Byu Ri Sim wins the 2026 Jennifer Comyn Graduate Award, to support his research of colorectal cancer

“My attraction to science comes from curiosity—the feeling of wanting to understand how things work and solve problems,” says biochemistry PhD candidate Byu Ri Sim. “While every research project comes with its own hurdles, one of my favourite parts is the process of working through them.” 

The Donnelly Centre has awarded Byu Ri Sim the 2026 Jennifer Comyn Graduate Award for Cancer Research. Established in 2024 by the Angers family as a tribute to loving mother and cancer research advocate Jennifer Comyn, the award will support Sim’s investigation into how the hyperactive pathway signalling behind colorectal cancer cells can be exploited to identify new therapeutic avenues. Sim's dissertation focus is on specific components of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, which carries signalling mutations in the majority cases of colorectal cancer. 

“Directly targeting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway has remained therapeutically challenging for two main reasons,” explains Sim. “The pathway downstream of the mutation is mediated by protein–protein interactions that lack a well-defined druggable surface, and on-target inhibition of the pathway can lead to toxicity.” 

Sim’s academic path has been shaped by years of interdisciplinary research: With a biochemistry bachelor's degree from McGill University and a master's in computational chemistry from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Sim was exposed to everything from cardiac research to machine learning and protein engineering. For his PhD in the Donnelly’s Angers Lab, Sim took his interdisciplinary experience and expertise and pivoted to genetic interaction mapping in the context of cancer. 

“It felt like the next step,” says Sim. “By mapping genetic interactions, we can better understand how tumour maintenance depends on relationships among genes. This can reveal network-level vulnerabilities and help nominate rational combination therapies for different cancer contexts.” 

Sim has created a genetic interactions map of β-catenin, an oncogene (potentially cancer-causing gene) frequently mutated in cases of colorectal cancer. This map—which has identified over 100 genes relevant to colorectal cancer cell growth—is the foundation for Sim’s dissertation work, as he seeks to identify essential cancer genes and discover therapeutic targets.  

It was this work that earned him the attention of the 2026 Jennifer Comyn Graduate Award committee. 

“It is wonderful to see Byu Ri recognized with the Jennifer Comyn Graduate Award for Cancer Research,” says Stephane Angers, Director of the Donnelly Centre and Sim’s supervisor. “He brings exceptional dedication, intellectual curiosity, and scientific rigour to his work, and this award is a well-deserved recognition of his promise and contributions to cancer research.” 

“I feel fortunate to be surrounded by brilliant scientists and trainees who are always willing to help and are genuinely warm, kind, and supportive,” says Sim.

As a PhD Candidate, Sim says he'll work past every frustration and work towards a better understanding of the many mechanisms behind colorectal cancer.  

“Troubleshooting a project can be frustrating,” says Sim. “But when I finally see the experiment move forward, it’s incredibly rewarding. It feels like taking that first deep breath after stepping out of a hot shower: a small moment of relief, clarity, and satisfaction that makes the struggle worth it.” 

About the Donnelly Centre

The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research is a research hub at the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine, where scientists from diverse fields work together to advance medicine and health. Founded in 2005, the Donnelly Centre is a global leader in research on systems biology, regenerative medicine and disease modelling.

For more information about the Donnelly Centre, follow us on X, LinkedIn and Bluesky.

Media Contact

Kira Belaoussoff
Communications Coordinator at the Donnelly Centre
donnelly.communications@utoronto.ca
416-946-8253