Meet Liana
Liana is a pediatric neuro oncologist at the Stollery Children’s Hospital and an assistant professor at the University of Alberta.
Liana has been a pediatric neuro oncologist at the Stollery since the fall of 2023. She treats children with a brain tumor diagnosis – the second most common cancer in children. Her focus is on translational research to improve the diagnosis and treatment of these patients.
In her spare time, Liana loves to read, listen to music and dance – particularly to Brazilian music (where she’s from)!
Let’s get to know Liana a bit better:
What do you like most about your job?
On one side I love the interaction with patients and their families, guiding them through a challenging period is extremely rewarding. But I also love being able to find new questions to be answered in the lab that can directly impact patient care in the future, it really keeps me motivated.
Have donor funds directly impacted the area you work in?
Yes! Donations fund a big part of my research which looks at minimally invasive diagnostic tools like liquid biopsy. We can remove the risk that surgery presents to kids in selected cases by using liquid biopsies instead and testing fluids for tumour markers such as blood and cerebral spinal fluid. This will help in not only in diagnosing tumors but also monitoring response to therapy and detecting early recurrences.
What is your favourite kid’s book?
There Was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly! By Lucille Colandro
Do you have a favourite Disney princess or superhero?
Merida is my favourite Disney princess – she is brave, kind and strong enough to follow her dreams.
Thanks to your support, Stollery physicians like Liana are a making a life-changing difference for the kids and families who rely on the Stollery’s world-class care. You can continue to support advancements in pediatric research by donating today.
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