Supervisor:
Program of Study:
MSc, Biology
Project Title:
Improving the clinical potential of the anti-cancer peptide Mastoparan
Scholarships and/or Awards:
- Nova Scotia Innovation & Research Graduate Scholarship (Master’s) in Health & Wellness (2023-2024)
- The Botany Award (Poster) at Science Atlantic Biology Conference (2023)
- Mount Saint Vincent University Biology Department Award for Best Student (2021, 2022)
- Mount Saint Vincent University Chemistry Department: The Sister Patricia Mullins Award in Chemistry (2021)
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Undergraduate Student Research Award (2021)
- Mount Saint Vincent University President’s Scholarship (2019-2023)
Lay Research Summary:
Colorectal cancer causes the second-most deaths of any cancer type in Canada. However, treatment options remain limited for colon cancer and often have unwanted side effects. Our research involves Mastoparan, an anti-cancer peptide that kills cancer cells by poking holes in them. Mastoparan does not kill healthy cells. We want to develop new modified versions of Mastoparan to improve its ability to kill cancer cells. Our goal is to find and test modified versions of Mastoparan to provide new treatments that are effective at targeting colon cancer cells and have fewer side effects than current treatments.
Career Aspirations:
I am confident in pursuing a career in human health. The cancer research undertaken in my MSc will be an essential component of my training. I am confident that my MSc project will better inform me in my future endeavours.
Location:
Acadia University
Publications:
Qaderi, M.M.; Martel, A.B.; Strugnell, C.A. Environmental Factors Regulate Plant Secondary Metabolites. Plants 2023, 12, 447. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12030447.