About The CELLFiE Project
The CELLFiE Project began with a simple question…
"Can I see my leukemia?"
When one young patient asked to see his leukemia cells under a microscope, what began as a single laboratory visit quickly revealed something much bigger.
Children wanted to understand their disease. Families wanted answers. The laboratory had a story to tell.
That one experience inspired the creation of The CELLFiE Project—a patient-centred pathology education initiative that brings children and families into the laboratory to see their own cells, understand how laboratory testing guides diagnosis and treatment, and meet the professionals whose work is often hidden behind the scenes.
Today, CELLFiE has evolved into a nationally recognized program that combines patient education, laboratory medicine, research and digital innovation to improve health literacy and transform the patient experience.
Our Mission
To improve health literacy by making laboratory medicine visible, understandable and accessible, helping children and families become informed and confident participants in their own healthcare journey.
Our Vision
A future where every patient understands the science behind their diagnosis and every healthcare system recognizes education as a fundamental part of compassionate care.
Curiosity
Questions are the beginning of understanding.
Compassion
Every interaction is grounded in empathy, respect and family-centred care.
Collaboration
Healthcare is strongest when patients, families and professionals learn together.
Innovation
We continually explore new ways to connect education, research and patient care.
Meet Our Team
Dr. David Conrad
Dr. David Conrad is a hematopathologist with Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and a Professor in the Department of Pathology at Dalhousie University. His clinical practice focuses on the diagnosis of blood and bone marrow disorders through laboratory medicine, microscopy and genetic diagnostics.
Inspired by a young patient's desire to better understand leukemia, Dr. Conrad founded The CELLFiE Project to help children and families see, understand and engage with the science behind their diagnosis.
Today he leads a multidisciplinary initiative combining pathology, education, research and digital media to improve health literacy and advance patient-centred pathology around the world.
Opening the laboratory door—one patient, one family, and one story at a time.
Dr. Vicky Price
Dr. Victoria Price MBChB, MSc, FRCPC, is a pediatric hematologist/oncologist, Professor and Head of the Department of Pediatrics at Dalhousie University and IWK Health, who played a foundational role in originating The CELLFiE Project. When one of her young leukemia patients asked if he could see his own blood cells to better understand his diagnosis, Dr. Price reached out to hematopathologist Dr. David Conrad to arrange a personalized lab tour. This initial collaboration sparked the development of the broader initiative, which now gives children undergoing treatment for blood conditions the opportunity to tour the lab, view their own blood cells under a microscope, and build confidence and self-efficacy in managing their health. Dr. Price’s current involvement with The CELLFiE Project focuses on children with sickle cell disease, extending this innovative approach to help young people better understand their condition and engage in their care.
Dr. Valerie Bourque-Riel
I am a passionate pediatric hematologist and oncologist specializing in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Above all, I value the human connections that develop through caring for children and their families during some of the most challenging moments of their lives. I strive to be a clear, compassionate, and reassuring voice when uncertainty feels overwhelming.
The CELLFiE Project was born in 2022 from a simple but powerful belief: that knowledge empowers patients. I wanted my patients to better understand their blood, their disease, and the laboratory tests guiding their care, helping to replace fear of the unknown with curiosity and confidence.
As the clinician whose vision sparked the project, I am incredibly proud to have helped plant the seed that has since grown into an expanding initiative reaching children with many different conditions. Seeing CELLFiE evolve through collaboration, research, and the shared commitment of so many dedicated people has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.
Bianca Matthews
Bianca Matthews is a Clinical Psychology PhD student at Dalhousie University who is passionate about finding creative solutions to help children with acute and chronic pain lead meaningful, fulfilling lives. As a Sub-Investigator on the Cellfie project, she guides children and adolescents with sickle cell disease through an interactive lab tour where they see their own sickled blood cells and learn about their disease and pain management, while evaluating changes in their pain management self-efficacy. Supervised by Drs. Alexandra Neville and Christine Chambers, her dissertation explores how to best centre the lived experiences of Black youth in pediatric pain methodology to help advance pain equity.
Growing Beyond Leukemia
Originally developed for children with leukemia, The CELLFiE Project now includes educational programming for children with lymphoma, sickle cell disease, solid tumours, Youth in Care and children living with needle phobia, with continued expansion into additional patient populations planned.
We'd Love to Hear From You
Whether you're a family interested in learning more, a healthcare professional looking to collaborate, or a researcher interested in patient-centred pathology, we'd be happy to connect.