Poul Sorensen, associate professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Pediatrics, has been named as the first recipient of the Asa and Kashmir Johal and Family Chair in Pediatric Oncology.

Sorensen's research focuses on identifying and describing genetic alterations that cause childhood cancer, particularly of bone and soft tissues.

He has earned several prizes for his work, including the Young Investigator's Award from the Pediatric Pathology Society and the Lotte Strauss Award for excellence in pediatric medical research.

The Johal and Family Chair at UBC is complemented by contributions from the Children's and Women's Health Centre of B.C. and UBC.

A UBC alumnus, Sorensen joined the Faculty of Medicine in 1993 and works from the Children's and Women's Health Centre of B.C.