Olga Kovalchuk

Olga Kovalchuk is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Lethbridge. She leads the Epigenetics of Health and Disease research laboratory, which is affiliated with the Southern Alberta Cancer Research Institute (SACRI) and Alberta Health Services/Alberta Cancer Foundation (AHS/ACF). Her research program has received significant funding including a $3.2 million Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) start-up grant and NSERC Discovery Grants.

Dr. Kovalchuk's research focuses on the role of epigenetic mechanisms in health and disease, particularly in the context of radiation exposure and cancer. Her primary areas of investigation include epigenetic dysregulation in carcinogenesis, radiation epigenetics, DNA damage and repair mechanisms, and transgenerational effects of radiation exposure. She has made significant contributions to understanding how radiation-induced epigenetic changes affect genome stability, cancer development, and treatment responses.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on microRNA regulation in cancer, sex-specific radiation responses, and the epigenetic basis of radiation-induced bystander effects. Her work demonstrates how epigenetic changes, particularly DNA methylation and microRNA expression patterns, mediate radiation responses in various tissues and can be transmitted across generations. Much of her research utilizes mouse models to investigate these mechanisms in vivo.

• Board of Governors Research Chair at University of Lethbridge
• CIHR Institute of Gender and Health Research Chair in New Perspectives in Gender, Sex and Health
• Canada Foundation for Innovation Start-up Funding ($3.2 Million)
• NSERC Discovery Grant recipient
• Editor's Choice Paper Award for research on radiation-induced bystander effects
• Cover Page feature for transgenerational radiation effects research

Dr. Kovalchuk actively mentors numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, with a research team comprising PhD students, MSc students, research assistants, and postdoctoral associates. Her laboratory collaborates extensively with researchers at MIT, Harvard University, and other institutions. She has secured significant grant funding including NSERC Discovery Grants and CFI start-up funds to support her research program investigating epigenetic mechanisms in radiation biology and cancer.

Her laboratory, the Epigenetics of Health and Disease research group, maintains strong collaborations with the Southern Alberta Cancer Research Institute and has established partnerships with researchers across North America. Dr. Kovalchuk's work has important implications for understanding radiation risks, improving cancer therapies, and developing strategies to mitigate radiation damage.