Versha Banerji

Dr. Versha Banerji is an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Manitoba and an adjunct professor of biology at the University of Winnipeg. She leads research in hematologic malignancies, particularly focusing on leukemia and metabolism-driven therapies. Her work evaluates mitochondrial respiration as a biomarker for disease progression and treatment response. She is affiliated with CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute and the Research Institute of Oncology and Hematology.

• Education:
• MD (2002), University of Manitoba
• Clinical Fellowship in Hematology (2005–2007), University of Manitoba
• Research Fellowship in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (2007–2011), Dana Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Cancer Centre/Broad Institute (MIT)

Her research centers on overcoming therapeutic resistance in cancer via metabolic pathways, using preclinical models and combination therapies. She has secured over CAD 2.8M in grants from 12 agencies and published over 50 peer-reviewed works in journals like Blood, Leukemia, and The Lancet.

• Awards:
• Recipient of prestigious grants including the Lady Tata Memorial Trust Award and Martha Donovan Leadership Award.

Dr. Banerji’s lab investigates metabolic dependencies in cancer cells, aiming to enhance treatment efficacy while minimizing side effects. She collaborates across institutions to translate findings into clinical practice.