Dr. Burnier completed a PhD in molecular and cell biology at McGill University (Experimental Medicine). The focus of her PhD was the molecular mechanisms underlying invasion and metastasis. Dr. Burnier went on to pursue related post-doctoral training at McGill and at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (Barcelona, Spain). She then studied cancer genomics in clinical trials at the Princess Margaret Hospital (Toronto).
Her lab within the Cancer Research Program (CRP) of the RI-MUHC-RI aims to uncover the role and mechanisms of tumor-derived (circulating) molecules in tumor progression and metastasis, in order to develop novel accurate and sensitive biomarkers and identify new targeted therapeutic strategies. Using liquid biopsy samples and cell models, she investigates the role of circulating nucleic acids and tumour-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) in mediating tumour metastasis via communication with and reprograming of the tumor microenvironment.