CELEBRATING 5+ YEARS OF KNOWLEDGE TRANSLATION

BUSTING BLOOD CLOTS

MAY 2021 PREDICTING SARS-COV-2 EVOLUTION

CHALLENGING THE DOGMA OF INNATE LYMPHOID CELL DEVELOPMENT D ABOUT CBR TABLE OF CONTENTS PUBLISHED BY Knowledge Translation Committee 4 Notes from the Director DESIGNER The CBR aims to improve the health and well-being Kristine Ho

of patients through innovative research in blood and CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Dr. Amy Glenwright* RESEARCH OPINION blood-related processes. Amy Wong Strilchuk* Andy An* Nobel Prize: Who Lives, Aparna Gopal* “Going Viral” Video Series Who Dies, Who Tells Bronwyn Lyons 6 22 Cecilia Haymin Kim Your Story Fennie Easton van der Graaf Dr. Geraldine Walsh* Guillermo Caballero Silva Predicting the Evolution Dr. Kelly McNagny Science Communication GOALS Kristine Ho* 9 of SARS-CoV-2 Proteins Maria-Elizabeth Baeva 25 During the Pandemic CBR Research & Clinical Goals Marie-Soleil Smith* Melina Messing Challenging Innate • Improve the quality and safety of Dr. Michael Hughes* Stem Cell Therapy: blood product collection, storage and Nancy Yang* 10 Lymphoid Cell Dogma Polina Petlitsyna 26 Unapproved Treatments delivery Sarah Bowers* Dr. Yanina-Yasmin Pesch* • Create new knowledge to better treat Busting Deadly Blood * indicates Editorial Board member Nobel Prize: Between bleeding and clotting disorders Clots 12 Acknowledgement and • Develop novel approaches to COVER ART National Cancer Institute, 30 modulate the immune system to “Vaccine-Based Immunotherapy from Novel Atonement Patient-driven. Innovative. Community. Nanoparticle Systems” treat inflammation and infections and BLOG cbr.ubc.ca Just Keep Swarming Over the past year, donor support has helped us develop novel approaches FACEBOOK @cbrubc 14 promote wound repair TWITTER @CBR_UBC Stem Cell Therapy: to battle severe bleeding in rural areas, delineate the mechanisms of inflam- INSTAGRAM @cbr_ubc 32 Strengthening Regulations matory diseases, and increase the quality of blood products used in trans- The CBR magazine is published by the fusions — only a few examples among many pioneering discoveries. With Knowledge Translation (KT) Committee, AWARDS a group of undergraduates, graduate your continued support, the CBR will further transform innovative ideas into students, postdoctoral fellows, research Dr. Kizhakkedathu SPECIAL FEATURES life-enhancing solutions. associates, and technicians who are interested in science writing, blogging, 11 Inducted as FBSE and mixed media communications. It Dr. Dana Devine is distributed free of charge to CBR and 5 Appointed CBR Director The CBR needs you to help fund our programs, which range from $50 to UBC alumni, friends, and the scientific $100,000. We invite you to explore opportunities at the CBR where your community. Opinions expressed in the UBC Science Co-op magazine do not necessarily reflect the partnership with us will result in positive impacts on education, training and views of the centre or the university. 23 Supervisor Awards Lost in Lab: Deciphering meaningful research. Examples of initiatives that need your support include: Address correspondence to: 15 Blood Immune Cells The Centre for Blood Research 4th Floor, Life Sciences Centre Dr. Cheung Elected as Opportunity Cost 2350 Health Sciences Mall 29 AIMBE Fellow Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z3 Celebrating 5+ Years of Reward leadership in students and staff with the Neil $50 24 Knowledge Translation Mackenzie Mentorship Award The KT Committee publishes weekly at CBR News (cbr.ubc.ca) and covers a CBR Travel Awards Expose trainees to diverse career opportunities with the $1,000 wide range of topics, from recent research highlights and opinion pieces on science 33 2020-2021 CBR Career Night Cell Biology Lessons for and academia, to event coverage and Jumpstart a postdoctoral fellow’s career with the $5,000 CBR initiatives. If you are interested in 28 Seniors EDUCATION participating in the KT Committee, email Postdoctoral Transition Award Kristine at: [email protected] or talk to PROFILES CBR Education Commitment one of the members! All undergraduates, Support a clinical fellow in Translational Research Studies $75,000 • Support student research through graduate students, PDFs, RAs, and technicians are welcome to join. EVENTS Make a CBR Symposium possible $25,000- competitive undergraduate, graduate, Dr. Peter Schubert $100,000 and postgraduate awards CONTACT 16 Earl Davie Symposium [email protected] Explore further: CBR.ubc.ca/support-us • Offer a range of stimulating educational 18 2020 Dana Devine, MA, PhD symposia, workshops, and seminars CBR #WomenInScience Director, Centre for Blood Research • Provide cutting-edge career 34 Profiles Norman Bethune Tel: 604.822.7270 | Email: [email protected] development opportunities for our Knowledge 20 Symposium 2020 trainees Translation Committee Science beyond academia 3 The CBR welcomes Dr. Dana Devine as Director Notes from Devine’s Chair — BY KRISTINE HO, COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR, May 2021 CBR ADMIN TEAM

s of January 1st, 2021, the Centre for Blood She pointed out that the CBR, which initially had many Research (CBR) was pleased to welcome Dr. Dana basic scientists as members, has since then strengthened its Devine as Director. She succeeds Dr. Ed Conway, clinical and industry connections. It has also expanded to include pring has finally arrived in Vancouver! But still an unusual A the CBR’s previous Director of 11 years. faculty and trainees from a wide variety of fields like engineering, S spring, as we see COVID-19 cases at over 800 per day in biochemistry, dentistry, molecular biology and the social British Columbia and further restraint on movement throughout “I’m honoured to accept the position of Director, and look sciences, among many others. the province. Now that anyone over the age of 18 can register forward to building on the CBR’s successes,” said Dr. Devine. In for a vaccination in BC, we are hopefully about to turn a corner addition to her long-time work with the CBR, Dr. Devine holds “The successes of the CBR have been built on many, many toward more normal life for everybody, including our Centre for many other reputable positions, including her roles as a professor shoulders,” added Dr. Conway. “I think that’s where the value is: in Blood Research (CBR) community. For over a year now, we’ve had in UBC’s Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, the everybody’s contributions.” a virtual world of seminars and symposia, transitioned to remote or chief scientist at the Canadian Blood Services, the president- socially-distanced work, and seen some rather unusual remote experiences for our summer elect of the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), and Building on the CBR’s growth, Dr. Devine plans to focus students in 2020. Though there have undoubtedly been many changes in our lives, from the Editor-in-Chief of the blood transfusion journal Vox Sanguinis. on several key areas during her four-year term. These include the added stress of working from home to the additional considerations associated with continuing to strengthen connections with other departments COVID-19 safety precautions in labs, I know that we have taken great strides to meet the As one of the CBR’s founding members, Dr. Devine has been and prospective collaborators, translating discoveries into challenges that these times have presented to us. A sincere thank you to CBR members for an integral part of the Centre since the beginning. She helped write applied use for patient benefit, establishing a faculty renewal your continued efforts in keeping each other safe. Hopefully, UBC campus will look a little the $15 million Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) grant strategy aligned with equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives, more normal in September. application that led to the CBR’s creation following the Krever inquiry, and improving fundraising and support for the Centre. along with other founding members Drs. Ross MacGillivray, Grant We have continued to see many of our labs rapidly step up to work on COVID-19 Mauk, Don Brooks, and Charles Haynes. With strong connections to “Dana’s a superstar,” said Dr. Conway. “She’ll be a fantastic questions, setting aside what they might have otherwise been researching. Indeed, there other UBC departments, as well as the Canadian Blood Services, Dr. person to advance our existing foundations and lead the CBR in new has never been a topic so widely and quickly studied by so many scientists, sparking Devine also initiated essential partnerships with collaborators across directions, for research, educational programming and beyond.” collaborations across the globe. This is science at its best: people joining forces and the divide of different organizations and academic disciplines. The working together to help society in a time of great need. From optimizing COVID-19 tests, result was the establishment of the CBR in 2002, a multidisciplinary “Dr. Devine has a wealth of knowledge in strategic planning to investigating the mechanisms through which the virus functions, to investigating how research institute that was unlike any other. and transfusion medicine, as well as developing applied blood the virus affects the blood, body and more — I commend you all on your important roles products at the national and international level,” said Dr. Josef in this work. “If you go back 20 years, there was no such thing as a truly Penninger, the Director of the Life Sciences Institute (LSI) at UBC, multidisciplinary, multi-faculty blood research centre,” said Dr. of which the CBR is a key member. Many CBR labs, including Dr. With the coming of May, it’s also time to welcome our new cohort of CBR-SBME Conway. “Dana was one of the people who had the vision for the Devine and Dr. Conway’s, are based at the Life Sciences Centre summer students. A mainstay of our educational programming, it’s my hope that these CBR and what it could accomplish; she really laid the groundwork building, which is managed by the LSI. students have a great experience with the CBR over the next few months, from exciting for what it is now.” science communication workshops, to our CBR Summer Seminars on Wednesdays, to “I want to thank Ed Conway for his stellar leadership — our much-anticipated Research Day in August. We look forward to an exciting summer, Today, the CBR encompasses over 40 research groups, with at all levels — to make CBR to one of the prime blood research albeit likely a virtual one, and all the exciting ideas, spirit and research projects that these members located across the UBC campus, at Canadian teaching centres in the world, an amazing accomplishment,” Dr. Penninger students will bring to their laboratories. hospitals, and at other organizations dedicated to health and added. “We all look forward to the great expertise and the healthcare research. Reflecting on the CBR’s development over the research excellence that Dana will bring at the prow of the CBR.” Having been part of the CBR since its creation, it’s been an interesting experience years, both Dr. Devine and Dr. Conway agreed on one of its core to reflect on the last year. While we may not be convening in person, I’m certain that the strengths: the Centre’s collaborative, interdisciplinary nature. When asked how she felt upon learning of her appointment, community, research excellence and training that’s been so integral to the Centre from the Dr. Devine expressed a sense of belonging. “I’ve been part of the very start will continue to flourish. “At the end of the day, we’re trying to improve the lives of CBR for so long,” she said, laughing, “so really, a part of me felt patients, which is a huge and complex issue,” said Dr. Devine. “To like I was coming home.” C tackle big-picture questions around patient treatment and care, you need a mix of both applied and basic scientific experts with Stay safe, and be well! different backgrounds and approaches to solving problems, from research areas outside of your own. It’s not something a single Dana Devine person can do by themselves.”

4 \\ NOTES FROM THE DIRECTOR SPECIAL FEATURE // 5 An Alternative Take on Summer Student Research Projects: The “Going Viral” Video Series

