Dr. Nisha Kanwar is a Clinical Laboratory Geneticist in the Genome Diagnostics Laboratory at University Health Network (UHN), Toronto General Hospital. She holds dual responsibilities in Molecular genetics and Cytogenetics diagnostic testing and assay development. In this role, she focuses on bridging genomic innovation and clinical practice by transitioning emerging technologies into clinically actionable tests that support precision oncology.Dr. Kanwar completed her PhD at the University of Toronto, followed by postdoctoral training in the Advanced Molecular Diagnostic Translational Laboratory at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto. She then completed a Laboratory Genetics and Genomics fellowship at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester.Her career spans clinical diagnostics, translational research, and implementation of genomic testing programs across pediatric and adult oncology. In her previous roles at both The Hospital for Sick Children and University Health Network, Toronto, she has led the clinical implementation of comprehensive DNA and RNA-based genomic assays, integrating germline and somatic analyses into a single report. She has also contributed to national precision oncology initiatives and multidisciplinary molecular tumour boards.Dr. Kanwar’s scientific interests center on comprehensive cancer genomics testing strategies that improve patient stratification and clinical decision-making. Her current work focuses on: (1) developing unified molecular and cytogenetic workflows for hematologic malignancies; (2) defining the clinical utility of liquid biopsy testing, alone and in combination with tissue testing, across diverse tumour types; and (3) advancing understanding of hereditary cancer syndromes, particularly constitutional MLH1 promoter methylation as an under-recognized cause of Lynch syndrome.Through her clinical and research activities, Dr. Kanwar aims to develop practical genomic testing workflows that balance comprehensive profiling with clinical feasibility, accelerating the translation of genomic discoveries into accessible, high-quality diagnostic tests that improve patient outcomes.
