Page 21 - UHN-RR2022
P. 21
Q&A Severine Cathelin Research Highlights
THE STRUCTURE OF DISEASE
A team led by Dr. Cheryl Arrowsmith used a
Can you tell us about yourself? What got multi-pronged approach to reveal—at near atomic
you interested in science? detail—the structure of two proteins (pictured
I grew up in France. When I was young, I was above) involved in Huntington disease. Known
always connected with nature and was inspired as HTT and HAP40, the two proteins co-evolved
by biology. This interest eventually led me and bind to each other, which is thought to
to complete a PhD in molecular and cellular stabilize them in the cell. The findings shed light
biochemistry at the University of Burgundy. on the co-dependence of the proteins and provide
new footing for the future discovery of treatments
What might people not realize about for Huntington disease. Scientific Article
working in medical research?
Science is not an easy field. Every day you face DETECTING IMMUNE CELLS
challenges. And every day you learn something
about yourself. Because of this, I believe that
working in science makes you a better person. As
they say, adversity breeds character, excellence,
and resilience.
How did the pandemic affect your routine?
When the pandemic hit, I changed my lifestyle
quite a bit. To avoid public transportation, I
decided to ride my bike to the lab. That trip is A study led by (L-R) Drs. Barbara Grünwald
about an hour each way. This has kept me fit and and Rama Khokha provided insights into what is
gives me time before my work day to think about known as the tumour microenvironment. Rather
all the great science that’s going to happen! than being a uniform ball of cells, tumours contain
discrete regions where cancer cells associate with
What do you enjoy doing outside of work? normal cells and blood vessels. Focusing on an
I love art and I paint [the background of the photo aggressive type of pancreatic cancer, the team
above is an example]. Right now, I’m painting identified three distinct microenvironments. Each
about what I do in the lab. I am inspired by urban responded differently to anticancer treatments—a
artists and use analogies to express how proteins finding that could enable the development of
signal through the cell and impact cancer. targeted therapies. Full Story / Scientific Article
19
