Amina Silva, Assistant Professor of Nursing, Brock University
“Through the project, the research team will seek to study how AI can “play a vital role in meeting diverse user needs throughout the cancer journey, from initial diagnosis through to survivorship.” – Amina Silva, Assistant Professor of Nursing, Brock University
News from Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario
Posted October 7th, 2025 on Niagara at Large
One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime; among them, one in four will experience post-traumatic stress related to their diagnosis.
New research — funded by a Canadian Cancer Society Disruptive Innovation Grant — will explore how AI companions can provide empathetic support at scale, helping to alleviate anxiety for patients and caregivers affected by breast cancer.
Amina Silva (left), Assistant Professor of Nursing at Brock University, and Ellyn Winters-Robinson, CEO of The Lyndall Project and AskEllyn, are leading a national research project that will explore how AI companions can support breast cancer patients and their families.
Led by Amina Silva, Assistant Professor of Nursing at Brock University, and Ellyn Winters-Robinson, CEO of The Lyndall Project and AskEllyn, the national research project will bring together researchers, clinicians, patients and caregivers along with AI experts<https://gambitco.io/> to study the effectiveness of AskEllyn<https://askellyn.ai/>, the world’s first AI companion for breast cancer.
As an agent for “conversational care,” AskEllyn offers non-medical support and companionship, rooted in the lived experience of Winters-Robinson, a fellow survivor.
Available at all hours of the day and in every language, AskEllyn provides support for patients, friends and family as they navigate the turbulent and emotionally taxing waters of a breast cancer diagnosis.
“Through my work in survivorship care, it has become clear that trauma associated with a cancer diagnosis is under-researched, and its impacts for patients and caregivers are not well understood,” Silva says. “We also have a health-care system that is overburdened, under-resourced and under strain, and a growing, diverse patient population for whom traditional support models may not be effective.”
Through the project, Silva says the research team will seek to study how AI can “play a vital role in meeting diverse user needs throughout the cancer journey, from initial diagnosis through to survivorship.”
As a breast cancer survivor, Winters-Robinson says she deeply empathizes with the trauma impacting diagnosed individuals and their families and acknowledges that those feelings do not vanish when active treatment ends.
“We created AskEllyn to fill that void, and the impact she has had over the past two years is nothing short of remarkable,” she says. “I am incredibly thankful to the Canadian Cancer Society for recognizing the importance of our work.”
Winters-Robinson says clinical evidence of AI as a patient support will pave the way for wider adoption and acceptance of AI-enabled conversational care.
“I am honoured to be a patient partner in this important study,” she says.
The Canadian Cancer Society’s Disruptive Innovation Grants provide a unique opportunity for researchers to test novel ideas with potentially game-changing impact in cancer prevention, detection or treatment.
“We’re here to support bold, imaginative ideas that break new ground — especially those that wouldn’t usually get traditional funding,” says Stuart Edmonds, Executive Vice President of Mission, Research and Advocacy at the Canadian Cancer Society.
“Dr. Silva’s research stood out for its quality, and AskEllyn — a unique tool created by a survivor for survivors — has real potential to transform how patients support each other. As health-care resources are stretched thin, now is the time to consider how AI can improve care for those facing cancer.”
Patient recruitment for the project is now underway. To learn more about getting involved, contact Silva at asilva@brocku.ca<mailto:asilva@brocku.ca>
About Brock University – Brock University is a comprehensive institution with rich academic programs and world-class research activity that is creating positive change locally and globally. Located in Ontario’s scenic Niagara region on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe people, Brock is situated atop the Niagara Escarpment in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The University’s 19,000 students come from across Canada and around the world to break through at Brock and take in its renowned student experience. Learn more at brocku.ca<http://www.brocku.ca/>
About the Canadian Cancer Society – The Canadian Cancer Society works tirelessly to save and improve lives. We raise funds to fuel the brightest minds in cancer research. We provide a compassionate support system for all those affected by cancer, across Canada and for all types of cancer. Together with patients, supporters, donors and volunteers, we work to create a healthier future for everyone. Because to take on cancer, it takes all of us. It takes a society.Help us make a difference. Call 1-888-939-3333 or visit cancer.ca<file:///Users/sarah/Desktop/cancer.ca> today.
About AskEllyn – AskEllyn<https://askellyn.ai/>, is a pioneering conversational AI designed to support those navigating the complexities of breast cancer. Committed to being accessible and free forever, AskEllyn aspires to touch every corner of the globe, ensuring women and families of all backgrounds and languages never walk alone. Embodying the essence of AI for Good, AskEllyn offers both multi-lingual support and the unique empathy of a breast cancer survivor. Since her launch to market in 2023, AskEllyn has been accessed in 100+ countries and provided support to patients and caregivers in 40+ languages. The Lyndall Project and AskEllyn are proudly supported by the Accelerator Centre.<https://www.acceleratorcentre.com/>
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