Thanks to a prestigious research award, Wasundara “Wasu” Fernando (MSc (Agriculture)’14) is now able to follow her dream to pursue cancer research. Fernando is the first student from Dalhousie’s Faculty of Agriculture to receive the Cancer Research Training Program Award.

The award, which aims to support cancer research in Atlantic Canada, provides recipients not only with funding but also with training, access to advanced research facilities, and opportunities to collaborate with Atlantic Canadian cancer research experts.

Fernando is a recent graduate of the Faculty of Agriculture, where she obtained a masters of science. She completed her bachelors of science at the University of Colombo, in Sri Lanka.

Through her research, Fernando is investigating the anti-cancer properties in foods such as apple peels and fish oil for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer. This type of cancer tests negative for estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and human epidermal growth factor receptors, and is challenging to treat. Fernando hopes that her research will provide tangible benefits to cancer patients throughout the region, across Canada, and internationally.

Read more in “Breast cancer research no longer just a dream for Dal AC master’s student” on trurodaily.com.