Isabelle Hinch beat 16 other graduate students to win the 2026 University of Windsor 3MT® competition. (DAVE GAUTHIER/University of Windsor)
By Sara Elliott
Isabelle Hinch’s ability to explain her research on how childbirth affects breast cancer risk in three minutes has earned her a spot in a national pitch competition.
Her talk, Breastfeeding helps reduce the risk of breast cancer…but, explores the complicated truths surrounding breast cancer risk after childbirth.
“We've all heard, and it is true, that breastfeeding does help reduce the risk of cancer, but that protection happens later in life,” says Hinch.
“We know now that there is a window of up to 10 years after giving birth where women are sensitive to developing a unique type of breast cancer called ‘Postpartum Breast Cancer.’”
This November, the University of Windsor PhD candidate will travel to Regina, Sask., to compete in the National Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition at the 64th Annual Canadian Association for Graduate Studies conference.
Her finely tuned pitch focuses on periods of breast cancer susceptibility during breast development and how perception and reality do not always mesh.
“When we think of breast cancer, usually we think of older women, and the majority of cases are diagnosed in women 70 and older,” she says.
“But in recent years, it's come out that young patients fare worse, and it's not really understood why.”
At the molecular level, Hinch says these are biologically different cancers. She studies what is happening in the breast tissue of younger patients that might make the cancers different.
“Specifically, I study the period after lactation where there are so many changes, it’s basically like wound healing because everything that makes milk needs to be cleared out,” says Hinch.
“That creates a volatile environment where if mistakes do happen, they kind of catch like wildfire and they can set the scene for cancer formation.”
Hinch’s research in Dr. Lisa Porter’s lab is trying to understand how the tissue heals itself while managing cancer development risk — which makes determining whether breastfeeding reduces the risk particularly complicated.
“There are many variables depending on when the patient was diagnosed, if they breastfed and length of lactation,” says Hinch.
“It's thought that the longer you nurse for, the more protective it is and part of the challenge of doing the talk is that a lot of this is not like a black-and-white answer.”
Hinch’s research journey started as an Outstanding Scholar pursuing an interdisciplinary arts and science undergraduate degree with a double major in Greek and Roman studies.
The biology PhD candidate is on a roll.
Isabelle Hinch presenting at the provincial 3MT® competition hosted by Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont. (Courtesy of Brock University/University of Windsor)
In early April, she beat 16 other graduate students to win the 2026 University of Windsor competition. She later placed second at the provincial competition hosted by Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont.
In all 3MT® competitions, contestants have one slide and three minutes to present their research and its broader impact to an audience of judges and community members.
The 3MT® is an international competition developed at the University of Queensland; more than 900 universities participate worldwide, including more than 20 in Canada.
Ultimately, the search for answers drives Hinch’s passion for women's health.
“A lot of postpartum care becomes baby-focused, and we don’t always think about how the mother is doing,” she says.
“In talking with patients and their families about this work — I want to do right by them.”
For Hinch, this field of research — including competing in 3MT® — is about spreading awareness and not fear.
“Earlier screening is the goal,” she says.
“When you're a young parent, you're not thinking about yourself and you’re not thinking about getting cancer, so a lot of cases present very late. The idea is that if we can catch them earlier, patients would fare better.”
Dr. Patti Weir is the former dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
“Graduate students play an invaluable role in knowledge creation and the advancement of science,” says Weir.
“3MT® gives students a venue to deliver non-technical presentations, while emphasizing the real-world impact of their work — something traditional journal articles or conference presentation don’t always achieve.”
The 2026 Canadian National 3MT® Showcase will be held on Nov. 4.