What is your background?
I completed high school at Sydney Grammar School, before doing a combined Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering and Medical Science at the University of Sydney. I did my Honours project at HRI, under the supervision of Dr Ashish Misra, and continued into a PhD.
Were you always interested in science and a career in medical research?
Growing up, my parents always wanted me to do medicine, and so that had always been my goal. However, at the end of high school, I came to the realisation that it wasn't what I wanted to do in life. But that never changed my interest in human health. I decided to try an engineering and science degree, and the research has kept me interested so far.
What is the focus of your research?
I am currently a student in the Atherosclerosis and Vascular Remodelling Group, led by Dr Ashish Misra. The focus of our research is about how cells within atherosclerotic plaques behave. Rupture of these atherosclerotic plaques is the cause of most heart attacks and strokes, and yet the mechanisms underlying plaque rupture are still not understood. Furthermore, there are no current therapies designed to specifically prevent plaque rupture - most drugs are designed to limit the risk factors associated with atherosclerosis, ie. high cholesterol levels and inflammation, rather than targeting the plaque itself.
The cells within the plaque are responsible for controlling the stability of plaques, and thus their likelihood of rupture. However, targeting these cells can be tricky, as they can be both protective and detrimental to the plaque depending on the stage of the disease. We track these cells using specialised transgenic mice and investigate methods of promoting plaque stability. We are currently interested in colchicine, an anti-inflammatory drug that has just been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease patients, which, despite being approved, has an unknown mechanism of action. Our hope is to identify pathways that may be more specifically targeted in the future to better patient outcomes.
Do you have a person connection to cardiovascular disease?
I have had family and friends that have been impacted by cardiovascular disease (who hasn't?). However, my motivation has always been to try and do my small part in helping improve other peoples' lives. I think everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy and live their life to the fullest, and so researching cardiovascular disease helps in that process.
Why did you decide to join HRI?
In my third year of university, I took a unit of study about genetics, which I found absolutely amazing and fascinating. This interest in genetics continued to stay with me, and eventually led to my interest in Dr Misra's work with transgenic animals at HRI.
What do you love most about working at HRI?
I love being able to learn something new every day, either via experiments, seminars, or reading publications, which lead to new questions and ideas. I also love the supportiveness from others in the lab. Experiments fail for me all the time, and I make mistakes every week, which often leaves me stressed out. It's great to have so many supportive people during those periods, alongside the highs as well.
What are your career goals and dreams?
I just want to leave the world a better place, and hope my career can do that. I find scientific research extremely interesting, but honestly don't know yet what my long term career plans are.
Who is your role model?
There are many people in my life that I look up to, and who have had a huge impact in shaping my life (so far). However, my role model is probably Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Star Trek: The Next Generation). I admire his curiosity, his willingness to learn, his pursuit of truth (scientific, historical, or personal), his belief in humanity, and his unwavering ability to stand up for his values. But perhaps what I admire most is his kindness, compassion, and how he treats others. Captain Picard has a set of values that I hope to have someday, and leave the world a better place because of it.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
"It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life."
What do you like to do outside of work?
When I get time, I love to read - science fiction and fantasy is amazing. I also love seeing nature and eating good food. Otherwise I'm probably rewatching Star Trek or spending time with friends and family