Carol Cass

Carol Cass is a Canadian research scientist. She is internationally recognized as an expert on nucleosides, an important class of anti-cancer drugs. Her research has led to the more effective use of nucleoside drugs and the development of new treatments for patients with acute and chronic leukemias, lymphomas, and cancers of the lung, bladder, breast and pancreas.

She determined that nucleoside-based drugs are able to cross cell membranes by binding to specialized transporter proteins. The drugs are able to enter and directly attack cancer cells during the binding process.

Since 2003, Cass has been director of Alberta’s Cross Cancer Institute. She is Canada Research Chair in oncology at the University of Alberta.

• 2006, awarded the Robert L. Noble Prize by the National Cancer Institute of Canada for her contributions to cancer research.