BY MARIE-SOLEIL SMITH, PHD CANDIDATE, CÔTÉ LAB Marie-Soleil Smith (top middle) interviews the creators of the “Going Viral” video series over Zoom: Mahtab S. Gill (top left), Nancy Yang (top right), Nicolas Gauthier (bottom left) and Loïc Caloren (bottom right). s researchers, we often fixate on conducting and publishing research. By doing so, we may glance over how A to best communicate those years of research to the general public. Bridging the gap between the sterile lab environment and people from all walks of life is key to showing them that what we do matters and justifies continued support, especially now with the COVID-19 pandemic. Why is scientific communication important to you? What do you like most about the process? My extended time working from home has afforded me the time and privilege of interviewing four fellow researchers from my lab, the Côté lab, who are trailblazers in the science communication landscape and have set NG: We are constantly surrounded by research news with LC: The animations. They add so much to this type of presentation. up a whole new template for summer student projects. The project was supported by the CBR-SBME Summer complicated terminology, which can be overwhelming. It can be Having what you envisioned take shape and seeing the finished Studentship Program, which provides undergraduate students with an opportunity to get hands-on research so hard to understand if you don’t know the basics. Having it product with the animations is very satisfying. experience during the summer months and to present their research at the annual CBR Research Day. explained in a way that is suitable to your amount of knowledge can help give you a good starting point. For me, back in high NG: What I like the most is that even though we are making this In the Côté lab, Mahtab S. Gill (CBR-SBME Undergraduate Summer Student), Loïc Caloren (Graduate Student), school, any resource with analogies was always more memorable to teach younger people about these topics, I’m learning so much Nicolas Gauthier (Undergraduate Co-op Student), and Nancy Yang (Graduate Student) have used their collective than something written in a textbook. from it as well. Now I’m way more knowledgeable and able to scientific knowledge and laboratory experiences to communicate everything a lay person should know about two speak to others about the topics in a way that I couldn’t before. important viruses, HIV and SARS-CoV-2. To successfully condense the molecular biology, immunology, screening, NY: I think science communication is specifically important right testing, treatment, and prevention of HIV and SARS-CoV-2 into five 15-minute videos fit for high school students is now because this is the first pandemic in the new age of social NY: I really enjoy when we have discussions about how to a feat worthy of learning more about. media. We’ve seen how fast misinformation can spread on social translate a complicated science concept into a relatable analogy media. Considering this, it may be important, now more than for viewers. It’s fun and difficult to have to think about science After transcribing our two 40-minute zoom calls to 11 pages of content, and then editing down to a mere 2.5 ever, to accurately communicate science. creatively. pages, I present to you the “Going Viral” video series interview! MG: Coming up with ideas and finding a way to convey them in lay language. It’s like a puzzle: you’re trying to find ways to say something really complicated in a more comprehensible way. MG: Mahtab, LC: Loïc, NY: Nancy, NG: Nicolas What are all the steps that go into making each video from start to finish? Why highlight SARS-CoV-2 and HIV in the same series? LC: First, we decide the main themes of each episode. We believe MG: Since SARS-CoV-2 is a virus much like HIV, we thought it Where did the idea of a video series come from? This video series was made for high school students. Why the order we picked is the most logical and helps introduce would be a great idea to relate what’s going on in the world right target this group and why do you think communicating important concepts to build on as we go along. For each episode, now and tie it back to our research in our lab, highlighting the LC: Initially, we thought of the classic “going into your knowledge to them is important? we brainstorm a skeleton of the main points that we want to classrooms and making a presentation” science talk about, and in some cases, how it relates to other episodes. similarities and differences between the two viruses. communication format, with interactive games and MG: High school is a time for students to start thinking Next, we research the main points, write up a script, and start LC: It also helps our series stand out from all the other information questions. Obviously, you can’t do that remotely, so about their future. We’re trying to communicate our daily making slides. It goes through several rounds of revisions, then about SARS-CoV-2. we had to find new ways to “reach” classrooms. We lives in the lab to them, hoping to inspire them into pursuing we present the draft to each other and to our supervisor Hélène, played around with having remote presentations on research. We try to simplify everything to match what they critique what we like and don’t like, and make changes. Next, we platforms like Zoom, but that doesn’t offer the same are being taught in school. It’s the perfect time to share our present it at our lab meeting, where we gain more valuable input flexibility as a video, which can be watched anytime, knowledge because they’re learning about the basics like on how the information is conveyed. After that, we implement What are your tactics for making sure the information is accurate, by anyone, so we decided to pre-record presentations what cells, viruses and the immune system are. final changes and Mahtab makes the recording and posts it on but also understandable for those without expertise? to be sent out to high school teachers. This morphed YouTube. It’s the kind of thing that’s never perfect, where you into a more animated format to confer visual interest could go back and edit it constantly. For instance, when we LC: We have to strike a balance between explaining exactly what’s without having a live speaker, which gradually turned The background graphics in this article were taken from Episodes 1 - 5 of the translate for the French videos, we inevitably find things we want going on and simplifying it for the audience and in the interest into the video series. “Going Viral” video series. to improve. of time. I take myself back to when I was in high school and ask

6 \\ RESEARCH RESEARCH // 7 like a cold artificial setting of a lab with enzymes and antibodies. We want to demonstrate that there’s so much crossover between science and society, for example in the healthcare field where many of the policies and how we live our lives are affected by research.

What advice would you give someone who also wants to share their scientific knowledge to diverse audiences? Predicting the Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 Proteins:

LC: Don’t be afraid to put in your personal experience. If you have Insights into Ongoing COVID-19 Research at the CBR a certain way that makes sense to you, it’s likely that the same analogy or concept will make sense to others. BY GUILLERMO CABALLERO SILVA, PHD CANDIDATE, STRYNADKA LAB

In Episode 2 of the English version of the series, Mahtab S. Gill explains the MG: Knowing your audience and how much they know is going different docking proteins and mechanisms between HIV and SARS-CoV-2. to go really far to help find that correct balance of accuracy and simplicity. Also, a lot of hard work goes into preparing everything. Be prepared to spend the time doing the research, making a myself, “Would I have been able to understand this?” Student presentation or video, and then putting it all together. he rapid emergence and propagation Recombinant expression and purification of RBD has been a topic of feedback has been very important as well. We’ve been getting a of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 great interest due to the multiple potential applications that it can provide, lot of positive feedback from students saying, “I can understand T has prompted collaborations among such as vaccine development and high-throughput biochemical analysis. it now” and “I learned something new.” That kind of encouraging scientists from diverse fields of research, all looking Conventional expression of RBD has largely been carried out in eukaryotic, feedback confirms that we’ve been striking a good balance. Any last comments? to understand and hopefully predict the course mostly human cell lines due to the presence of two glycosylation sites at that COVID-19 is taking. One of these teams is the periphery of this 195-amino-acid-long protein fragment. The nature and NY: I just want to say that I think it’s really remarkable how composed of the Centre for Blood Research’s (CBR) importance of the glycosylations in protein folding and receptor recognition Mahtab has spearheaded this project. I think we can all attest own Dr. Natalie Strynadka, in addition to Dr. Robert are still a matter of great debate due to the lack of structural information that it’s not easy as an undergrad student to take the lead on What has been the most difficult concept(s) to communicate Brunham, head of the Vaccine Research Laboratory available. By adopting a multi-prong strategy, the Strynadka Lab has been a brand-new project in a well-established lab. It shows how through a YouTube video? at BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), and Dr. experimenting and optimizing the expression of RBD in both eukaryotic impactful and wide-reaching a single summer project can be. Vikram Mulligan, co-founder of Menten AI and lead (mammalian, insect, and yeast cells) and prokaryotic (E. coli) systems. MG: Probably trying to explain the immune system in Episode 3. developer of prediction computational softwares. The Production of mammalian proteins in E. coli has its own challenges and Condensing all the different players of the immune system into a MG: This was a total team effort, I feel like this will sound cheesy, overarching goal of this work is to the predict and limitations, mainly due to the lack of machinery to properly fold and modify 15-minute video, while also incorporating how both viruses affect but we have built up this chemistry as a group, so it’s been very identify potentially detrimental mutations in SARS- exogenous proteins. Some of these problems can be readily addressed by the immune system, was a really big challenge. You’ll notice the smooth. Even in our group chat, you can see that everyone is CoV-2 using a combination of artificial intelligence, exploring and using many of the available molecular and biochemical resources other videos have a little more text, but with Episode 3 we really eager to help and share ideas, and we feed off that excitement. sequence-based prediction algorithms, and atomic developed specifically for bacterial recombinant expression and purification. focused on the animations to get our ideas across. LC: Having a similar vision for how the project would shape up in resolution structural biology. So far, this multi-faceted approach has resulted in the successful NG: Another thing that is very difficult to explain concisely yet general has really helped us be on the same page, yet we all bring In order to analyze the many single amino- expression and purification of both RBD and ACE2 peptides in all eukaryotic accurately is how different populations are affected differently individual perspectives and different elements when putting it acids mutations obtained from prediction software, system experiments as expected, but also in E. coli cells. However, further by both viruses, with social determinants of health playing a big all together. A big thank you to everyone behind the scenes, the it is necessary to elucidate and optimize alternative validation will be needed in order to confirm that the lack of glycosylations role. It’s a big and very important conversation to have. For these other members of the team, Hélène, and our lab members, as well purification protocols that can produce large amounts resulting from prokaryotic expression did not affect the folding or activity of topics, we were limited by the format of our presentations, but as the CBR for their support and for providing this opportunity. of proteins. However, one of the most critical and peptides. Through the implementation and optimization of the expression we hope to spark deeper conversations on these issues. often difficult steps in biochemistry is the production conditions, as well as the hard work of the COVID-19 response team, we of pure and stable amounts of proteins, as these are are now able to produce soluble and stable proteins for crystallization If you’ve made it this far, thank you! I appreciate your time often dependent on the type of expression system and X-ray crystallography. Now that the first hurdle has been passed, we What impact do you want this video series to make? and I hope you learned something new. Like, share, subscribe, and methods used. will be able to focus on the development and production of RBD mutants etcetera, as we continue in the hopes of getting “Going Viral” to that are predicted to increase and benefit the virulence and endurance of MG: If even just one student is left inspired by what we do as a go, well, viral! C The project focuses on the Spike glycoprotein SARS-CoV-2. Ultimately, this will help us understand, predict, and prepare research group, I think that’s the biggest impact you could have. of SARS-CoV-2, a trimeric surface membrane protein ourselves from any potential mutations that might arise in this virus that has I did a Q&A with a high school class and a lot of the questions that is responsible for viral attachment and entry. This already shaken the world enough. C were focused on how I got into research. It shows that some critical event is mediated by the high affinity interaction students are actually interested in getting into this field. Since Marie-Soleil is a PhD Student in Dr. Hélène Côté’s lab at the between Spike’s protein receptor binding domain I’m closer to their age, I think my experience feels more relevant UBC Hospital. When she’s not busy trying to identify the safest (RBD) and human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 to them. HIV antiretroviral for pregnant women, she likes to bake, do (ACE2) which, upon binding, allow membrane fusion yoga, and work on 1000-piece puzzles. between the virus and cells. RBD is not only the current LC: It’s important to me that people realize that science is all target of multiple vaccine development projects but is around them. We talk about topics such as what’s going on in your Watch the “Going Viral” video series in English or in also the target of recombinant expression assays in the To learn about more COVID-19 research from the CBR, visit www.cbr.ubc.ca/ body, but we also touch on things that might seem far removed, French: www.tinyurl.com/cotelabgoingviralvideo Strynadka Lab. predicting-evolution-of-sars-cov-2/.

8 \\ RESEARCH RESEARCH // 9 exhibit out-of-frame gene rearrangements and gene deletions that would preclude their ability to ever express functional TCRs. These previously overlooked rearrangements in the ILC2 TCR genes suggest that ILC2s are Challenging the Dogma of Innate Lymphoid salvaged from neonatal thymocytes that fail to mature properly into γδ T cells (proposed model shown in Figure 1). Thus, by carefully tracing TCR gene rearrangements, this work rewrites the life-story of ILC2 development. It suggests that rather than developing in the adult bone marrow, most of these cells develop Cell (ILC) Development early in life in the thymus as an offshoot of γδ T cell development. They then colonize developing tissues and from that point forward are largely tissue-resident cells, expanding locally in response to inflammation. BY DR. MICHAEL HUGHES, RESEARCH ASSOCIATE, MCNAGNY LAB & DR. KELLY MCNAGNY, PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR In challenging the dogma of how ILC2s develop, this work hints that other ILC subsets and T cells may Lead author, Samuel also share developmental pathways and may be linked more closely than previously thought. The results Shin, MSc Student in of this study provide a framework for developing a better understanding of when and how to isolate and Experimental Medicine manipulate ILCs for therapies to treat human disease in the future. C (CBR Member/McNagny Research Group). Image Credit: Samuel Shin.

