Brenda Gallie is a world-renowned ophthalmologist known for her contributions to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of retinoblastoma, a childhood eye cancer.
In 1983, shortly after being appointed assistant professor of ophthalmology at the University of Toronto, Dr Gallie received a Banting Research Foundation grant to study the mutations of retinoblastoma, a rare form of eye cancer that begins in the retina. It is the most common type of eye cancer in children and occurs most often in children under 2 years of age.
Dr Gallie has since identified the genetic mutations responsible for retinoblastoma, developed the diagnostic test for these mutations, and developed effective therapies. In 2015 she was named to the Order of Canada for her contributions to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of retinoblastoma.
Dr Gallie’s grandfather was Dr William E Gallie, an esteemed orthopedic surgeon who was one of the founding trustees of the Banting Research Foundation in 1925. Brenda Gallie also served on the Board of Trustees of the Foundation.
