Aaron Pollett

Following medical school at the University of Ottawa, Dr. Pollett completed his residency in Anatomical Pathology at the University of Toronto and a Gastrointestinal Pathology Fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital. Having an interest in pathology informatics, he completed a master’s degree in Health Policy, Management and Evaluation focusing on medical informatics.

Being born in Newfoundland, an epicenter for colorectal cancer genetics, and having an interest in information repositories driving research and clinical innovation, Dr. Pollett’s MSc and research brought him into the world of familial registries, hereditary cancer, and molecular pathology.

He was the first Medical Co-Director for the division of Diagnostic Medical Genetics at Sinai, where he has been fortunate to work with wonderful colleagues in the laboratory, clinical and genetics spheres to make Sinai a leader in hereditary and tumour molecular genetic testing. Dr. Pollett is also privileged to be the provincial lead for the Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Program (PLMP) at Ontario Health, Cancer Care Ontario. In this role he has helped standardize and expand molecular pathology testing throughout Ontario.

Research Synopsis

Primary research is in cancer biomarkers, particularly the application of mismatch repair (MMR) gene expression immunohistochemistry and biomarkers in colorectal carcinoma.

Secondary research is in pathology informatics and the application of information tools to support and enhance pathology reporting.

Selected Publications

Kalloger SE. Allo G. Mulligan AM. Pollett A. Aronson M. Gallinger S. Torlakovic EE. Clarke BA. Use of mismatch repair immunohistochemistry and microsatellite instability testing: exploring Canadian practices. American Journal of Surgical Pathology. 36(4):560-9, 2012 Apr

Ryan P. Mulligan AM. Aronson M. Ferguson SE. Bapat B. Semotiuk K. Holter S. Kwon J. Kalloger SE. Gilks CB. Gallinger S. Pollett A. Clarke BA.  Comparison of clinical schemas and morphologic features in predicting Lynch syndrome in mutation-positive patients with endometrial cancer encountered in the context of familial gastrointestinal cancer registries. Cancer. 118(3):681-8, 2012 Feb 1

Aubin F. Gill S. Burkes R. Colwell B. Kamel-Reid S. Koski S. Pollett A. Samson B. Tehfe M. Wong R. Young S. Soulieres D.  Canadian Expert Group consensus recommendations: KRAS testing in colorectal cancer. Current Oncology. 18(4):e180-4, 2011 Aug

Rawson JB. Mrkonjic M. Daftary D. Dicks E. Buchanan DD. Younghusband HB. Parfrey PS. Young JP. Pollett A. Green RC. Gallinger S. McLaughlin JR. Knight JA. Bapat B.  Promoter methylation of Wnt5a is associated with microsatellite instability and BRAF V600E mutation in two large populations of colorectal cancer patients. British Journal of Cancer. 104(12):1906-12, 2011 Jun 7

Honours and Awards

LMP Distinguished Service Award, University of Toronto (2022)