1 Figure 1. Proposed model of ILC2 Cell (2018) 174: 1054-1066. 2 Blood Adv. (2020) 4: 5362-5372. development from thymocytes that 3 Front. Immunol. (2019) 10: 930. fail productive γδ T cell receptor rearrangement. Rearrangements in the γ and δ gene loci of lung ILC2s (red) suggest that they are salvaged from immature thymocytes (green) key focus of his work is on biomaterial innovation, that fail to mature properly into γδ T with a common foundation in applied hematology cells (gold). Dr. Jayachandran Kizhakkedathu and translational medicine. Image Credit: Samuel Shin, published first as graphical abstract Inducted as a Fellow, Biomaterials In addition to his recent induction, Dr. 2 in Blood Advances (2020) and re- Kizhakkedathu has received numerous other awards printed with permission. Science and Engineering (FBSE) and recognitions, including the Faculty Research Award in 2018, the UBC Killam Research Prize in 2017, the ave you ever wondered how your body knows MSc student in Dr. Kelly McNagny’s research group, challenges BY KRISTINE HO, COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR, CBR ADMIN TEAM UBC Faculty of Medicine Distinguished Achievement to respond to an infection appropriately? When this dogma of ILC development2. In his paper published in Blood Award in 2013, and the Department of Pathology H infected with a virus, why does your body Advances, Sam examined the T cell receptor gene status of type and Laboratory Medicine Excellence in Research and immediately make an anti-viral response, and not an anti- 2 ILCs (ILC2s) — a subset of ILCs with an important role in Discovery Award in 2011. He was also recognized as a bacterial or an allergic response? Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) mucosal immunology and allergic lung disease3. He aimed to use ongratulations to Dr. Jayachandran Kizhakkedathu, who was Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Scholar are a relatively new sub-set of immune cells1. They are on the TCR gene rearrangements as a tracer to delineate the origins of recently named a Fellow, Biomaterials Science and Engineering in 2011 and was honoured with the Canadian Institutes front lines of your body’s response to infection and injury, and these cells. Strikingly, he found that ILC2s show a high frequency (FBSE)! Announced at the 11th World Biomaterials Congress in of Health Research New Investigator Award in 2005. they play a critical role in helping “decide” how best to respond of TCR gene rearrangements, which are the key first step of T cell C December 2020, Dr. Kizhakkedathu is one of three Canadian professors Dr. Kizhakkedathu’s research has been published in to invading pathogens and tissue-injury. development in the thymus. who have been inducted as Fellows, a recognition that celebrates numerous scientific journals, including Nature Materials, the researchers’ outstanding contributions to biomaterials research, Science Translational Medicine, Nature Biotechnology, As their name suggests, ILCs are cells of the innate immune The breakthrough moment was when Sam noticed that education, and service. system. Our innate immune response initiates inflammatory ILC2s had tell-tale signs of TCR rearrangement in the gamma (γ) Nature Communications, Journal of the American Chemical signaling, attracts appropriate first responders to the site of and delta (δ) gene loci (shown in Figure 1). These rearrangements The honorary designation of “Fellow, Biomaterials Science and Society, Biomaterials, and Blood, among many others, as infection, and guides activation of adaptive immune cells, mainly are normally only observed in mature γδ T cells, which are an Engineering”, was first established in April 1992, after the constituent well as in several patents. T cells, then, later, B cells, to fight infection. In fact, in many ways “unconventional” subset of T cells that traditionally develop in biomaterials societies of the World Biomaterials Congress — now Well done to Dr. Kizhakkedathu on his induction ILCs behave like helper T cells, as they play key roles in helping waves around the time of birth. Mature γδ T cells are present in known as the International Union of Societies for Biomaterials Science into this distinguished group of scientists! C other immune cells perform their effector functions. ILCs are low abundance in tissues compared to classical T cell subsets and Engineering (IUS-BSE) — recognized that members who hold distinct from helper T cells in that they respond immediately to and they are most prominent in barrier tissues, such as the gut, excellent professional standing and high achievements in those fields are infection and they do not express the functional T cell receptors lungs, and skin. Mature γδ T cells are also unusual in that they deserving of public recognition. Fellows are defined as those who foster (TCRs) that give T cells their exquisite specificity1. Thus, ILCs respond more broadly to antigens synthesized by groups of advancements of the biomaterials field, and support its professional appear to bridge the gap between the innate and adaptive pathogens than do conventional T cells. Therefore, like ILC2s, γδ development as a practical and intellectual endeavour. immune responses. T cells help bridge the innate and adaptive immune responses. Dr. Kizhakkedathu is a member of the Centre for Blood Research Despite their importance in bridging the innate and The surprising discovery that ILC2s exhibit signs of gene (CBR) at the University of British Columbia (UBC), a professor in the adaptive immune responses, little is known about how ILCs rearrangement in the γ and δ gene loci suggests that instead of Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and an Associate are made. Current models assert that they develop from bone developing in the adult bone marrow, most ILCs mature (likely Member with the Department of Chemistry and the School of marrow (BM) stem cells. They are thought to mature in the BM, around the time of birth) in the thymus, which is traditionally Biomedical Engineering. His research encompasses multiple themes, alongside other blood cell precursors, and then leave the BM to thought of as the realm of T cell maturation. Perhaps even more including macromolecular therapeutics, cell-surface engineering, populate tissues and organs throughout the body. Samuel Shin, an unexpected was the observation that a high frequency of ILCs proteomic reagents, and blood-compatible surfaces and devices. A Dr. Jayachandran Kizhakkedathu

10 \\ RESEARCH AWARDS // 11 What is the importance of this research?

CK: In the near term, I think this research is useful to understanding the biochemistry of blood coagulation, as well as the role that blood coagulation plays in inflammation, Alzheimer’s, or other neurodegenerative diseases.

The future goal of this gene therapy approach would look at preventing the causes of stroke, heart attack, and other health complications caused by deadly blood clots. It’s a nice research Amy Wong Strilchuk Dr. Christian Kastrup tool – it has the potential to provide a better and safer therapeutic approach to thrombotic disorders. What did you find most surprising about the study?

Busting Deadly Blood Clots: AWS: It’s interesting to see how one injection of the agent we Using siRNA Gene Therapy as a New Approach used can have such long-lasting effects. In our study, we see the desired effect for three to five weeks after a single administration in animal models — that’s just so different than most therapies BY KRISTINE HO, COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR, CBR ADMIN TEAM “ The future goal of this gene out there. therapy approach would look at CK: The biggest surprise for me was how effective the siRNA and preventing the causes of stroke, lipid nanoparticle approach was… This technology was developed heart attack, and other health at UBC by co-author Dr. Pieter Cullis. lood clots play a part in many severe health issues, from causing strokes and heart attacks to influencing neurodegenerative complications caused by deadly It was one of the first times we used it and I was really surprised at B diseases like Alzheimer’s. Usually, a patient who develops a clot can dissolve it by taking an anticoagulant drug, but risks the blood clots. common side effect of excessive bleeding. how good it was at ‘knocking down’ or inhibiting the protein that promotes clot stability, thus helping the blood clots break down A recent study published by the Kastrup Lab at the Centre for Blood Research and Michael Smith Laboratories helps provide It’s a nice research tool — it has more easily and safely. a potential solution to this issue through a new approach called siRNA gene therapy1. We chatted with lead authors Dr. Christian the potential to provide a better Kastrup (CK) and PhD Candidate Amy Wong Strilchuk (AWS) about their research, and how their findings might help dissolve These LNPs are now being used to deliver the leading COVID-19 clots safely. and safer therapeutic approach vaccines, and we’re very happy for Pieter and everyone else who to thrombotic disorders. has been championing LNP use.

What was your study about? How does siRNA therapy work? How is it different than taking an anticoagulant drug? CK: We developed a new tool to decrease the activity of What were some techniques you used? Coagulation Factor XIII (FXIII), a blood protein that helps link AWS: Most anticoagulant drugs indiscriminately inhibit multiple “ It’s interesting to see how one molecules together to form deadly blood clots. This protein members of the coagulation cascade. This stops the blood AWS: One of the major techniques we used is called injection of the agent we used stabilizes clots and makes them more difficult to break down, clotting process altogether, which means that even minor injuries thromboelastography (TEG), which measures the stiffness can have such long-lasting which can lead to health complications like heart attacks. can put patients at risk of excessive bleeding. The effects of of blood clots over time as they form and lyse, or break down. anticoagulants are also more difficult to reverse, because clotting It provides us with detailed information about different clot effects... that’s just so different After a single injection of silencing RNA (siRNA), delivered using factors from newly transfused blood would still be subject to characteristics like clot formation rate, overall clot strength, and than most therapies out there. lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), we saw a 90% decrease of FXIII inhibition by these drugs. how easily a clot lyses. In this technique, a sensor is suspended activity for multiple weeks. The decreased activity helped dissolve in an oscillating cup that contains a blood sample. The sensor blood clots more easily without excessive bleeding, which is, By contrast, our siRNA is delivered into liver cells where most measures the force applied against it by the sample; the force unfortunately, a common side effect of current drug therapies. coagulation proteins are made, and stops the synthesis of a increases as the sample forms a stiffer clot matrix, or decreases Thank you to Dr. Kastrup and Amy for sharing their work with us! Their specific target — FXIII, in this case — instead of inhibiting the as the sample is broken down back into liquid clot lysate. research offers a glimpse into how gene therapy can provide a novel Research like this gives us a new gene therapy tool to treat all coagulation cascade as a whole. FXIII is not needed for initial approach to safely breaking down blood clots. kinds of diseases where FXIII plays a role. clot formation, but rather works downstream to stabilize existing We also used techniques to identify which proteins were causing clots, which is why inhibiting it will not pose the same risks of changes in these clot characteristics. First, we stimulated the We’d also like to acknowledge the many other CBR and UBC bleeding as other anticoagulants. If the patient suffers a major blood to clot, then dissolved the clots using a chemical mixture collaborators on the study, including: Dr. Ed Conway, Nooshin Safikhan, injury or requires surgery, reversing the siRNA therapy is much and analyzed their protein components using a western blot. Jerry Leung, Scott Meixner, Dr. Ed Pryzdial, Dr. Pieter Cullis, Dr. Jayesh easier, since transfusing blood products or FXIII concentrate This allowed us to identify the proteins that were increasing the Kulkarni, and Dr. Michael Sutherland. C Image above: Amy Wong Strilchuk working in the lab. would immediately supplement the missing protein and help clots’ resistance to breaking down, and how much their activity All images credit: UBC Michael Smith Laboratories. blood return to its normal clotting process. depended on FXIII. 1 Blood (2020) 136 (25): 2946-2954.

12 \\ RESEARCH RESEARCH // 13 Lost in Lab: Deciphering Blood Immune Cells Just Keep Swarming to Fight COVID-19

BY BRONWYN LYONS, PHD CANDIDATE, STRYNADKA LAB BY MELINA MESSING, PHD CANDIDATE, MCNAGNY LAB

ertain bacteria, including the opportunistic This article was originally submitted to the 2020 Lay Science Writing isolated room, in a deserted building, on a deserted campus, in a pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, use a Competition, organized by the Canadian Blood Services’ Centre for deserted city far from home offers a suitable setting for moments Cmechanism of motility called swarming to travel along Innovation and the Centre for Blood Research. It was awarded joint of silence that come with this knowledge. surfaces such as the mucosal lining of the lung1. This mode first place. of transportation is made possible by long propeller-like Yet, each new patient blood draw revealed a more in- tails called flagella, which allow for swift dispersion of depth picture of how COVID-19 challenges and changes our ally with possible targets that offer hope for disease diagnosis, the pathogen throughout the infected tissue. Swarming treatment and prevention. In the midst of a second wave and motility is also important for the establishment of bacterial he immune system is a civilization that lives within more infections and deaths to come, centered around a stumbling biofilms. These matrix encapsulated communities of us. Our organs are its home. Our arteries and veins immune response, these insights are invaluable. bacteria tend to be resistant to even aggressive antibiotic T are the streets it patrols to keep us safe. It provides treatments. P. aeruginosa is a particularly problematic essential services that we cannot live without. A complex system Despite the possibility of infection both inside and outside pathogen for immunocompromised patients, such Figure 1. Illustration of Pseudomonas aeruginosa swimming (left) and swarming (right) motility on agar that adapts to guard us instantly and long term. But when immune the lab, my own sense of uncertainty and fear has changed. as those with Cystic Fibrosis, where chronic and life- plates with tobramycin-soaked disks. Swarming bacteria approached closer to the centre, indicating heightened antibiotic resistance. cells are overwhelmed or turn to foe, we lose our greatest and It truly takes a village (and in this case just a few milliliters of threatening infections often occur. most important ally. Normal healthy life, that we often take for blood) to respond quickly to an urgent crisis. This opportunity granted, becomes impossible. to experience real time contribution and discovery only left Members of the Hancock lab recently published (Figure 1), but also were more resistant to aminoglycoside antibiotics than they encouragement and appreciation. Encouragement that we can a study detailing the multidrug adaptative antibiotic were towards ß-lactams. In Dr. Kelly McNagny’s lab, I analyze immune responses overcome this challenge and appreciation for the ability and resistance of P. aeruginosa swarming cells2. Notably, to determine why they sometimes go astray. As an international collaborative effort both in the McNagny lab and the scientific Coleman and colleagues confirmed that swarming So, what is the mechanism behind the heightened antibiotic resistance graduate student, with family on a different continent, the lab is community as a whole. C P. aeruginosa cells are capable of acquiring increased in swarming cells? Using a sophisticated technique called RNA sequencing my second home. When COVID-19 arrived, as borders closed resistance to multiple antibiotics prior to previous (RNA-Seq), researchers in the Hancock Lab sought to identify changes in and lockdowns were ordered, both my primary and secondary exposure. They explored the genetic mechanisms behind the regulation of specific genes in swarming cells when exposed to different home were inaccessible. The distance was unchanged, yet this adaptive resistance, identifying key changes that antibiotics. Interestingly, swarming (versus swimming) cells exhibited family seemed infinitely far away. As experienced by many, life occur in swarming cells at the transcriptome level. differential expression of numerous RNA transcripts, corresponding to 28% was now in limbo, goals and purpose turned into apprehension Melina Messing is a German international student and PhD of the entire P. aeruginosa genome. This suggests that antibiotic resistance and uncertainty. candidate in the laboratory of Dr. Kelly McNagny at the Coleman and colleagues explored the role of under native swarming conditions is likely a cumulative effect of many genes. University of British Columbia, where she studies immune swarming in the development of resistance to a variety Furthermore, when treated with the antibiotic tobramycin, swarming cells Not only has 2020 become a year of challenge but also a responses in several conditions including muscular dystrophy, of antibiotics including, for example, ß-lactams (e.g. exhibited significant upregulation in the expression of genes that correspond year of adaptation. With special protections and permissions, piperacillin) and aminoglycosides (e.g. tobramycin). to proteins that are involved in drug efflux (designed to pump antibiotics rapid clinical collaborations and the right tools in place, my childhood allergic disease and most recently COVID-19. Agar plates designed to mimic either swarming or out of the bacterial cell) and downregulation of those involved in membrane research shifted to the characterization of the immune response against COVID-19. By looking at the most accessible tissue — the Melina joined the Canadian Blood Services writing competition swimming growth conditions were inoculated with permeability. As this is only observed during antibiotic exposure, a different circulating blood — we asked: “Can we determine why some people as a means to creatively express her experiences and bacterial culture. These experiments make use of the set of mechanisms of resistance must be at play during antibiotic exposure are protected while others are not? Can we find specific immune challenges as a researcher during the pandemic as well as fact that swimming, another bacterial mechanism of when swarming. cells that are responsible? Can we determine how to manipulate share her appreciation for the scientific community. Going motility that occurs in liquid environments rather than the system to prevent extreme illness and even death?” forward, Melina hopes to apply her clinical research skills surfaces, is supported at lower percentages of agar than In summary, Coleman and colleagues have illustrated the dynamic gained from her work on COVID-19 towards the continued swarming. Antibiotic resistance was measured based and multi-dimensional role of bacterial motility and how it affects antibiotic Equipped with an exemption to return and exchanging building of her career as an immunologist. on how close the swarming (or swimming) cells grew resistance. During swarming motility, many genes are dysregulated, resulting public transit with lengthy walks, work once again was possible. towards a filter paper disk soaked with the antibiotic in a state of antibiotic resistance. Furthering our understanding of antibiotic In an empty lab, with the hope that gloves and gown, mask of choice at the centre of the plate, with more resistant resistance, and the multiple factors that allow P. aeruginosa to cause serious and goggles are enough, I obtained immune cells from patient bacteria approaching closer to the centre. Coleman and infections in susceptible individuals, is extremely important for efficient and blood. Early on, it became clear that COVID-19 is a unique and colleagues found that P. aeruginosa swarming cells not effective therapeutic design. C powerful foe. Drastic early immune changes, where the immune Read the other first place entry to the 2020 Lay Science only exhibited heightened resistance to most antibiotic cells clearly lost their foot race with the virus, revealed what later Writing Competition on page 28. 1 Nat. Rev. Micro. (2010): 8, 634-644. classes, as opposed to for example swimming cells 2 Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. (2020): 64, e01999-19. was to be confirmed: the patients who passed away. A specially

