Gabriela Ilie, PhD – Connect to Dr. Ilie Via Linkedln and Twitter @GabrielaIDr


Our Annual Newsletter is out! Please see the PDF file below with attached links to find out all the news regarding our team’s hard work over the past year.
March 2023: A huge thanks to Frank and Debbi Sobey for endowing the Soillse Scientist position at Dalhousie University, through the Dalhousie Research Medical Foundation, who made this research possible, and to Research Nova Scotia for the establishment grant which funded this world class randomized clinical trial.:
February 2023: In Press, platinum journal, European Urology, results of a Phase 3 RCT comparing PC-PEP against standard of care. Take home message: Prostate Cancer – Patient Empowerment Program (PC-PEP), a multi-dimensional online home-based six-month empowerment program, improves the mental health in men scheduled for prostate cancer surgery or radiotherapy. PCPEP.org is cost-effective, convenient for clinicians, addresses side effects and the high rates of depression and anxiety among prostate cancer patients. The program has been expanded throughout Canada and in New Zealand, it is being translated in French and is being tested for other forms of cancer.
January 2023 announcement: Engaging and Empowering our Community – please join our Community Engagement conference on April 1, 2023. details below or click here to register.
December 2022: CancerPEP trial is now opened. Please go to CancerPEP.org to find out more.
December 2o22: We are actively working on the translation of PC-PEP into French. Stay tuned!
GUROC 2022 – On the road: Reviewing Phase 3 trial results and presenting Phase 4 trial.

October 2022: On the road in Athens at PROSCA2022:

October 2022: On the road here in New Zealand with our colleague and New Zealand Site Lead Mr. Peter Dickens, CEO PCFNZ , at piloting PC-PEP thought NZ and establishing urology, radiation oncology, and support group collaborations with partners throughout New Zealand.

October 2022: On the road in Australia at the Urologic Asian Association 202 conference. Presenting the results of our trial and raising awareness of PCPEP and its opportunities for collaboration.








October 2022: On the road meeting with ProstateAid Calgary leaders and making our program known to their community of cancer patients and survivors.
September 2022: Giving back. Raising money for cancer research.

August 2022: On the road in Toronto, Canada. Symposium (95 minutes) presentation at the International Psychosocial Oncology Society Conference IPOS 2022 in Toronto with Research Citizen Outreach National representative Bernie Petolas, Dr. Rob Rutledge, Clinical Lead PC-PEP and Cody MacDonald, PC-PEP Research Project Coordinator.


June 24-27 2022. CUA – Canadian Urologic Association. Presenting primary outcome results of RCT Phase 3 – Podium Presentation by Dr. Gabriela Ilie.

Dalhousie’s DMRF Soillse Prostate Cancer Quality of Life Lab program PC-PEP, Prostate Cancer-Patient Empowering Program opening trial sites throughout the country: NS, NB, NL, Toronto, Ottawa, Edmonton, Kelowna, and Saskatoon! In Kelowna, at SABR forming new collaborations.
Congrats to Drs. Raza Abidi, Jong Sung Kim, Ellen Sweeney, Gabriela Ilie, & Trevor Dummer on a successful NFRF grant! The team will expand their work on Arsenic-Related Cancer w/ Toenail Biosamples & Machine Learning
January 11, 2022. PC-PEP (Prostate Cancer – Patient Empowerment Program) – has now opened a new site in New Brunswick.

January 10, 2022. NEW PC-PEP (Prostate Cancer – Patient Empowerment Program) – opens PC-PEP TV Channel!
2022 Newsletter PCPEP

Interview Global News, December 10, 2021, Atlantic Canada

December 10, 2021 – Atlantic Canada News: N.S. prostate cancer patient empowerment program becomes standard of care

Locally Developed Cancer Program PC-PEP to Become Standard of Care Throughout Atlantic Canada
2021 Media Release:

PC-PEP News Blog, November 2021
Men’s Health Awareness Month

Unmet need: New program for men with prostate cancer shows promising results
HALIFAX — Five men with prostate cancer sit in a tight circle, speaking of the sadness that overcame them when treatments led to impotency, a lack of bladder control and bouts of anxiety. They’re sharing their experiences at the end of an innovative 28-day program that has dealt with some very sensitive issues.
EDITORIAL: Sit-uation critical over sedentary lifestyles
Now, a joint study by researchers at Dalhousie University and the University of New Brunswick published this week in the journal PLOS One — and described in an article Thursday by the Herald’s Tim Arsenault — has found that the risk of prostate and pancreatic cancers is elevated among workers in professions with a lot of sedentary behaviour.
Treating more than cancer | QEII research study aims to improve quality of life for prostate cancer patients
Following treatment for prostate cancer 15 years ago, Hal Richman has returned to doing the things he loves, like kayaking. Drawing on his cancer experience, he’s eagerly helping Dr. Gabriela Ilie, QEII research scientist, Dr. Rob Rutledge, QEII radiation oncologist, and Dr. David Bell, QEII urologist, in their quest to understand and improve the quality of life for men following prostate cancer. (QEII FOUNDATION)
Prostate Cancer Survey
We find out more about a unique approach to prostate cancer research happening in Atlantic Canada. http://www.nscancer.ca
New prostate cancer survey examines range of factors affecting quality of life
A new survey of prostate cancer patients and survivors will look at the factors that contribute to quality of life. Gabriela Ilie, research chair and assistant professor at Dalhousie University, is on P.E.I. to talk to the prostate cancer support group, as well as urologists and radiation oncologists.
The Dragon’s Den Health Innovation Competition
Soillse Lab won the Dragon’s Den 3 minute Health Innovation Competition (TMHI) at the Healthy Living, Life Conference, held at the Halifax Convention Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia from September 19-21, 2018.