Stephen Yip, MD, PhD, FRCPC
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
University of British Columbia
BC Cancer Agency
Centre for Translational and Applied Genomics
Vancouver Cancer Centre, BCCA
600 W10th Avenue
Vancouver, BC  V5Z 4E6

Phone: (604) 877-6000 x3105
Email: syip@bccancer.bc.ca

  

I obtained my combined MD-PhD degree at UBC in 1999. My Ph.D. thesis, under the supervision of Julia Levy, was on the use of a photosensitizer for the purging of contaminating leukemic cells in autologous bone marrow transplantations. I was then accepted into the neurosurgery training program at VGH and completed four years of residency training before switching to the neuropathology program at VGH and obtained my FRCPC certification in 2006. Next, I completed two years of Royal College-  funded research fellowship in molecular neuro-oncology at the Massachusetts General Hospital under the supervision of David Louis. Dr Louis, chief of pathology at MGH, through his description and characterization of 1p19q chromosomal loss in oligodendroglioma, propelled the field of molecular diagnostics in neuro-oncology. My research was focused on the molecular characterizations of recurrent glioblastomas specifically somatic mutations in the mismatch repair gene MSH6. I then completed fellowship training in molecular genetics pathology at Harvard Medical School under the supervision of John Iafrate at MGH. This one year clinical training consisted of rotations in different clinical molecular diagnostic laboratories affiliated with Harvard Medical School. I was exposed to different advanced molecular diagnostic techniques and was involved in trouble- shooting clinical molecular diagnostic problems.

I returned to Vancouver in 2009 and am physically located at BCCA Vancouver Cancer Centre. My clinical appointment is to provide clinical molecular diagnostics and neuropathology signouts. I am also affiliated with the Centre for Translational and Applied Genomics (CTAG) and involved in the developments of novel molecular diagnostic assays. My current research interests are in the genomic and epigenomic profiling of cancers especially primary brain tumours, taking advantage of the local expertise at the Genome Sciences Centre, BCCRC, and CTAG. Currently I am using 2nd generation sequencing technology to study oligodendroglioma, ependymoma, chordoma as well as meningioma. Ultimately I want to take novel genomic/epigenomic discoveries to the clinic – by developing clinical molecular assays and than be used to better stratify cancer patients and to identify those that might respond to novel molecular targeting agents. I am also associated with the development of BrainCare, a local effort to develop multidisciplinary seamless care for brain tumour patients in this province and also in the establishment of a local neuro-oncology research network which includes the development of a brain tumour tissue bank. I am the course director for Oncology 502 (Concepts in Oncology) that is offered under the Interdisciplinary Oncology Program (IOP) and am a member of the IOP executive committee as well as the UBC M.D.-Ph.D. admission and advisory committee.

I strongly believe in the integration of molecular genetics with clinical pathology and the rapid translation of cancer genomic discoveries in medicine.

    Education/Training:

  • UBC – BSc (Microbiology & Immunology). 1991
  • BC – MD-PhD (Microbiology & Immunology). 1999
  • VGH – Neurosurgery residency (year 1-4). 2003
  • VGH – Neuropathology residency (FRCPC certification). 2006
  • MGH – Molecular neuro-oncology research fellowship (CIP). 2008
  • HMS – Molecular Genetic Pathology fellowship. 2009

    Research Interests:

  • Neuropathology, clinical neuroscience, molecular genetic pathology, molecular genetics and biology, cancer genetics

    Recent Publications:

  • Snyder EY, Yip S. Stem cell biology. In: Polin RA, Fox WW, Abman SH, Editors. Fetal and Neonatal Physiology :4th edition. Philadelphia: Saunders; 2010. In press.
  • Jansen M, Yip S, and Louis DN. Molecular diagnostics in adult neuro-oncology: an update. Lancet Neurology 2010;9: 717-726.
  • Gerstner ER, Yip S, Wang DL, Louis DN, Iafrate AJ, Batchelor TT. MGMT methylation is a prognostic biomarker in elderly patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. Neurology 2009;73:1509-1010.
  • Yip S, Miao J, Cahill DP, Iafrate AJ, Aldape K, Nutt CL, Louis DN. MSH6 mutations arise in glioblastomas during temozolomide therapy and mediate temozolomide resistance. Clinical Cancer Research 2009;15:4622-9.
  • Yip S, Iafrate JA, Louis DN. Molecular Diagnostic Testing in Malignant Gliomas: A Practical Update on Predictive Markers. Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology 2008;67: 1-15.