14 \\ RESEARCH SPECIAL FEATURE // 15 What excites you most about your What advice would you have for current research? emerging researchers?

We’re currently working on really exciting To face the many challenges of research, and potentially impactful developments you need to be highly motivated, in blood banking, and subsequently extremely curious, and plan out your transfusion medicine. For example, we’re goals and milestones. I learned quite trying to create products for trauma early on in my career that research alone Meet the Researcher: patients to increase their chances of doesn’t cut it anymore. Researchers also survival after an accident. Many trauma need to deal with politics and business. fatalities happen even before first You need to collaborate with different Dr. Peter Schubert responders bring a patient to the ER for people and join committees to get treatment. We’re looking into developing different viewpoints. This helps you build a leukoreduced whole blood product that networks with your colleagues and those BY ANDY AN, MD/PHD STUDENT, HANCOCK LAB first responders could use as a single deciding grant outcomes. The CBR helps & CECILIA H. KIM, CBR-SBME SUMMER STUDENTSHIP PROGRAM ALUM transfusable unit for patients before they foster this type of collaboration with arrive at the ER. This is very exciting in many career development events and terms of the impact it could have on platforms. So be on a constant lookout patient survival. for new opportunities! Can you tell us a bit more a project involving the about your research application of proteomics Leukoreduction filtration of whole blood at Dr. r. Peter Schubert is a Principal background? to platelet storage. Donated Schubert’s lab, used to develop a “whole blood” Did you notice any differences between Could you tell us what a workday in transfusion product Investigator with the UBC Centre blood is separated into its the research culture in Germany and your life looks like and how COVID-19 I studied chemistry and for Blood Research (CBR) and a components — plasma, Canada? has affected your day-to-day D Clinical Associate Professor at the biochemistry for my platelets, and red blood cells What do you hope to be a legacy of responsibilities? Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. Bachelors and Masters — and stored in plastic bags. From a research perspective, there’s not your research? As the principal manager of the Blood4Research in Germany, and then Over time, storage causes much difference. We all work towards As the new principal manager for the I’m not very big into accolades — it’s Facility, a part of the Centre for Innovation of the completed my PhD in the deterioration of these the same goal of making discoveries and Blood4Research facility, I’ve now largely more that I love innovative research and Canadian Blood Services, he is also responsible for biochemistry, molecular components. innovations, and we conduct clinical and transitioned into a management role, so thinking about ways to improve projects. facilitating the provision of blood to researchers, biology, and microbiology. translational research in both countries. I’m grateful to my team that handles most While it would be nice to have research in order to advance the fields of transfusion and I later conducted my Fifteen years ago, we didn’t However, the cost and expectations of of my research. I start work at 6 AM, as I accomplishments, it is important to transplantation medicine. postdoctoral research at the understand what caused graduate programs are quite different. deal with the head office of the Canadian me that everyone I work with is happy Biomedical Research Centre stored platelet deterioration, When I went through graduate school, Blood Services in Ottawa, and have and leads a balanced life while finding Dr. Schubert is involved in many transfusion at UBC, gaining scientific so we compared the proteome you didn’t pay tuition in Germany, which conference calls until noon to discuss purpose in their work. That holds more medicine projects with the Canadian Blood Services training in cell biology of fresh and stored platelets to I think impacts student motivation. different projects at Blood4Research. significance than any award for me, as I that focus on addressing current issues in blood and proteomics. Having answer that question. It was a Sometimes students take longer to finish Later, I touch base with my research team believe one can only be successful if the banking. His research primarily revolves around a background in different great example of translational their degrees in Germany because there’s and my day usually ends at around 3 PM whole team is successful. improving current blood products, and also scientific fields helps me science that connected my not as much financial pressure. when the East Coast closes. developing nextGen blood products to optimize better understand the technological expertise with delivery to patients who need transfusions. rapidly developing interface Dana’s vast background in Additionally, over the last few years, there I’ve been enjoying all aspects of my job, between chemistry, cell blood banking. Through this have been some attempts in Germany to including the commitments I have with When you’re not working, what other For this edition of “Meet the Researcher”, biology, and biochemistry. collaboration, Dana got me make the undergraduate and graduate the CBR and the Pathology department. activities do you enjoy? we had the pleasure of chatting with Dr. Schubert very excited about transfusion program structures more similar to the Despite COVID-19, I still commute about his background, research, and advice for science and later offered North American system, to facilitate to work every day to work with my I’m an outdoors person and I like to young scientists. me a job within her group foreign exchange for students. I think this large team. We have COVID-19 safety What inspired you to focus go hiking or snowshoeing, to get away at Canadian Blood Services, is a brilliant idea. protocols in place and we continue to on transfusion medicine? from the noisy city (I’m now used to where I started my career in have donors coming in for risk-protected the Vancouver rain!). Just sitting on a this field. Kudos to her! blood donations. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. I think it’s not what inspired mountain and enjoying the peace and me but who inspired me quiet, where no cell phone, email, or to get into transfusion text can reach you, is something really science. In the last year of To face the many challenges of research, you need special. In my free time, I’m also happy my postdoctoral fellowship, “ to reconnect with former students who Dr. Dana Devine approached Image above: Dr. Schubert hiking on the to be highly motivated, extremely curious, and might need help, like references or me to collaborate on snowy slopes in Garibaldi Provincial Park. plan out your goals and milestones. support and advice. C

16 \\ PROFILES PROFILES // 17 from improving platelets for transfusion, to the effect of viral infections on These images were shown in a video during 2020 Earl W. aging, to using deep learning to classify red blood cell deformability. Jean- Davie Symposium, as part of a Tribute to Earl W. Davie and Earl’s good friend Dr. Edmond Fischer. They are photos from Christophe Bélanger of the Montréal Heart Institute won the first-place previous Earl W. Davie Symposia and of Earl’s lab members. award for best poster, while Nancy Yang of the Côté Lab and Andy An of the Hancock Lab — both from the CBR — tied for the runner-up award.

The first half of the afternoon followed with a pairing of patient and research talks, which centred around two health conditions involving critically low numbers of platelets: heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and immune thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP). Dr. Benjamin Lai of UBC first discussed challenges in treating HIT, a presentation that was followed by Dr. Judith Hall’s description of her experience with HIT and patient care. Chrystal Gellein, another patient, then shared her ITP story, from the diagnosis in her late teens to her journey of adapting to everyday life with her condition. This was followed by a presentation by Dr. Donald Arnold, director of the McMaster Centre for Transfusion Research, on recent advances in ITP research. The integration of patient experiences with research perspectives provided a thoughtful avenue for discussing future Honouring a Legacy: directions in treating these diseases and improving patient care, and served as a reminder that behind all scientific research are the people whose lives The 14th Earl W. Davie Symposium are affected by such work. After a packed day of insightful presentations, the symposium’s BY KRISTINE HO, COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR, CBR ADMIN TEAM closing notes included a tribute to Earl by both Drs. Conway and Ross MacGillivray. It was Dr. MacGillivray, the CBR’s founding Director and Earl’s former student, who first established the symposium in 2007. During the closing notes, in a video clip shown from the 2013 event, Dr. MacGillivray shared the spirit of Earl’s teachings and philosophies: “Earl is a very special person who taught us not only to do good science, but to enjoy it, and ith the advent of November comes a much- University and the recipient of the Naiman-Vickars Professorship. that nice people can actually come first.” The symposium concluded with anticipated event for the Centre for Blood Research Building on the topic of coagulation, Dr. Weitz’s talk explored a remark from Dr. Conway, who invited all attendees to participate in the W (CBR) community: the Earl W. Davie Symposium. how Factor XI, one of the many enzymes that influences blood 15th Earl Davie Symposium next year, where Earl’s legacy in research and This annual, one-day conference features expert presentations on clotting, could be used as a target for new anticoagulant drugs. excellence will continue. bleeding, thrombosis and coagulation research. Hosted in honour The symposium also hosted two keynote speakers, Dr. Mary of Dr. Earl Davie, the 2020 symposium was held virtually to great Cushman of the University of Vermont and Dr. Thomas Ortel of success. Over 300 registrants from a mix of local, national and Duke University, who spoke about racial disparities in stroke and international audiences gathered online on November 17th to antithrombotic therapy in COVID-19, respectively, two critical honour Earl’s legacy and participate in an excellent program with and timely topics. Dr. Cushman described how stroke is the presentations by leading experts, trainees and patients. leading cause of disability and the fifth leading cause of death in “ Earl is a very special person the United States, sharing insights into why stroke-related death Now in its fourteenth year running, this Earl W. Davie is twice as common in the Black population, while Dr. Ortel’s who taught us not only to do Symposium would mark the first one without Earl since his presentation shed light on antithrombotic therapies for those good science, but to enjoy passing in June. In the event’s opening remarks, CBR Director suffering from COVID-19. Dr. Ed Conway took a moment to describe some of Earl’s many it, and that nice people can accomplishments and his ongoing legacy in the research and CBR After the morning presentations, 14 trainees from both communities. As an eminent biochemist, Earl is best known for Canadian and international institutions had the opportunities to actually come first. his discovery of the Waterfall Sequence of Blood Clotting, which present their research through virtual poster sessions. Facilitated described the “cascading” effect of factors involved in blood by breakout sessions, attendees and poster judges could freely — DR. ROSS MACGILLIVRAY coagulation. As a mentor and close friend to the CBR, Earl was listen to, discuss and engage with different presenters in an well-known for his mentorship, endless curiosity and kindness online format. The trainee talks covered a wide variety of topics, to all those around him, from early-career trainees to long-time lab colleagues. The impact and success of the 2020 Earl Davie Symposium would not Image above: A photo taken during the 2017 Norman Bethune Symposium, with Dr. Earl have been possible without the sponsors of the symposium: the Naiman-Vickars Following these opening remarks, the symposium began W. Davie (left), former CBR Director Dr. Ross MacGillivray (centre), and Earl’s friend and Endowment Fund, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Bayer, the Canadian Blood Services, with a presentation by Dr. Jeffrey Weitz, a professor at McMaster 1992 Nobel Prize Laureate Dr. Edmond Fischer. Biorender, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, and Grifols. C

