McMaster校友Alyssa Vito设立癌症研究奖学金，支持研究生科研与社区参与

McMaster News
Impact & Service
Alyssa Vito invests in the next generation of cancer researchers
The McMaster graduate, cancer survivor and cancer researcher established a scholarship to support graduate students who also demonstrate leadership beyond the lab through community engagement.
By Maggie Twidale
October 14, 2026
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Alyssa Vito earned a master’s degree in chemical biology and a PhD in biochemistry from McMaster. In 2022, she established the Alyssa Vito Scholarship in Cancer Research to support graduate students conducting cancer research who also demonstrate leadership beyond the lab through community engagement.
From a young age, Alyssa Vito dreamed of becoming a medical oncologist.
“When I was 14 years old, I started volunteering with the Canadian Cancer Society and at the Credit Valley Hospital Cancer Centre,” she said. “I was drawn to the opportunity to spend time with people going through cancer and to find a way to make a meaningful difference in their experience.”
A decade later, cancer became part of Vito’s own story. At 23, while preparing for the MCAT and planning for a career in medicine, she was diagnosed with stage II triple-negative breast cancer. Her plans were suddenly put on hold as she began intensive treatment.
“It sounds a bit cliché, but going through cancer completely changed the trajectory of my life,” she said. “I had always known I wanted to work in oncology, but my experience as a patient changed how I wanted to contribute to the field.”
Instead of becoming a physician, Vito decided to pursue a career as a researcher focused on developing new cancer therapies.
McMaster: A new chapter
Shortly after finishing treatment, Vito arrived at McMaster with a renewed fervour for the field of oncology. She began a master’s degree in chemical biology, where she studied the underlying biology of triple-negative breast cancer and new approaches to diagnose the disease. She went on to complete her PhD in biochemistry at McMaster.
“Having been a patient myself, I approached the science with a different perspective,” Vito said. “Even in the lab, I never lost sight of why the research mattered and who we ultimately hoped it would help.”
“Cancer research is about so much more than experiments and publications. At the end of the day, it’s about people and that’s what inspires me every day.”
McMaster also became deeply intertwined with Vito’s personal life. She met her husband on her first day in the lab. She had both of her children while completing her graduate degrees.
“Some of the biggest moments of my life happened during my time at Mac. In many ways, it’s where my current life began,” she said.
The value of community involvement
Vito wants graduate students to know that they don’t have to choose between being an excellent researcher and making an impact in their community. She believes each makes you better at the other.
Throughout graduate school, Vito remained deeply involved in the cancer community, speaking at events hosted by the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) and other cancer organizations about her experience as both a patient and researcher. She also established McMaster’s first volunteer Research Information Outreach Team (RIOT), partnering with the CCS to connect graduate researchers with the broader community.
The group worked with McMaster’s Let’s Talk Science chapter to run Let’s Talk Cancer, an event that brought high school students to the university to learn about cancer research, graduate training and careers in science, while also hearing the patient perspective.
“It taught me early on how important it is to communicate complex science in a way that is meaningful and understandable to different audiences,” Vito said. “Graduate training is about more than becoming an excellent scientist. Learning to communicate, lead, mentor and engage with the community prepares you to make an impact far beyond the lab.”
After completing her PhD, Vito built a career in oncology drug development, helping advance new cancer therapies from the laboratory into clinical translation and studies in patients.
Today, she is co-founder and chief development officer of a biotechnology company developing next-generation radiopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer.
“McMaster gave me the scientific foundation for the career I have today, but it also shaped how I approach drug development,” she said.
“The science has to be excellent, but ultimately, what matters is whether we can turn it into something that makes a difference for patients.”
Paying it forward
In 2022, Vito established the Alyssa Vito Scholarship in Cancer Research to support the next generation of outstanding cancer researchers. The scholarship provides financial support and to recognize students who demonstrate leadership and community engagement beyond the lab.
“Some of the best scientists I’ve met are also exceptional communicators, mentors, educators and advocates,” she said. “I wanted this scholarship to recognize that scientific excellence and leadership beyond the lab are both important.”
Vito understands first-hand the impact that financial support can have during graduate school. As a student at McMaster, she received several scholarships herself, including the prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship.
“Those scholarships gave me opportunities that shaped my training and career and they reinforced the importance of investing in students,” she said.
“I hope this scholarship creates opportunities for the next generation while recognizing the impact they’re making both through their research and in their communities.”
Coming full circle
For Vito, the scholarship brings together the experiences that have shaped both her life and her career.
“As someone who has been a patient myself, my work in this field will always be deeply personal,” she said. “Cancer changed the trajectory of my life and McMaster gave me the foundation to turn that experience into a career.”
“Supporting the next generation of researchers is my way of giving back and helping ensure that progress continues for the patients still waiting for better options.”
Why McMaster donors give: Behind every gift is a story — and a belief in the potential of students and the power of research. Read what inspires McMaster donors to give.
If you are interested in supporting students through scholarships and bursaries, visit giving.mcmaster.ca or connect with the University Advancement team to learn more.
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