Since 2018, Royal University Hospital Foundation’s Women Leading Philanthropy (WLP) program has been a catalyst for transformative change in health care across Saskatchewan. With more than $700,000 in WLP grants and an additional $351,000 in direct donor support invested in innovative projects, this inspiring community of women has accelerated life-saving advancements in care for women—and their families—across the province.
At the heart of this success are more than 40 pioneering donors who have been with us since that first year. Their bold vision and steadfast support sparked a movement that continues to ripple outward, improving the health of countless individuals. At our January meeting, we honoured the founding donor group—women who saw not only what was, but what could be.
Over the past seven years, WLP has supported an extraordinary range of physician-led projects that are transforming how care is delivered in Saskatchewan. While the following stories are just a snapshot of that impact, they reflect the broader legacy of every applicant who has stood before our donors with bold ideas, unwavering passion, and a commitment to better care.
Uterus Project: Revolutionizing Genetic Testing for Cancer
Dr. Candice Jackel-Cram, genetic counsellor and inaugural WLP recipient (2018), launched the UTERUS Project (Universal Testing of Endometrial Cancer: Reaching an Under-Served Population) to fast-track genetic testing for women with endometrial cancer. At the time, patients faced a three-to-four-year wait for genetic screening—an agonizing delay with consequences for entire families.
Today, genetic tumour testing is standard of care, thanks to this pilot. Seventy women were enrolled in the original study, and seven were diagnosed with Lynch syndrome—triggering testing for over 120 family members. The project laid the foundation for Saskatchewan to become the first province to mainstream genetic testing for both colon and endometrial cancers. In 2024, the team secured a $2 million Genome Canada grant and additional private-sector support to bring a groundbreaking multi-test panel to Canadian patients—starting in Saskatchewan.
Self-Sampling for HPV: Breaking Down Barriers to Cervical Cancer Screening
Dr. Jennifer Brown Broderick, gynecologic oncologist and 2021 WLP recipient, is tackling a critical health disparity: fewer than 20% of women in northern Saskatchewan receive routine cervical cancer screening. Her innovative pilot project—HPV Self-Sampling for Primary Cervical Cancer Screening in Underserved Saskatchewan Women—aimed to close that gap by allowing eligible women to collect their own sample at home and mail it in for testing. No clinic appointment. No travel. No delay.
The results were remarkable. Of the 500 self-sampling kits distributed, 80 were returned, and 21 patients tested positive for HPV—all of whom were quickly referred for follow-up care. Thanks to this success and continued funding, Dr. Brown Broderick expanded the project into a second phase, creating a province-wide web platform so more women could request a kit directly and screen themselves at home.
In a major milestone, her findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal Current Oncology—a significant achievement that underscores the clinical importance of this work. Congratulations to Dr. Brown Broderick and her team on this national recognition.
Most exciting of all: Saskatchewan has committed to adopting HPV self-sampling as part of its official cervical cancer screening strategy — becoming only the second province in Canada to do so. Thanks to this donor-supported pilot, Saskatchewan women and their families will now have earlier, easier access to life-saving screening.
Mainstreaming Genetic Testing: Rapid Results, Real-Time Care
Dr. Mita Manna, medical oncologist and WLP’s 2023 recipient for her project Mainstream Genetic Testing: A Pilot Program in Saskatchewan, has shattered years-long wait times for genetic testing with the launch of Saskatchewan’s first mainstream testing model.
In February 2024, her team officially implemented the new system, enabling oncologists to order genetic tests directly, bypassing years of referral delays. In the past year, over 300 patients were tested, with data analyzed for 100 who consented. A 16% mutation positivity rate was observed, and notably, wait times for high-risk breast cancer patients in Saskatchewan dropped from 2–3 years to under 90 days. Results will be presented at the 2025 Canadian Breast Cancer Symposium this June.
Her work has ignited province-wide collaboration and inspired further research into expanding testing criteria, with ripple effects reaching ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancer patients, as well as their families. Additional funding from individual donors—including supplemental gifts from grateful patients—helped accelerate launch and sustain the momentum.
A Legacy of Visionary Philanthropy
What unites these physicians—and their projects—is not only scientific innovation, but a deep belief in the power of timely, compassionate care. And none of it would have been possible without the visionary donors of WLP. Time and again, donors have stepped forward to fully or partially fund other finalist’s projects. These women are more than philanthropists—they are partners in progress.
As we reflect on seven years of WLP, one thing is clear: Saskatchewan families are healthier today because of the bold generosity and unwavering commitment of Women Leading Philanthropy.
For more information on the Women Leading Philanthropy program, visit ruhf.org/women-leading-philanthropy.
Read the full 2024–2025 Annual Gratitude Report.