18 \\ EVENTS EVENTS // 19 “ After describing the complexities of the scandal and the subsequent inquiry, [Rob] left us with the important notion to question the institutions that serve us and to always fight for the truth. ” Norman Bethune Symposium 2020, and congenital hemophilia, such as varying clinical presentations With a Virtual Twist and response to therapies. Our last set of trainee talks was led by Polina Petlitsyna BY BRONWYN LYONS, PHD CANDIDATE, STRYNADKA LAB & MARIE-SOLEIL SMITH, PHD CANDIDATE, CÔTÉ LAB of Dr. Jenna Usprech’s lab at UBC’s School of Biomedical Engineering, who discussed teaching science to seniors. She developed a cell biology program that is tailored to senior learners and worked to improve public trust in science among he 9th annual — but first virtual — Norman Bethune (SCD). In patients with SCD, hemolysis — or the breakdown these learners, especially vital during the COVID-19 pandemic. Symposium honoured the work of Dr. Norman Bethune, of RBCs — leads to accumulation of sickled cells within the Dr. Marine Theret, a postdoctoral fellow in the Rossi lab, covered T vasculature and consequent occlusion of oxygen from tissues, important cell-signaling factors that are involved in modulation an astounding Canadian physician who shaped the foundation of transfusion medicine and universal access to healthcare. The resulting in multiorgan failure. of inflammatory environments, like multiple sclerosis. Lastly, we symposium kicked off with a talk from Dr. Graham Sher, CEO of heard from Keiko Patterson who is part of a group of UBC medical Canada Blood Services. He highlighted the factors of significance We next heard from Dr. Mel Krajden, director of Virology students that traveled to Nepal over the course of 2015-2020 to for the blood sector regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, including at BC CDC and Professor at UBC. Dr. Krajden gave an update address the prevalence, education and management of sickle cell Twitter Research Showcase Thread by showcase winner Maria-Elizabeth Baeva politics, global supply chains, social and human development, on the COVID-19 response, including transmission and the use/ disease in the Indigenous Tharu population. and health. The talk concluded by describing how the Canadian efficacy of personal protective equipment, as well as challenges research topic to a lay audience. Congratulations to Maria- Blood Services will respond to factors of significance and the in the development of a vaccine. The post-lunch sessions started The second to last talk of the day was given by Dr. Martin Elizabeth Baeva (@Maria_the_Bae), who placed first, and the changing climate by enhancing resilience and agility, changing off with another take on donor characteristics and recipient Schreiber at the Oregon Health and Science University, who runner-up Marie-Soleil Smith (@MarieSunSmith). services, increasing domestic self-reliance, and responding to outcomes in blood transfusions from Dr. Michelle Zeller of discussed coagulopathy in trauma patients. He reviewed the changing societal norms. McMaster University. She highlighted the discrepancies in over benefits of various transfusion protocols in trauma medicine, 30 observational studies on this topic. From her research Dr. such as cryoprecipitates and fibrinogen concentrates. Lastly Concluding the symposium, we heard from the Director of the CBR, Dr. Ed Conway, who looked towards the CBR’s next Following this discussion, Dr. Karen Nelson of Bloodworks Zeller noted that the risk of mortality to recipients was increased from CBR, we heard from Dr. Hong Ma, who discussed the symposium in November: ‘Same place, same station.’. Northwest presented her work on the effects of the removal when the donor was young (under the age of 20) and if the development of a microfluidic device for sorting RBCs based on transfusion was sex mismatched. deformability. of white blood cells (leukoreduction) and irradiation of blood Many thanks to all the speakers and organizers who took the products to reduce adverse transfusion-related immune time to make the symposium an insightful and memorable event! responses. Next to speak was Dr. Nareg Roubinian of the Kaiser As the symposium took a virtual turn this year, the trainee poster session was hosted as a Twitter research showcase. A special thanks to our sponsors, without whom the event would Permanente Division of Research, who also described research not be possible: Pfizer, the Canadian Blood Services, Roche, Bayer, pertaining to transfusion efficacy, highlighting the relationship “ The first set of trainee talks covered Throughout the day, trainees had the opportunity to highlight their research to the scientific community of Twitter through the Naiman-Vickars Endowment Fund, Macopharma, Alexion, between donor, component, and recipient linkages and how they a diverse set of topics, from machine Octapharma and GRIFOLS. C can alter transfusion efficacy outcomes. learning of red blood cell (RBC) a thread of six tweets to summarize and communicate their The first set of trainee talks covered a diverse set of topics, deformability to lipid nanoparticles for from machine learning of red blood cell (RBC) deformability to gene therapy. ” lipid nanoparticles for gene therapy. Erik Lamoureux of the Ma lab presented his work on developing machine learning techniques to measure RBC deformability in blood, which can allow for The presentations on transfusion-related research were assessment of quality for transfused blood. Next up we heard followed with a personal story from Rob Cooper. Rob is a person from Niloy Chatterjee at the University of Calcutta in India, who living with hemophilia. He is also film producer and the creator discussed our evolving understanding of the role of COVID-19 and writer of Unspeakable, a film that recounts the tainted blood blood infections. Last in this set was Amy Wong Strilchuk of the scandal in the 1980s. Rob was directly affected by the incident, Kastrup lab, who discussed the use of transient gene therapies acquiring Hepatitis C through blood product transfusion. After that could be used for temporarily depleting factor XIII, which describing the complexities of the scandal and the subsequent may help decrease thrombosis in at-risk individuals, an often- inquiry, he left us with the important notion to question the deadly condition. institutions that serve us and to always fight for the truth. Following Rob’s presentation was one of his own physicians, Dr. Karina Yazdanbakhsh of the New York Blood Centre Dr. Jerry Teitel of St. Michael’s Hospital and the University of In his opening notes at the Norman Bethune Symposium, CBR Director Dr. Ed Conway (pictured above) presents a twofold ode to Dr. Norman Bethune and his birthplace, followed with research from her lab discussing the importance of Toronto. Dr. Teitel described his recent research on acquired the latter of which is now known as the “Bethune Memorial House National Historic Site”. the immune response in blood transfusion in sickle cell disease hemophilia and underlined key points that differentiate acquired

20 \\ EVENTS EVENTS // 21 celebrate humanity’s greatest achievements, it seems odd that as soon as the person passes, we are unable to acknowledge their contributions to the betterment of our society.

The next issue is the preference to award discovery Nobel Prize Series Part 2: over application. While we like to assume that discovery is a meritocratic process, I would argue that application often has Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story more scientific basis and logic than discovery, which some can argue is based to some degree on luck4. The best example of BY MARIA-ELIZABETH BAEVA, MSC STUDENT, JEFFERIES LAB this flawed unofficial policy is vaccinations. No one can argue that the Salk or Sabin polio vaccines weren’t incredible scientific achievements and huge benefits for society, and yet only one vaccine has ever been awarded the Nobel Prize: Max Thieler won This article is the third in a series about the Nobel Prize. To read the the prize in 1951 for his “discovery” of an effective vaccine against previous part, go to www.cbr.ubc.ca/nobel-prize-series-part-2. yellow fever5.

And finally, perhaps the stipulation that is the most antithetical to the spirit of science: only three individuals can be ow that we have discussed the origins of the prize LEFT: BOTTOM DR. ED CONWAY. RIGHT: MAK. TOP DR. STEFANIE LEFT: TOP HSU. ANDY RIGHT: BOTTOM EMMANUEL GARROVILLAS. and its creator, we will focus on how the prize is nominated for one prize. During the time of Alfred Nobel, maybe N awarded and some of the issues that have arisen it made sense to presume an individual was responsible for most throughout the years. First, let’s give a brief summary of the of the work on a publication or discovery. However, we know that governance and structure of the Nobel Prize. There are five this is not the case anymore. Not only is the number of authors Dr. Stefanie Mak and Dr. Ed Conway official prizes awarded by separate institutions: the Nobel per publication increasing, but a fundamental principle of science receive 2020 UBC Science Co-op 6 Prizes for Physics and Chemistry are awarded by the Royal is its iterative and collaborative nature . Can the discovery of a Figure 1. Alexander Fleming was awarded the Nobel prize in Physiology or Medicine in Supervisor Recognition Awards Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Nobel Prize for Physiology or new immune cell be correctly attributed to an individual without 1945 for his accidental discovery of the antibiotic Penicillin. An old sample of penicillin is precedential advances in technology or all the students and Medicine is awarded by the Karolinska Institute, the Nobel Prize on display at the Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm, Sweden. BY KRISTINE HO, COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR, for Literature by the Swedish Academy and the Nobel Peace technicians who ran the crucial experiments that led to this CBR ADMIN TEAM Prize by the Norwegian Nobel Committee. The odd one out is Image credit: Personal photo by Maria-Elizabeth Baeva. knowledge? Can we say an idea or hypothesis is truly unique if it the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory should be based on previous evidence? I don’t have the solution, but these issues need more discussion and debate rather than of Alfred Nobel that was established in 1969. This prize, not In my view, there are three main issues that are at play with ongratulations to Dr. Stefanie Mak and Dr. Ed acceptance of a longstanding dogma. C in Alfred’s will and therefore not officially a Nobel Prize, is the strict guidelines of the Nobel Prize: no posthumous awards, Conway, who both received 2020 UBC Science Co-op concurrently presented at the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony. the favoritism towards basic science rather than application, Supervisor Recognition Awards! All of this brings me to my concluding thoughts: Why and, probably most egregious, the insistence on awarding only not change these obvious issues? Clearly, the committee is While it is up to the institutions to determine the awardees, up to 3 individuals per prize. There is much more to be discussed Launched in 2017 and awarded annually, this not bound to Alfred’s will. The posthumous statute is a prime the Nobel Foundation is responsible for the legal, financial and regarding racial, political, socio-economic and gender bias, a achievement recognizes the outstanding mentorship and example of a rule added decades later. And yet, it is 2020, we are administrative aspects of the prize and does not concern itself topic which will be more thoroughly discussed in the next article. coaching provided to co-op students by their supervisors. suffering through a global pandemic and we hang on to customs with the actual recipients. The nomination, deliberation and So, for now, we will focus on the three aforementioned problems. Stefanie and Ed were two of 95 awardees who were selection of the prize recipients is a closely guarded secret, and traditions that seem to arbitrarily restrict access and acclaim. selected from over 2,000 supervisors in the UBC Science but the general process is that the institutions responsible for Many are aware of the famous story of Rosalind Franklin, Co-op program! Is holding on to traditions meaningless? Certainly not. their prize invite approximately 6,000 experts in their field whose X-ray diffraction images of DNA were critical to elucidating But this is more than just a silly annual tradition that brings us to propose and nominate candidates. One thousand people the structure of the DNA double helix, but who did not share the Dr. Stefanie Mak, the CBR’s Education Program comfort and a sense of community. There are real consequences submit nominations, of which there are 100-250 nominees. Only prize. This is partly attributed to sexism, but also to her death in Manager, supervised co-op student Andy Hsu, who when these prizes are awarded. developed a variety of skills in science communication, individuals are nominated, except for the Peace Prize, wherein 1958 prior to the award being given to James Watson and Francis project coordination, event planning and more as an institutions can be nominated. Crick in 1962. This latter explanation is actually incorrect, as the But first, we need to talk about discrimination. C Education Program Assistant. Under the supervision of posthumous award rule was only established in 19741. Previously, Dr. Ed Conway, co-op student Emmanuel Garrovillas Because of the great secrecy surrounding the Nobel the prize had been awarded twice posthumously2. There have been conducted a literature review on the CD248 gene and its Prize committees, it is difficult to interrogate the criteria and rare exceptions, such as in 2011 when the committee announced To read the next part in the Nobel Prize series, go to page 30. role in cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases in the decision-making process governing nominations. And we a winner for the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine without Conway Lab. Both students also shared their work projects see throughout history the failure in this process. One of the knowing that the recipient had already died3. So clearly this 1 through presentations at the CBR-SBME Research Day in most notable examples is Mahatma Gandhi never having won https://www.nobelprize.org/about/statutes-of-the-nobel-foundation/ rule is nonsense, right? I’ve always struggled to understand the 2 https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/facts/nobel-prize-facts August 2020. the Nobel Peace Prize despite being arguably one of the most 3 https://www.theguardian.com/science/2011/oct/03/nobel-prize-awarded-dead-scientist logic behind this rule. The Nobel Prize Statutes do not provide a 4 https://www.forbes.com/sites/chadorzel/2017/04/10/a-little-luck-is-essential-for-success-in- important civil rights activists in at least 200 years. But for the reasoning for this decision either1. I have been unable to find a science/#48ec53e75138 5 The Journal of Experimental Medicine (2007) 204(12): 2779–2784 Well done on these awards, Stefanie and Ed! Thank rest of this article, we will focus on the issues with the scientific single article defending this position. Does a discovery disappear 6 https://www.natureindex.com/news-blog/paper-authorship-goes-hyper you for championing mentorship excellence and building a 7 https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nobel-Prize prizes specifically. with its inventor? Of course not. If the purpose of this prize is to 8 Rambam Maimonides Medical Journal (2017) 8(3): e0035. culture of supportive learning within the CBR community. C

