Page 46 - Bringing UHN into Focus - 2015-2016 Year in Review

The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation

A new neuro-oncology centre ‘with a
touch of honey’

The Centre is led by (L to R) Drs. Gelareh Zadeh, an internationally-recognized brain tumour
surgeon-neuroscientist, and Ken Aldape, a world-leading neuropathologist recruited from one of the
top cancer centres in the United States. (Photo: The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation)

Ron MacFeeters lived a long and inspiring life. He died World-leading neuropathologist, Dr. Ken Aldape,
on December 7, 2014, shortly after his 100th birthday. was recruited from one of the top cancer centres in
A life-long resident of Toronto, Ron attended Victoria the United States to lead the new Centre. Dr. Gelareh
College at the University of Toronto. He served in Zadeh, an internationally recognized brain tumour
the Signal Corps in Ottawa during WWII, and then neurosurgeon-scientist, is co-leading the effort and has
returned to Toronto to work with his father perfecting established her laboratory at the Centre.
a recipe for honey butter, which he manufactured at The Centre, which is located in the Princess Margaret
MacFeeters Creamery on Jarvis Street until 1971 when Research tower at MaRs, will accelerate our neuro-
he sold the business. oncology research with a focus on better methods of
Ron always had an interest in medical research, but molecular classification of brain cancer. It will also
after his daughter, Sheila, was diagnosed with a brain examine the fundamental biology of these tumours to
tumour, he took a much more active interest. Along gain insights into new therapies.
with Sheila, his daughter, Laura, and his sister-in-law, The Centre is working in collaboration with The Gerry
Elizabeth Hamilton, Ron pledged $5 million to create and Nancy Pencer Brain Tumor Centre to translate
the MacFeeters Hamilton Centre for Neuro-Oncology new findings into practice-changing improvements
Research at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. A gift of that benefit patients at the Princess Margaret and
$1 million in Ron’s will fulfilled this pledge. around the world.

46 Bringing UHN into Focus