Dr. Lisa Porter is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Windsor whose career is dedicated to advancing the understanding of cancer at the cellular level. Her research examines how cells regulate growth and division, and how changes in these tightly controlled processes contribute to the development and progression of cancer. With expertise in cancer, cell cycle, and stem cell biology, she has spent more than two decades investigating the biological mechanisms that could lead to more effective approaches for diagnosing and treating disease.
Working closely with colleagues across Ontario, especially in London and Windsor, Dr. Porter has built a reputation that extends well beyond the laboratory. She served as the founding Director of WE-SPARK Health Institute, bringing together researchers, clinicians, hospitals, post-secondary institutions, and community partners across Windsor-Essex to strengthen health research and accelerate collaboration. A founding member of the Windsor Cancer Research Group, a Board member of Research Canada, and a Canadian Institutes of Health Research University Delegate and College of Reviewers member, she has combined scientific discovery with research leadership while mentoring students, trainees, and early career scientists throughout her academic career.
Q: Your research focuses on better understanding cancer biology. What questions drive your work every day?
Dr. Lisa Porter: I’ve always been fascinated by one fundamental question: what causes a healthy cell to become cancerous? My laboratory studies the proteins that control the cell cycle, which determines when cells grow and divide. One of our major areas of research is the Spy1 protein, an atypical cell cycle regulator that we’ve shown can promote tumour development when its activity is no longer properly controlled. By understanding how Spy1 influences stem cells, DNA damage responses, and cell division, we’re identifying mechanisms that may explain how cancers begin and why some tumours become resistant to treatment. That knowledge helps lay the groundwork for future therapies that are more precise and more effective.
Q: You have held several leadership roles throughout your career. How have those experiences influenced your approach to research?
Dr. Lisa Porter: Whether in London or Windsor, I’ve found that the most significant advances happen when scientists with different expertise work toward the same goal. During my time as the founding Director of WE-SPARK Health Institute, we brought together researchers from universities, hospitals, healthcare organizations, and the community across Windsor-Essex to tackle health challenges from multiple perspectives. Those efforts are still ongoing, and I am very proud to have helped build them. Cancer research today depends on molecular biologists, clinicians, engineers, data scientists, and many others working together. Creating those connections has been just as important to me as the research itself because collaboration allows discoveries in the laboratory to move more efficiently toward improving patient care.
Q: You have also been deeply involved in supporting Canada’s research community. Why is that work important to you?
Dr. Lisa Porter: Excellent research depends on strong support systems. Through my work as a University Delegate and member of the College of Reviewers for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, I’ve had the opportunity to help evaluate research proposals across a wide range of health disciplines. That process plays an important role in supporting innovative science and maintaining high standards for Canadian research. My work with Research Canada has also reinforced the importance of communicating the value of research to the public and policymakers. Scientific discoveries have the greatest impact when people understand why investing in research matters.
Q: Mentorship has been a consistent part of your career. What do you hope students and trainees gain from working with you?
Dr. Lisa Porter: Research is about asking questions and learning how to solve difficult problems. I encourage students to think independently, challenge assumptions, and become comfortable with uncertainty because experiments don’t always produce the answers you expect. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of mentoring undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students, as well as research staff, many of whom have gone on to careers in academia and healthcare. Watching those individuals develop into confident scientists and leaders is one of the most rewarding aspects of my career.
Q: Looking ahead, what gives you the greatest optimism about the future of cancer research?
Dr. Lisa Porter: Our understanding of cancer biology has advanced tremendously. Today, we know far more about the molecular changes that drive tumour formation than we did even 20 years ago. We’re developing better models to study cancer stem cells, identifying new therapeutic targets such as regulators of the cell cycle, and using technologies that allow us to examine tumours in far greater detail than ever before. Progress comes from thousands of discoveries made by researchers around the world working together. Every study adds to that collective knowledge, bringing us closer to treatments that are more personalized, more effective, and less toxic for patients.