22 \\ OPINION AWARDS // 23 Mixed Messages: Celebrating Over 5 Years of CBR Why Science Communication is More Important Than Knowledge Translation! Ever During the Pandemic BY KRISTINE HO, COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR, CBR ADMIN TEAM BY DR. YANINA-YASMIN PESCH, POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW, TANENTZAPF LAB

ith the release of our 10th magazine issue, the CBR a magazine twice a year for each CBR symposium, and works to Knowledge Translation (KT) Committee is excited to promote publications through newsletters, relevant organizations, cience can be a long and painful process; studies W celebrate over 5 years of ongoing knowledge translation! and social media. contradict each other and new evidence is gathered S and hypotheses are made, just to be revoked by other Founded in January 2015, the CBR KT Committee is a We reached out to a few members — both new and old, studies. The COVID-19 pandemic is unique, because it marks the group of undergraduates, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, writers and editors — who shared their experiences with us. first time that the general public can see the scientific process research associates, and technicians who are passionate about unfold right before their eyes. What we know about COVID-19 is science writing, blogging and mixed media communications. With constantly evolving and new information is immediately and widely writers and editors who work collaboratively, the KT Committee Read the full story at www.cbr.ubc.ca/celebrating-over-5- shared on the internet. SARS-CoV-2 research has progressed publishes a blog post every Thursday. The team also produces years-cbr-knowledge-translation-committee/ at warp speed and the sheer amount of information available through the internet and television can make it hard to navigate. As of March 2021 — exactly a year after widespread lockdowns slowed down the world, a PubMed search for COVID-19 yields “What we know about COVID-19 is constantly evolving and new information is 1 85+ contributors over 100,000 hits — an incredible feat considering its novelty. immediately and widely shared on the internet.” 150+ blogs 10 magazine The dense and fast-paced landscape of COVID-19 research published on diverse including writers & editors issues released scientific topics could easily make anyone overwhelmed and confused. But as COVID-19 continues to pose a large threat to people’s lives and a part of their audience may lack the ability to spot pseudoscience economies all around the world, it is crucial for new knowledge and “fake news”3,4. about the virus to be easily accessible to the public. Michael Hughes, Research Associate, McNagny Lab It often seems like scientists and public health officials Scientists across the globe have made great efforts to are talking into a void. The reality is that during the pandemic, What motivates you to participate in the KT Team ? distribute the facts around COVID-19 to the public. Whether scientist often function as the bearer of bad news and risk being I learn from every article I write and every article I help edit. But I think acting as an KT Team editor has helped it is articles, websites, podcasts, visualizations such as live ignored. Public health measures can only be effective if the vast me the most with my own writing. I love to see different writing styles and how writers develop their points. With dashboards indicating case counts, or YouTube videos — there’s majority of people are following them. This is where science thoughtful, constructive feedback, a good editor can help the writer connect with the reader more effectively. I no shortage of information about the pandemic out there. communication comes in: the public needs to understand why hope that practicing these skills will make me a better mentor to new writers and students. Public health officials such as Dr. Anthony Fauci and BC’s own restrictions are important to curb viral spread. The more well- Dr. Bonnie Henry have almost become celebrities, but there are informed the public is, the more likely they are to follow the rules Sarah Bowers, Junior Researcher, Brown Lab at BCCHRI limits to how far their messages can reach, as certain widespread and opt for vaccination against COVID-19, and the faster we can phenomena threaten effective science communication in these get the pandemic under control. Why did you join the KT Committee? difficult times and accelerate the spread of misinformation. The supportive network of writers and editors was one of the things that initially motivated me to join the One problem is that the media tends to declare every small All-in-all, it is important that science communicators team. A great thing about being a member is the opportunity to work with others to find ways to communicate development as a “breakthrough”. In addition, a biased approach convey information in a way that is easy to understand for the complicated ideas. For junior researchers like myself, I think this sort of collaborative work is invaluable because of focusing on certain studies, while disregarding others with general public, clearly state what’s fact and what’s fiction, and it not only provides an opportunity to develop your own writing skills, but also encourages you to think creatively contradictory results, creates mixed messages as well as lots of not rush to declare anything as a “miracle cure”. Never before about how to provide constructive feedback. disappointment. Issues of misinformation spread pose a great has a topic been collectively studied by scientists all around the harm due to the potential to further damage people’s health. One world at such a rapid speed — revealing lots of new insights, but Aparna Gopal, PhD Student, Karsan Lab example is the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, which was also causing mass confusion and contradictions, mostly fueled initially deemed a “miracle cure” for COVID-19, but was found to by pseudoscientists and influential people on the internet. Clear As a scientist, why do you think writing or editing is relevant to your work? be ineffective in subsequent clinical trials2. messaging by scientists is more important than ever. C As a grad student, I do need to write a lot about my research, be it for scholarship applications or paper publications. Although the writing format is different, what remains consistent is the need to write concisely and clearly. This In addition, conspiracy theories pose a threat to science, is where good editing skills come into play. Moreover, being able to convey our research to lay audience is a very 1 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=covid-19 which are often fueled by pseudo scientists with a large platform 2 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924857920300996?via%3Dihub integral part of all scholarship applications. And developing this skill is very crucial as a grad student and a future on social media (such as Youtube). These platforms and the 3 https://www.cell.com/current-biology/pdf/S0960-9822(20)30904-0.pdf 4 https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/05/social-media-used-to-spread-create-covid-19- scientist, as it is very important to highlight the significance of your research to all audiences. C messaging propagated through them have a lot of power because falsehoods/

24 \\ SPECIAL FEATURE OPINION // 25 and used for patients’ crowd-funding efforts, which in turn increases the public popularity of unapproved treatments14. Of various healthcare providers, researchers found that Together, scientists and the Bureau doctors dominate the unproven stem cell market. 12 of 15 “ websites15 in their study that advertised unregulated stem cell could analyze the claims of existing therapy in Canada were provided by physicians. Only 3 of 15 clinics in Canada, and then impose Stem Cell Therapies in the Canadian Market (Part 1): of these websites mention any regulatory information, only 2 mention treatment risks, and only 1 mentions the cost of their sanctions upon those who breach The Challenge of Unapproved Treatments services. This raises legal concerns because these doctors can the established standard. influence patients to pay for misadvertised, unproven treatments BY FENNIE EASTON VAN DER GRAAF, JEFFERIES LAB ALUM and hence contradict consumer protection laws. How can Canada combat the rise of unapproved treatments?

This issue is persistent today because of Canada’s slow This is a two-part blog about unapproved stem cell therapies in What factors drive patients to seek out unapproved stem cell response to these illegal clinics18. Researchers have suggested Canada. This first part addresses the outbreak of unsafe stem cell treatments? Considering the potential health legislative tactics for Health Canada to shut down more of treatments across Canada, why patients would seek out unapproved “ these illegal clinics. Researchers have highlighted the success Considering the potential health complications and that complications and that treatments stem cell therapies, and some potential solutions to address the issue. of journalistic pressure on regulatory agencies by exposing treatments can cost up to $15,0009 out of pocket, it’s important can cost up to $15,000 out of clinics that offer unregulated treatments13. This pressure to ask: why would someone seek out an unapproved stem cell exists in Canada, and researechers also state that stakeholder treatment in the first place? pocket, it’s important to ask: why would someone seek out an organizations should advocate for appropriate regulations and C anadian private clinics offering unregulated stem cell accurate media representations of stem cell therapies13. treatments The answer is complicated. Unregulated treatments are widely offered in the US and Canada, but there is a lack of unapproved stem cell treatment in Further to this idea, other researchers encourage information about the consumers of these therapies10. An internet Stem cell therapy has the powerful potential to aid many the first place? collaboration between the Competition Bureau in Canada, the investigation using media and literature reports found that 35 patients, with several clinical trials demonstrating that stem cells organization that prohibits advertisers from making materially adverse reactions or deaths worldwide were caused by stem could be used as safe and effective treatment options for many false or misleading promotional representations, and the scientific 1 2 unregulated cell therapies11, though the actual number may be diseases like multiple sclerosis , Diabetes Mellitus , and even community18. While there is more US data than Canadian data 3 much higher than reported. It’s possible that prospective patients COVID-19 . on misleading marketing around stem cell therapies, the issue are unaware of the risk associated with these treatments, or that Aggressive marketing is especially relevant during the applies to both countries, because one country’s enforcement In Canada, stem cells are defined as unspecialized cells they are aware of the risks but seek out these therapies because pandemic, when the public is experiencing increased health of rigorous regulations may lead to a spike in stem cell tourism that could come from any organ4, and stem cell therapies are alternative treatments are unavailable or have lengthy waitlists. anxiety. Dr. Leigh Turner explains that unregulated stem cell clinics in the other country with more stem cell availability. As such, regulated as drugs under Health Canada’s Food and Drugs Act5. This was the case of an elderly patient in Kamloops, who had are preying on public fears during the pandemic, and that the international collaboration is required as well13. Together, At the time of writing, there is only one market-approved stem been waitlisted for several surgical treatments but sought out desperation to treat COVID-19 — or other health complications scientists and the Bureau could analyze the claims of existing cell product in Canada: Prochymal by Osiris Therapeutics6, a $6,500 unapproved stem cell therapy from a private clinic that may increase the risk of contracting COVID-19 — have driven clinics in Canada, and then impose sanctions upon those who which is derived from human mesenchymal stromal cells. Other instead, in hopes of expediting the process12. patients to these clinics16. One example is a Colorado clinic that breach the established standard. However, an ongoing issue is Canadian treatments are still in the research phase and have not charges USD $3,000 per person for a viral inhibitor and immune that the established regulatory standard is complex and requires been approved for market use by Health Canada. Part of the reason also lies in the marketing tactics booster to prevent COVID-19 contraction via unapproved used by unapproved clinics, which aggressively promote their mesenchymal stem cell exosomes16. Stem cell treatments like clarification from Health Canada, which will be discussed in Part Despite this, private clinics offering unapproved stem treatments in a misleading and overly positive way. In an these, which lack rigorous scientific and approval processes, 2 of this post. C cell treatments have been on the rise across the country, with international study, researchers found that many providers are being hyped up in the media like the Daily Mail UK, which 43 clinics in Canada found offering such products as of 20187. inflate the clinical benefit of stem cells, often claiming that reported on a Chinese company that experienced 100% success Without proper quality assurance processes, illegal stem cell treatments can cure any disease13. Since stem cells are rate after treating only 9 COVID-19 patients with stem cells17. treatments can cause patients to develop harmful complications associated with anti-aging properties, clinics will claim that While treatments may have potential, there is still a giant gap Read part 2 of this series on page 32. like secondary tumours8, and also reduce patient trust in stem they provide enhanced immunity, reduced pain, and overall a between this research study and reaching market approval for cell therapy as a legitimate treatment. better quality of life14. Though the scientific process backing stem cell therapies treating COVID-19. such claims is weak, such as lacking a rigorous peer-review Given the rising number of unapproved clinics, it’s or finding results with no statistical significance, unapproved important to consider why patients are seeking unregulated stem clinics will use uncritical customer reviews and media reports 9 https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/autologous-stem-cell-bone-marrow-fat-private-clinic-health- cell treatments, what factors influence their choice to do so, and to reassure prospective patients that their services are safe and 1 Stem Cell Investigation (2019) 6: 44. canada-regulation-1.5141299 2 Aging and disease (2020) 11(1): 141–153. 10 BMC Medical Ethics (2019) 20(1). potential solutions to this issue. This blog, the first in a two-part efficacious. Such media articles are often cited in social media 3 Cytotherapy (2020) 22(11): 602–605. 11 STEM CELLS Translational Medicine (2018) 7(9): 676–685. series, will address these topics, while the second blog will 4 www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/science-research/emerging-technology/ 12 https://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/news/stem-cell-treatment-arrives-in-kamloops-1.23219743 biotechnology/about-biotechnology/stem-cells-biotechnology-science-research.html. 13 Science Translational Medicine (2017) 9(397): eaag0426. address the lack of regulatory clarity in the Canadian context 5 https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/biologics- 14 www.dvcstem.com/post/anti-aging-stem-cells radiopharmaceuticals-genetic-therapies/applications-submissions/guidance-documents/cell- 15 BMC Medical Ethics (2018) 19(1). that allows illegal clinics to exist, and the funding challenges Image above: Neural stem cells cells are found in an area called the ventricular zone therapy-policy.html 16 Cell Stem Cell (2020) 26(6). that slow down legitimate stem cell products from reaching the during embryonic development. 6 Nature Biotechnology (2012) 30(7): 571–571. https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0712-571b 17 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8116881/Doctor-claims-breakthrough-stem-cell- 7 https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/more-canadian-clinics-unproven-stem-cell-therapies-1.4838985 injections-treat-coronavirus.html Canadian market. Image Credit: Neural Stem Cell by Joseph Elsbernd via Pexels. License: CC BY-SA 2.0 8 https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/fda-warns-about-stem-cell-therapies 18 BMC Medical Ethics (2020) 20(1).

