Translational Epidemiology Unit (TEU)

Awadalla Lab

Professor Awadalla investigates how genetics and environment shape disease risk, healthy-aging, and cancer, using genomics, machine learning, and molecular epidemiology. As National co-Scientific Director of CanPath, he also co-leads Canada’s largest population study, integrating healthcare and environment data, revealing the earliest determinants of healthy-aging. 

As Director of Computational Biology at the University of Toronto, Philip Awadalla led efforts in early cancer detection and precision oncology, focusing on clonal hematopoiesis, breast and prostate cancer. His studies of de novo and rare mutations shed light on disease susceptibility in cancer, psychiatric conditions, cellular health and aging. Early research with malaria genomics cohorts in Africa led to leadership in building the CARTaGENE biobank, enabling discoveries on gene-environment interactions in founding populations. 

Distinguished named lectures and awards include the Queen’s University Haust Lecture, the John McGregor Memorial Annual Lecture, the National Academies of South Africa Distinguished Scientist Award, the Wellcome Trust International Fellow Award, and the Canadian Society for Clinical Research Young Clinical Investigator of the Year.  He was awarded a Genome Quebec Award, and an OICR Senior Investigator Award twice, for his work in cancer and population health. 

Professor Awadalla has been awarded over $200 million in funding from agencies such as HFSP, the Keck Foundation, and the NIH (US).  He serves on numerous committees including the Steering Committee for the International Health Cohort Consortium, as well as Scientific Advisory Board member to the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Biology, the NIH-NIEHS (US), EGA, CAMH Brain Health, and is an ad hoc advisor to CIHR, among others.  Other advisory roles included AncestryDNA.com, and Wellcome Trust-Appointed Expert for H3 Africa.