http://www.gpecdata.med.ubc.ca/torsten/

Dr. Torsten Nielsen is a clinician-scientist pathologist based at Vancouver General Hospital and BC Cancer, working to translate molecular research findings into clinical care.

Born and raised in North Vancouver, he trained at several institutions in North America and Europe before starting his own laboratory and clinical practice at the University of British Columbia. Professor Nielsen was involved in some of the world’s first genome-wide studies of musculoskeletal tumors (sarcomas), work which has led to the development of several new diagnostic tests, clinical trials of targeted therapies, and breakthroughs in understanding the biology of fusion gene sarcomas affecting young adults. He has also worked to translate the molecular profiles of breast cancer into practical clinical tests that help women avoid ineffective treatments by more carefully targeting their therapies to the molecular subtype of their tumor.

Professor Nielsen works closely with clinical trials groups in Canada, the USA and Europe, and is helping to train a new generation of clinician-scientists in his capacity as director of UBC’s MD/PhD Program.