Tell us about your role at UHN.

I am a Postdoctoral Researcher in Dr. Mingyao Liu’s lab at UHN's Latner Thoracic Research Laboratories at the Ajmera Transplant Centre. We focus on cellular and molecular mechanisms of tissue damage that occurs in lung transplantation due to the return of blood flow to areas deprived of oxygen—a process known as ischemia reperfusion injury. Using cell culture and experimental models, we are developing new organ preservation solutions, as well as a new perfusion solution for Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion (EVLP)—a procedure in which the lungs are preserved outside of the body and assessed for transplantation.

How long have you been at UHN and what led you to this role?

I started my position at UHN around a year ago. I'm a Brazilian biologist with a Master's degree in Pharmacology from the Universidade de São Paulo in Brazil, where I studied the role of the estradiol hormone in the inflammatory effects of ischemia-reperfusion injury. I then completed a double PhD through the Universidade de São Paulo and the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands. My work focused on sex differences and lung inflammation, specifically in lung transplantation.

What are you passionate about in your role at UHN? What does health research mean to you?

It’s rewarding to know that all of the research we do, whether big or small, is part of a larger effort to improve patient care. Even when experiments don’t go as planned, we push through and can get amazing discoveries.

How does your work help to advance UHN's vision of A Healthier World?

Lung transplantation is a potentially lifesaving procedure for certain patients, but there is a shortage of acceptable donor lungs, as well as other complications that can limit the success of these procedures. My work aims to improve lung transplantation in the hopes of achieving better patient outcomes.

What makes UHN an ideal place to advance health research?

There is such a diverse group of people who work at UHN. When people with different backgrounds and specialties come together, it leads to new ideas and solutions in ways that might not emerge otherwise.

Tell us an interesting fact people don’t know about you.

When I was a kid, I learned how to do acrobatics like those seen in Cirque du Soleil. I could do trapeze, aerial silks, and even juggling.

What do you see for the future of health research, and what gets you excited about it?

In the future, I believe that we will have more tailored and personalized medicine that takes into account individual characteristics. This has the potential to lead to more effective and patient-centred health care.

How to Participate in You @TeamUHN

You @TeamUHN is a campaign to highlight the important scientific contributions that research lab staff, trainees and learners, administrative staff, core facilities staff, Research Solutions & Services staff, and volunteers make towards A Healthier World through discovery and innovation. If you’re interested in sharing your story, we invite you to complete this form here (Open to UHN staff, trainees, and volunteers).