Sabine Mai

Sabine Mai is a Professor in the Department of Physiology & Pathophysiology at the Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba. She holds cross-appointments in Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, and Human Anatomy and Cell Science. She is a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Genomic Instability and Nuclear Architecture in Cancer and a senior investigator at the CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute. She leads the Genomic Centre for Cancer Research and Diagnosis and is actively involved in training graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

Education:

• Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Biology, University of Cologne, Germany, 1981
• Master of Science (MSc) in Developmental Biology, University of Cologne, 1985
• Master’s Degree in French, University of Cologne, 1985
• Master’s Degree in Educational Theory, University of Cologne, 1985
• PhD in Molecular Biology, Karlsruhe, Germany, 1991
• Postdoctoral Training in Cancer and Immunology, Basel Institute for Immunology, Switzerland, 1991–1995

Dr. Mai's research focuses on genomic instability and the 3D spatial organization of the genome, particularly telomeres and nuclear architecture in cancer and aging. She has pioneered advanced imaging techniques, including the development of TeloView™, to quantify nuclear changes in cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Her work integrates molecular biology with high-resolution and super-resolution microscopy to identify structural biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and risk stratification.

Her recent publications highlight applications across multiple cancers—including Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and leukemia—and neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s. The studies demonstrate how 3D telomeric signatures can serve as clinical tools for diagnosis, treatment decisions, and monitoring disease progression.

Scientific Awards:

• Canada Research Chair Tier 1 (2018–2026)
• Women’s Executive Network Top 100: Canada's Most Powerful Women (2015)
• Cognition Challenge Award (2013)
• YMCA Women of Distinction Nominee (2014)
• UBC Science Co-op Supervisor Recognition Award (2017)

Dr. Mai has secured over $33 million in research funding and has mentored more than 1,500 trainees globally. She is the founder and director of the Genomic Centre for Cancer Research and Diagnosis and founded Telo Genomics Corp to translate her discoveries into clinical applications. She also leads imaging workshops on microscopy, super-resolution imaging, and immunostaining techniques.

Laboratories and Research Networks:

• Genomic Centre for Cancer Research and Diagnosis (GCCRD)
• Canadian National Scientific Platforms
• BioImaging Canada
• BioImaging North America