Eisenhauer obtained her MD from Queen’s University Kingston, Canada in 1976 and subsequently received fellowships in Internal Medicine and Hematology from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Canada.
From 1982 to 2012, she was Director of the Investigational New Drug Program of the NCIC Clinical Trials Group (now the Canadian Cancer Trials Group) where her major responsibilities lay in identifying and bringing into clinical trial novel cancer agents. Her major research interest has been the evaluation of new anti-cancer agents. In that role she coordinated over 170 phase I, II and III trials which were carried out in institutions in Canada, the US and Europe. Several of these trials have led to the identification of new cancer agents now used in clinical practice. She served as Interim Director of NCIC Clinical Trials Group from 2013-2014. In addition, she held the role of Research Lead for the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and Co-Chair of the Canadian Cancer Research Alliance from 2007-2017.
From 2012-2017 she was Professor and Head of the Department of Oncology at Queen’s University and Cancer Program Medical Director at Kingston Health Sciences Centre in Kingston. She is currently Professor Emerita at Queen’s University and, since January 2018, the Innovation Lead at Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC). In her recent work as Innovation Lead, she has been focused on creating a portfolio of opportunities for innovation and improvement at KHSC and Queen’s Faculty of Health Sciences.
She has chaired or served on numerous committees and organizations in Canada and internationally including the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Association of Cancer Research, the European Society of Medical Oncology and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer. From 2006-2009 she served as President, National Cancer Institute of Canada and form 2007-2017, she held the role of Research Lead for the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and Co-Chair of the Canadian Cancer Research Alliance. She currently Chairs the Scientific Audit Committee of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and co-Chairs the Scientific Advisory Board of the French National Cancer Institute.
For her contributions to cancer research and patient care, she has received several awards including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal, Officer of the Order of Canada, the Canada Gairdner Wightman Award, and an Honorary Doctor of Science Degree from Queen’s University.