26 \\ OPINION OPINION // 27 Developing Cell Biology Lessons for Seniors Dr. Karen Cheung Elected to the AIMBE in the Age of COVID College of Fellows

BY POLINA PETLITSYNA, CBR-SBME SUMMER STUDENT ALUM BY KRISTINE HO, COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR, CBR ADMIN TEAM

ne of the highest professional distinctions in biomedical this work to UBC President and Vice-Chancellor, Santa Ono, as distributed to the participants. Several seniors demonstrated This article was originally submitted to the 2020 Lay Science Writing engineering has been accorded to Dr. Karen Cheung, a well as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Digital Government interest in the program after it was promoted to several Competition, organized by the Canadian Blood Services’ Centre for O bioengineering professor at UBC. She is among one of Minister Joyce Murray. Facebook senior groups. The final five-person cohort was 80% Innovation and the Centre for Blood Research. It was awarded joint the newest members elected to the American Institute for Medical female and 20% male, their ages ranging from 60 to 85. The first place. and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) College of Fellows, which With an efficient printing system, this technology can first survey was distributed after the first Zoom session, the represents the top 2% of medical and biological engineers. help produce a viable single-cell supply for lab studies and help second was sent at the end of the project. The participants’ speed up their workflow. To optimize the system, Dr. Cheung is responses on the extent of their cell biology knowledge and “Many Fellows elected this year are people that I think very conducting high-speed imaging and developing new ways to track their trust in scientists and doctors were compared using the highly of — colleagues I’ve met through graduate school, or those the motion of cells inside the inkjet nozzle. don’t trust all this science stuff,” grumbled my grandmother “ two surveys and Zoom discussions. While this first cohort was I’ve served with on committees,” said Dr. Cheung, who is a Centre over the phone. I small, the seniors’ feedback throughout the program appeared for Blood Research (CBR) member, as well as a professor at UBC’s to show an improvement in their trust of scientists and doctors. I sighed. We were two months into the COVID-19 School of Biomedical Engineering (SBME) and Department of Leading the way to equity, diversity and inclusion in science This is great to hear because having seniors place greater Electrical and Computer Engineering. pandemic, so it was a tough phrase to hear from someone whom potential trust in science means walking hand in hand with I cared so deeply about. At the time, my grandmother, a senior, As the SBME’s Associate Director and Director of its doctors and scientists to the pandemic finish line. “It’s so great to see their contributions recognized, and an was and still is more likely to develop complications from SARS- Graduate Biomedical Engineering Program, Dr. Cheung has honour to be elected alongside them.” also taken great strides to enhance the educational and work CoV-19. The unique circumstances of this year weakened her Shortly after Research Day presentations, I dialed up my environment for students. She launched a PhD rotation program trust in scientists and doctors, which was troubling as these grandmother and gave her a quick overview of my summer. I Dr. Cheung was recognized for her outstanding work on for students to explore different labs and research areas, initiated professionals continue to rely on her demographic’s support brought up Parkinson’s and telomere shortening, penicillin and biomicrofabrication technologies and leadership in Biomedical new Travel and Entrance awards, led curriculum development, and cooperation. insulin. “Sounds like they [scientists] are doing some good Engineering graduate education. Her lab’s research themes include and developed new core courses that better integrated applied things,” she said quietly. I smiled. lab-on-a-chip technologies, inkjet printing for tissue engineering, It was thus clear that the key to growing the trust of seniors science with elements of life science. In 2019, she was recognized and implantable neural interfaces. Her work has been published like my grandmother would involve science communication. It is in my best hopes that more specialized science with a Dean’s Award for Excellence in Service, and was named a in biomedical engineering journals such as Scientific Reports, STEM star in a 2018 list of B.C.’s most influential women. programs like this one can be developed for senior learners in Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Lab on a Chip, and Biomedical Under the supervision of Dr. Jenna Usprech (as part of the the near future. C Centre for Blood Research Summer Studentship), I developed a Microdevices, among many others. In addition to her research and educational impacts, Dr. set of specialized science lessons over the summer, tailored to the Cheung’s contributions extend to increasing equity, diversity and learning pace and interests of senior learners through strategic inclusion in the scientific community. As an organizer for the emphasis on discussion and survey feedback. All the visual artifacts Using silicon chip technology in the fight against COVID-19 International Conference on Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems produced for this project can be found on https://cellsandsociety. Polina Petlitsyna is a second-year biology student from University (MEMS) conference, she secured funding to hold a Women in webstarts.com. of British Columbia’s Faculty of Science. Over the summer, Polina When the pandemic struck, Dr. Cheung joined the MEMS workshop that furthered discussions around the confidence worked under the supervision of Dr. Jenna Usprech through the fight against COVID-19, working to develop a rapid test in gap and lack of female expert voices in media sources, and created This program, titled “Cells and Society”, allowed senior prestigious 2020 CBR-SBME Studentship. Her project revolved collaboration with colleague Dr. Lukas Chrostowski. Using silicon an inaugural program of mid-career Invited Speakers, many of learners to explore the world of specialized science as they around developing and delivering virtual cell biology lessons to a chip technology, they aimed to create a low-cost, efficient, on- which were women engineering faculty. At UBC, she has played learned about the components of cells, how they resemble our senior cohort, with the broader goal of improving their scientific the-go diagnostic tool that could test for COVID-19 and other a key role in the SBME’s work towards student gender parity, and organization as a society, and various diseases like diabetes, trust amid COVID-19. Having assisted seniors in the past as a diseases. Moving forward, Dr. Cheung’s group will work to has also spoken as a panelist at various events related to EDI and Alzheimer’s, and more. recreational programs volunteer, Polina wanted to reconnect with integrate microfluidic components into the chip sensors, and women in STEM. this demographic by bringing tailored science programming to she and colleagues hope to create a portable prototype for user While lifelong learning programming for senior (55+) their virtual doorstep, starting with the inner workings of cells and feedback. Dr. Cheung was formally inducted during the AIMBE’s learners is not a novel concept, the potential of offering specialized building up to their roles in human disease. 2021 Annual Event on March 26, along with 174 colleagues who science programs like this one has been largely unexplored. The She is also building an inkjet system for single-cell printing comprise the AIMBE Fellow Class 2021. broader aim of this project was to improve the senior learners’ and biofabrication, to quickly and accurately print individual scientific trust in light of COVID-19 by providing them with an droplets that research laboratories can use for single-cell “I’m excited to continue working with scientists, introduction to science, from cells to society. sequencing. The inkjet system’s development will contribute to physicians, and engineers on grand challenges,” said Dr. Cheung. Read the other first place entry to the 2020 Lay Science Writing a major cancer care project led by UBC researcher Dr. Samuel “These have been such challenging times, and with resilience I Overall, three lesson plans were developed, three one-hour Competition on page 15. Aparicio and supported by a $2.4 million Canadian Foundation know that we can adapt while still following our moral compass Zoom sessions were coordinated, and two Qualtrics surveys were for Innovation (CFI) award. The researchers recently presented in everything that we do.” C

28 \\ SPECIAL FEATURE AWARDS // 29 the Nobel Prize in Chemistry and Physics) said in an interview in 20194: “Women are no more likely to nominate women than men are, that’s the conclusion”. This bias in favour of men across 5 Nobel Prize Series Part 3: genders has been known for many years . In another part of the same interview, Hansson had the The Choice Between Acknowledgement and Atonement following comment about diversity and the Nobel Prize:

BY MARIA-ELIZABETH BAEVA, MSC STUDENT, JEFFERIES LAB “But we have a balance to strike here. Alfred Nobel explicitly stated that we should not consider nationality when we award the prize. He wrote in his will that the most worthy individual shall This article is the fourth in a series about the Nobel Prize. To read the In the tradition of Buzzfeed list articles, I will now present receive the prize, irrespective of whether they are previous article, go to page 22. 5 sad statistics about the Nobel Prize when it comes to race Scandinavian or not. So, we will never introduce and gender2,3: An international academic strike titled #ShutDownSTEM day took place on June 10, quotas for nations, ethnicity or, for that matter, 2020 as an opportunity to reflect on anti-Black racism in academia and STEM and to gender. It’s important that the individual who support Black Lives Matter protests that restarted in the summer of 2020 after the murder of George Floyd. he last decade has seen a resurgence in social justice 1. As of 2020, there has never been a Black Nobel receives the Nobel prize gets it because she or he is Image Credit: Shut Down STEM. movements in virtually all sectors: politics, sports, Laureate for one of the science awards. the most worthy recipient. And there should never T workplaces, entertainment and so on. Causes such be any question about that.” as the Hockey Diversity Alliance and #OscarsSoWhite advocate 2. As of 2020, 3.7% of Nobel Laureates in critically evaluating previously accepted dogmas and traditions, for more representation and support for marginalized groups in sciences are women. this is an excellent time to start funding research into effective This exchange reveals an all-too familiar attitude and their respective industries. policy changes to make the Nobel Prizes more equitable. We may 3. In 2018, Canadian physicist Donna Strickland fundamental misunderstanding of how we repair injustice. It’s eventually come across the uncomfortable notion that perhaps was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in not enough to say that moving forward, we will not see color While it may feel like significant progress has been made the Nobel Prizes, at least in its current state, does in fact cause physics in 55 years. or gender. In order to atone for the decades and centuries of given how terms such as “identity politics”, “representation”, harm. But it’s not too late; change for the better is still possible. It exclusion and discrimination, it’s not enough to say we will now “diversity”, “visibility” and “social justice” have become much begins with introspection and acknowledgement and ends with 4. In 2013, 82% of all Nobel laureates were from all start at the same starting line, because some are starting 100 more prevalent in our everyday lexicon, uplifting historically retributive justice and a commitment to promoting a fair society. Western Europe, North America, Australia or meters behind with a broken foot. The Nobel Prize committee marginalized populations to more powerful and higher paying New Zealand. needs to decide: if they are genuinely interest in pursuing the What can we do in the meantime? The articles previously positions has been a glacial progress and seen minimal noble quest for recognizing human contributions for the ultimate mentioned offer a few suggestions, such as requiring that improvement at best. Additionally, while performative allyship 5. In 2013, all of Asia, Africa, Latin America and betterment of society, then justice and reparations cannot nominators nominate more than one scientist, and increasing looks good in a public relations campaign, true allyship involves the Middle East had a combined 104 Nobel be sidelined, especially given that science itself was used for transparency about the demographics of nominators and not only acknowledgment of an unjust situation, but atonement laureates or 10% of Nobel laureates despite centuries to promote racist and sexist attitudes and behaviours6. nominees. We have the ability to make a least some positive as well. And it’s this second part that we are still struggling with, holding 81% of the world’s population. Radical reforms are necessary. changes right away. including the sciences. The most shocking part of researching this topic was At the end of the day, is it fair to ask one organization As scientists, we pride ourselves in our discipline being discovering that while many articles correctly point out the biases to lead the charge in establishing gender and racial equality in objective and truth-seeking. Which is why topics of gender and But these statistics are not unique to the Nobel Prize and present in the Nobel Prize7, there are relatively fewer offering the scientific community? Some may disagree, but in our final racial inequality make us uncomfortable: it’s difficult to come reflect the inequalities that still face the scientific community pragmatic solutions or alternatives8. I think now that we are segment, when we discuss the effects of winning a Nobel Prize to terms with the fact that this “rational” profession is still today. The issue of bias and discrimination is two-fold: they impact on a recipient, this argument may not seem too far-fetched. subject to irrational prejudices. The Nobel Prize is an institution opportunities to access and participate in the education and unfortunately not exempt from discriminatory norms. Although resources necessary for scientific achievement and the nomination For further reading, please visit the CBR website to read some improvement has been made since the establishment of and selection process in the recognition of achievements. this excellent piece from fellow CBR member, Bronwyn Lyons, on the prize, there is still much work to be done. While we should gender disparity in STEM and the Nobel Prizes9: https://cbr.ubc. celebrate progress (for example, Emmanuelle Charpentier and The Nobel Prize committee has been attempting to address ca/a-plug-for-the-leaky-pipeline/. C Jennifer A. Doudna winning the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2020 the second issue from a top-down approach. But only within the for their innovations with CRISPR1), it’s a sobering reminder that last five years have nominators been told to consider diversity in 1 https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2020/summary/ 2 this is clearly not the norm. gender, geography and topic when deciding who to nominate. The https://www.aei.org/carpe-diem/the-history-of-the-nobel-prize-in-maps-and-charts- committee has also selected more women to become nominators. and-its-not-fair-theres-a-lot-of-inequality-in-the-global-distribution/ 3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_female_Nobel_laureates Yet, it is difficult to measure how much progress has or will occur 4 https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-02988-5 “ As scientists, we pride ourselves in our because nominations remain confidential for 50 years. 5 http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/hd_perspectives_gsni.pdf discipline being objective and truth-seeking... 6 The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Gender and Sexuality Studies (2016) 7 it’s difficult to come to terms with the fact that But are incremental institutional policy changes working Like “genetic scissors”, Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna’s innovations https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/making-sense/why-the-nobel-prizes-in- with CRISPR can “snip” DNA. science-are-struggling-with-diversity this “rational” profession is still subject to so far? Not really. Göran Hansson, general secretary of the Royal 8 https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-06879-z irrational prejudices. ” Swedish Academy of Sciences (the body responsible for giving Image credit: © Johan Jarnestad/The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. 9 https://cbr.ubc.ca/a-plug-for-the-leaky-pipeline/

