Institute, Canada
• 2020–present; Full Professor, Division of Epidemiology, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto
• 2014–present; Senior Investigator, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto
• 2016–present; Steering Committee, Ontario Birth Study, Canada
• 2012–present; Epidemiology Committee, Children’s Oncology Group, US and Canada
• 2010–present; Steering Committee and Admission Committee, Strategic Training for Advanced Genetic Epidemiology (STAGE) program, University of Toronto, Toronto
• 2005–present; Lead Scientific Coordinator, International Lung Cancer Consortium

• Visiting Scientist, International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization; 2005–2007
• Research Scientist, School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley; 2005–2007
• Postdoctoral Special Training Awardee, International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization; 2004–2005
• PhD, (Genomic) Epidemiology, University of California at Los Angeles, LA, USA; 2000–2004
• MSc, (Molecular) Epidemiology, University of California at Los Angeles, LA, USA; 1998–2000
• BVM, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; 1993–1998

• 2025 – Fellow, Canadian Academy of Health Sciences Canada
• 2018–2032 – Canada Research Chair in Integrative Molecular Epidemiology, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
• 2015 – Llyod S.D. Fogler Award for Research Excellence, Sinai Health, Canada
• 2011 – Early Researcher Award, Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation
• 2008–2013 – Research Chair in Population Studies, Cancer Care Ontario

Risk prediction and early detection of fatal cancers

Lung and pancreatic cancers are two of the most fatal cancers. We are conducting international studies to identify blood-based biomarkers that can help to detect cancer early. This liquid biopsy approach is suitable screening for a targeted population before clinical symptoms. We are integrating epidemiological, molecular and clinical data, and use machine learning approaches to build and validate comprehensive risk prediction models. Specifically for lung cancer, we are assessing the malignancy potentials of pulmonary nodule detected in the low-dose computed tomography. Our goal is to improve the survival of these fatal tumours and reduce mortality. These projects are funded by the Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute and the Canadian Institute of Health Research.

Improving Detection of Early Lung Cancer in a Diverse Population (IDEAL) study

To improve early detection of lung cancer in diverse population, Dr. Hung and her collaborators in BC Cancer, University Health Network and Laval University launched a new cross-province program focused on incidental pulmonary nodules. The IDEAL study is funded by the Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute and will leverage artificial intelligence to identify individuals at high risk of lung cancer based on their molecular profiles. For more information, please see the IDEAL website.

International Lung Cancer Consortium (ILCCO)

The International Lung Cancer Consortium (ILCCO) is an international group of lung cancer researchers, established in 2004 with the aim of sharing comparable data from ongoing lung cancer case-control and cohort studies. Our group serves as the ILCCO Data Repository and has harmonized data from over 90 lung cancer studies and a total of 1.2 million study participants, including over 80,000 lung cancer patients. These studies are from different geographical areas and ethnicities and represent one of the largest epidemiological databases for lung cancer to date. The overall objectives are to achieve greater power, especially for subgroup analyses, reduce duplication of research effort, replicate novel findings, and afford substantial cost savings through large collaborative efforts. Please see ILCCO website.

Childhood cancer studies: Wilms tumour and childhood brain tumours

We are conducting a North American Wilms Tumor Study based on case-control parent trio design. The main objectives are to understand the effects of parental and neonatal factors on the risk of Wilms tumor including parental lifestyle, medical history, genetic make-up and molecular profiles. In addition, we are investigating the etiology of childhood brain tumors based on the Childhood Brain Tumor Epidemiology in Ontario (CBREO) Study, including transgenerational exposures from the parents, children’s early life determinants and their molecular profiles.

Developmental origin of health and complex diseases

Our group is actively working with the Ontario Birth Study (OBS), a research platform to facilitate the investigation of early life events and their relationships with health and complex disease later in life. We are conducting longitudinal follow-up for children born in OBS at multiple time points and assessing their neurodevelopment.  For more information about OBS, please visit the study website.

As part of a multi-national intervention trial, our group is working on the Healthy Trajectory Initiative (HeLTI) - South Africa. For more information about HeLTI, please visit the program website.