Tell us about your role at UHN.
I am a Postdoctoral Researcher in Dr. Jeremy Sivak's lab at the Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute within the Krembil Research Institute. My work is focused on understanding how changes in protein synthesis affect how the retina recovers from injury. A majority of my day is spent running experiments in the lab.
How long have you been in this role and what led you to this role?
I have been in this role since the spring of 2023. Before becoming a Postdoctoral Researcher, I was a doctoral student in Dr. Sivak’s lab. After my doctorate, I wanted to continue to expand on my research.
What are you passionate about in your role at UHN? What does health research mean to you?
I really enjoy lab work and how I get to problem-solve ways to optimize experiments and collaborate with everyone in my lab. I am able to learn a lot from all of the talented people I work with.
To me, health research is essentially the study of all aspects of human life. I see my specific role in health research as trying to understand the ways in which we can protect or restore deficits in health.
How does your work help to advance UHN's vision of A Healthier World?
I hope that this work can contribute to improving vision health. The specific molecules and pathways identified in our experiments can be therapeutically targeted in preclinical models to see if neurons in the retina can be protected or restored.
What makes UHN an ideal place to advance health research?
At UHN, there is a wealth of resources to help researchers perform cutting-edge experiments: advanced equipment, top-tier facilities, and experienced staff in the research community. If there is a niche experiment you want to perform, there is a good chance that someone at UHN has the expertise to assist you.
Do you have any interests outside of work?
In my spare time, I like to crochet and knit wearables.
What do you see for the future of health research, and what gets you excited about it?
I am looking forward to seeing the future of multi-omics (an integrated approach combining data from multiple levels of biology) in research. I hope that these techniques become more cost and time efficient, and potentially incorporated into personalized medicine.
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