30 \\ OPINION OPINION // 31 Stem Cell Therapies in the Canadian Market (Part 2): Supporting Scientists in Strengthening Regulations & Moving Forward Virtual Times: 2020 — 2021

BY FENNIE EASTON VAN DER GRAAF, JEFFERIES LAB ALUM CBR Travel Awards BY KRISTINE HO, COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR, CBR ADMIN TEAM

This is a two-part blog about unapproved stem cell therapies in unapproved stem cell therapies. However, this urgent regulatory Dr. Himanshu Kaul presenting. Image Credit: Zandstra Lab. Canada. This second part covers the lack of regulatory clarity in the issue is also confusing researchers and costs them more time and Over the years, with the support of Travel Awards provided Canadian context that allows illegal clinics to exist, and the funding funds to try and comply with all possible requirements that could By educating more stem cell researchers on by the Centre for Blood Research (CBR), numerous Postdoctoral challenges that slow down legitimate stem cell products from reaching apply to their therapy, in order to achieve approval. Scientists modelling methods, stem cell research could operate Fellows, Research Associates and graduate trainees have had the Canadian market. conducted a survey to assess Canadian researchers’ experience more efficiently at a lower cost, and more efficiently. the opportunity to attend scientific conferences and further their with stem cell therapy regulation, and found that many were professional development. To read Part 1 of this series, go to page 26. frustrated with the policy’s transparency and adaptability to new treatments4. What can we do to strengthen stem cell regulations and Although many conferences are now virtual, the CBR was accelerate legal treatments into the Canadian market? nonetheless pleased to provide up to $500 to award recipients, L ack of regulatory clarity in Canada who will attend and present at such events throughout the year. Funding challenges in Canada I think that policy makers, physicians, and stem Following their conference attendance, recipients will share their Changing our healthcare system to accept costly stem cell cell researchers hold the most responsibility to change experiences through short reflection blogs on the CBR website, treatments is an unlikely transition anytime soon, so we have to ask: Increasing funding for stem cell research is essential for the use of stem cell therapies in Canada. which delve into their educational experiences and key takeaways. why are stem cell treatments so expensive, and can they be made driving therapies into the market, since every step in Canada’s cheaper? To answer this, we can explore why stem cell therapies are complicated regulatory process is expensive. Due to heavy funding To remove illegal stem cell treatments from the Congratulations to the 2020-2021 Travel Award recipients! C generally “under development” in Canada, and how this relates to in 2018, the 2019 budget did not provide new funding to basic Canadian market, immediate action is needed. Health Health Canada regulations, funding available for stem cell therapy research projects through CIHR5. In March 2019, Ottawa signaled Canada must continue to suspend clinics offering research, and how researchers develop these treatments. support for the nonprofit organization Stem Cell Network (SCN), unregulated treatments, working with organizations like DR. ALISON MCAFEE with a multi-year $18 million investment6. However, most of the the Competition Bureau to regulate stem cell marketing. In the past year or so, Health Canada has regulated 2019 science budget was allocated to Genome Canada, TRIUMF, To introduce legal stem cell treatments into the Canadian Postdoctoral Fellow, Foster Lab 1 stem cell therapies as drugs under the Food and Drugs Act . and two cancer charities, reflecting a shift away from stem cell market requires systemic change. Policy makers need Entomological Society of America Annual Cell therapies that originate from the patient’s own cells research funding. In May 2019 the Progressive Conservatives to clarify stem cell therapy regulations, particularly Meeting (autologous), with the same function for the donor and recipient in Ontario decided to stop its $5 million annual investment in for “minimally manipulated” therapies, and increase (homologous), and are considered minimally manipulated the Ontario Institute for Regenerative Medicine to allocate it to funding for stem cell therapy. Physicians need to deter require Part C Division 5 (Drugs for Clinical Trials in Humans) direct patient care efforts7. Overall, Canadian politics has a mixed their patients away from unapproved clinics and educate and Division 8 (New Drugs) of the Food and Drug Regulation their patients better on stem cell therapies. Researchers attitude to funding stem cell therapy, but funding for healthcare AMY WONG STRILCHUK (FDR). However, it is still unclear what defines a “minimally is a current priority and hopefully this will motivate Canada to need to become more standardized and efficient manipulated” stem cell therapy. According to some researchers, when developing stem cell therapies, by considering continue to invest more in this field. PhD Candidate, Kastrup Lab Health Canada doesn’t list processing activities that define approaches such as computational modelling before in- minimal manipulation, nor do they provide any examples of Research in stem cell therapy requires a stem cell source lab experiments. 62nd ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition homologous stem cell therapies2. Since therapies that are not and animal models, which can be costly, ethically challenging, minimally manipulated require several more quality checks and and time consuming to obtain and study. A faster, cheaper, Overall, stem therapy has the potential to treat a clinical trial requirements than the alternative, researchers are ethical, and quarantine-friendly approach is to start with cell variety of diseases, but we must work together to increase quite motivated to prove that their stem cells are minimally interaction modelling. Through modelling experiments, time and its accessibility, affordability, and trustworthiness for DR. HASHEM ETAYASH manipulated. Health Canada also needs to clarify regulatory resources can be saved during later stage in vitro and in vivo Canadian patients. If you come across any unsafe or non- Postdoctoral Fellow, Hancock Lab guidelines regarding autologous stem cell therapy treatments stem cell studies. efficacious health products, then let Health Canada know via that are processed and administered using equipment that has their complaint form. C Antimicrobial Peptides, Gordon Research been authorized under a medical device license. In a position Dr. Himanshu Kaul in the Zandstra Lab develops Conference paper, Health Canada suggests that physicians might assume mathematical models that could eventually test efficacy of stem that since the equipment used to manufacture the stem cells cells even before they enter in vitro cell culture experiments. are Health Canada-approved, the stem cell products themselves 1 1 https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/ have also been approved . The position paper continues to state “Computational models allow us to quantitatively understand biologics-radiopharmaceuticals-genetic-therapies/applications-submissions/ SREEPARNA VAPPALA how different cells interact with each other in the presence of guidance-documents/cell-therapy-policy.html that unless a device has received specific therapeutic indication 2 Cytotherapy (2019) 21(7): 686–698. for its cell therapy product, FDR will apply to the product. chemical [molecules] and physical [forces] signal to yield tissues 3 Stem Cell Reviews and Reports (2012) 8(3): 623–628. PhD Candidate, Kizhakkedathu Lab 4 Nature (2019) 567(7749): 443–444. and organs. As such, mathematical models can be utilised to 5 https://stemcellnetwork.ca/canadas-stem-cell-network-welcomes-renewed- International Society of Thrombosis and This lack of clarity in Canada’s stem cell regulatory understand how addition of stem cells into a diseased system can federal-commitment-for-stem-cell-regenerative-medicine-research/ Hemostasis (ISTH) 2021 6 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/doug-ford-stem-cell-ontario-institute- framework creates loopholes where physicians can provide enhance repair and understand the side-effects,” says Dr. Kaul. regenerative-medicine-1.5137512

32 \\ OPINION AWARDS // 33 DR. NARGES HADJESFANDIARI The CBR Celebrates #WomenInScience Day 2021 Research Associate, Devine Lab

BY KRISTINE HO, COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR, CBR ADMIN TEAM What advice would you give to early career women researchers? In addition to work-life balance, I would say: Aim high. Set big goals for yourself and do your best. If you don’t achieve them, that’s okay — just having a vision is good, because it will set February 11 is recognized by the United Nations as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, which aims you on the right path. And you will still have many wonderful opportunities and experiences, to spotlight the contributions of women in STEM and encourage full and equal access to participation in science, technology, because you are already on that path. and innovation for women and girls. This year, we chatted with several women researchers in the CBR community to learn more about their research, share their stories, and celebrate all that they do. Read excerpts from their stories below.

CECILIA HAYMIN KIM DR. DANA DEVINE CBR-SBME Summer Student Alum Director, Centre for Blood Research Chief Scientist, Canadian Blood Services What factors help build a supportive STEM environment? Professor, UBC Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Mentorship has been very important. Having someone who’s ‘been there, done that’ and gone Associate Member, UBC Biochemistry and Molecular Biology through similar experiences or challenges is helpful, especially if they relate to you on a personal level. I’ve been very lucky because my university faculty advisor, Dr. Susan VanderKam, and my What has been your biggest challenge as a scientist or leader? CBR-SBME Summer Studentship supervisor, Dr. Heather Leitch, have both been very supportive, strong women who are doing amazing things with their work. To be a leader, you have to understand that it isn’t about you; it’s about everybody else you’re trying to lead. Leadership isn’t barking orders and expecting people to carry them out, but trying to reach a group consensus and ensuring that people understand your organization’s direction. Good leadership is challenging in its own way, because you need to be available, have the capacity to help others, and work with large groups. While challenging, those experiences SREEPARNA VAPPALA always make you learn about yourself. PhD Candidate, Kizhakkedathu Lab

Outside of your research, you also do a lot of science outreach. What motivates you to do this kind of work? DR. KAREN CHEUNG Growing up, I actually never pictured myself as a scientist. Part of that was because I didn’t see Member, Centre for Blood Research many women scientists around me, and didn’t have opportunities to meet or speak with them... Director, Graduate Biomedical Engineering Program That motivated me to get into outreach. I try to put myself out there as a role model, so students Associate Director & Professor, School of Biomedical Engineering can see that someone who looks like me can pursue a scientific career... I think that the coming Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering generation should have the chance to see women scientists and the possibilities open to them, Associate Member, UBC Biochemistry and Molecular Biology whatever those might be.

What has been your biggest challenge as a researcher? Is there any advice you would give to early-career women scientists or trainees? While it’s fun and exciting to work on scientific and engineering challenges, it can be difficult to judge how much time is needed for new tasks, and sometimes I’ve found myself NANCY YANG overcommitted. Having agreed to review manuscripts and stacks of proposals, or to write a MSc Student, Côté Lab paper, it is challenging to get everything done ontop of teaching, managing ongoing research, and other commitments. When faced with many competing responsibilities, it is important to What’s been a highlight of your scientific journey so far? think about your future self and the most valuable way to spend your time, in the context of your own priorities and goals. The singular best part of pursuing science has been working with everyone in my lab, the Côté Lab. Having an interest in science is one thing, but the fact that this interest led to me meeting and joining such a supportive and interesting group of people — that’s what makes me feel like it all worked out in the end. C To read the full profiles, go to www.cbr.ubc.ca/cbr-women-in-science-day-2021/

34 \\ PROFILES PROFILES // 35 cbr.ubc.ca We thank all our donors from academia, industry, and the private sector for your generous contributions. @cbrubc @cbr_ubc @cbr_ubc