Supervisor:
Program of Study:
MSc, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Project Title:
mTORC1 Activation by Endolysosome-derived Nutrients
Scholarships and/or Awards:
- Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine Graduate Studentship, 2023
- Mount Allison University Biochemistry Prize, 2022
- R.P. Chapman Award, 2021
- Harold E. Bigelow Scholarship, 2021
- Mount Allison University General Scholarship, 2020
Lay Research Summary:
Cancers driven by mutations in a gene called Ras are highly lethal and have limited treatment options. Pancreatic cancer is one such cancer, which results in less than 10% of patients surviving 5 years beyond diagnosis. Mutant Ras leads to uncontrolled cell growth and subsequent tumor development by changing the ways in which cells take up nutrients from their environment. For example, mutant Ras allows cancer cells to increase their use of specialized digestive organelles inside cells called lysosomes to break down proteins scavenged from their environment. Breaking down proteins inside lysosomes generates nutrients, which cancer cells use to fuel their growth. Through our research, we aim to 1) discover how proteins are delivered to lysosomes to allow their breakdown and 2) understand how nutrients generated inside lysosomes can fuel the growth of mutant Ras-driven cancer cells. Through this work, we hope to identify new ways to treat these highly lethal cancers.
Career Aspirations:
I aspire to become a medical doctor, with an interest in Cardiothoracic surgery or Gynecology. I may also consider going forward to do my PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Location:
Dalhousie University
Publications:
Dixon, Toni-Anne M., et al. “Taurine Depletion Impairs Cardiac Function and Affects Tolerance to Hypoxia and High Temperatures in Brook Char (Salvelinus Fontinalis).” Journal of Experimental Biology, vol. 226, no. 4, Feb. 2023, p. jeb245092. Silverchair,