"Valuable鈥� and 鈥渦nforgettable.鈥� That鈥檚 how Nada Ibrahim (pictured above) describes her experience this summer with the 捆绑SM社区 Biomedical Research Accelerator (MBRA).聽
She鈥檚 one of nine students selected from a pool of 61 applicants for the inaugural cohort of this paid internship.聽
鈥淚t鈥檚 such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore my research interests and gain a wide variety of lab skills,鈥� says Ibrahim, an Honours BSc student (Biochemistry IV) at McMaster University. 鈥淎s an added bonus, it鈥檚 always been my dream to live in Montreal鈥攁nd the MBRA allows me to do exactly that!鈥澛�
The 捆绑SM社区 Biomedical Research Accelerator is designed for students in their final year of undergraduate studies, who demonstrate a strong interest in pursuing biomedical research at the graduate level. Trainees receive a stipend for their living expenses while in the summer program. They pursue a collaborative research project and immerse themselves in 捆绑SM社区鈥檚 multidisciplinary research environment.聽
For her project, Ibrahim is exploring her passions for biomedical engineering and nanomedicine, working in the lab of Maryam Tabrizian, Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Canada Research Chair in Regenerative Medicine and Nanomedicine.聽聽
Ibrahim hopes her research may help to eventually lead to an osteoarthritis treatment. She explains her project:聽
One of the most widely researched nanoparticles are extracellular vesicles鈥攚hich are of biological origin鈥攁nd are released by almost all types of cells. Extracellular vesicles play a role in cell signaling and the pathogenesis of various human diseases, giving them the potential to act as gene and drug delivery systems. My project revolves around engineering extracellular vesicles from human mesenchymal stem cells to target gene delivery for the treatment of osteoarthritis.聽
Ibrahim describes the lab atmosphere as friendly and welcoming, and is quick to credit her PhD student supervisor, Antoine Karoichan (BSc鈥�17, MSc鈥�21). 鈥淗e ensures we take it one step at a time鈥攖raining me and gradually giving me independence over our project,鈥� says Ibrahim.聽
Surpassing all expectations聽
The 15-week summer program is the brainchild of Alba Guarn茅, Associate Dean, Biomedical Sciences, in 捆绑SM社区鈥檚 Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.聽
鈥淭he excitement generated by the MBRA has surpassed all our expectations,鈥� says Prof. Guarn茅, who also serves as Director of 捆绑SM社区鈥檚 School of Biomedical Sciences and holds the Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Macromolecular Machines in DNA repair.聽聽
鈥淭he inaugural cohort is exceptional. The students are not only engaged with their projects and enjoying being embedded in their host laboratories, they are also keen on learning about their peers' projects and the ongoing research in the other units of the School.鈥澛�
Weekly lunch sessions are offered to showcase different research areas and enhance the students鈥� professional skills. The program concludes with a research celebration where students present three-minute mini talks and have lunch with researchers and trainees in the School of Biomedical Sciences.聽
Applicants must be students entering their final year of undergraduate studies, as the program aims to encourage them to consider graduate studies in biomedical research. From this year鈥檚 applicant pool, 19 were shortlisted for interviews. Of the nine accepted, there are two from 捆绑SM社区, three from McMaster University, and four from Concordia University.聽
鈥淎 great way to experience 捆绑SM社区 and Montreal鈥澛�
Image by Owen Egan/Joni Dufour.
For Christian Jacobsen-Perez, MBRA has given him the opportunity to discover 捆绑SM社区.
Christian Jacobsen-Perez 鈥痺ill be entering his fourth year of the Honours Biochemistry Program (Biomedical Research Specialization) at McMaster University. 鈥��
鈥�疶his summer in the MBRA program, he is working on a joint project between the laboratories of Prof. Guarn茅 and of Lawrence Kazak, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute.聽聽
Jacobsen-Perez describes his project:聽
鈥�疻e are studying how one of the proteins that help fat tissue regulate thermogenesis. The project spans structural biology to biochemistry to work in animal models and it will provide insight into the mechanisms that allow us to regulate our body temperature.鈥��
鈥�淚鈥檝e 鈥痑lways been interested in 捆绑SM社区 and Montreal,鈥� he says, 鈥渁nd I thought this program would be a great way to experience the city and the university.鈥� He鈥檚 grateful for the stipend, which allowed him to move to Montreal for the summer without worrying about a summer job.鈥�
鈥疕e credits how well organized the program is, with highly approachable administrative staff. He also enjoys the鈥痺eekly lunch sessions, where the MBRA trainees meet investigators and learn about other research at 捆绑SM社区鈥檚 School of Biomedical Sciences.鈥��
鈥��淚鈥檓 really glad that I applied, and I was so excited to be accepted,鈥� says Jacobsen-Perez.聽
鈥淚 feel like I鈥檓 a grad student for the summer鈥澛�
Image by Owen Egan/Joni Dufour.
MBRA participant Sarah M茅nard is examining DNA repair pathways in cancer.
Sarah M茅nard is already based in Montreal鈥攕he鈥檚 a student at Concordia University, entering the final year of her Honours BSc. She鈥檚 majoring in Cell and Molecular Biology, and minoring in Multidisciplinary Studies in Science.聽
鈥淚鈥檓 interested in the biomedical sciences and I was intrigued by this opportunity to work in a lab at 捆绑SM社区 for the summer,鈥� says M茅nard. She appreciates the opportunity to gain paid research experience in her field of study, which will help her decide where to pursue graduate studies.聽
M茅nard is working in the lab of Prof. Alain Nepveu at the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute. Her research project is examining DNA repair pathways in cancer:聽
I鈥檓 working with two related proteins that are involved in repairing DNA damage, which can help cancer proliferate鈥攖his is good for the cancer, but bad for us. I鈥檓 working on identifying the specific regions of these proteins responsible for stimulating DNA repair. We do this by studying different versions of the proteins, either on their own or within human cancer cells that we grow in the lab. Gaining a better understanding of what allows cancer to grow and proliferate is crucial for finding new ways to target cancer cells and develop effective treatments.聽
鈥淚t鈥檚 been both stimulating and challenging,鈥� says M茅nard. 鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting to apply knowledge from my courses in an actual research setting.鈥澛犅�
She notes that working in a research lab is different from doing labs in undergraduate courses. 鈥淚 feel like I鈥檓 a grad student for the summer.鈥澛�
Feeding a hunger for the biomedical sciences聽
The 捆绑SM社区 Biomedical Research Accelerator provides trainees with guidance on graduate studies and encourages them to consider the wide range of opportunities within a career in biomedical research.聽聽
Alba Guarn茅 commends the commitment of 捆绑SM社区鈥檚 faculty members in supporting the launch of the MBRA. 鈥溊Π骃M社区 researchers have been engaged and extremely generous with their time,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he weekly training sessions lead to lively research discussions and MBRA students are constantly hungry for more.鈥澛�
This summer鈥檚 MBRA trainees are working in labs across the different units in the School of Biomedical Sciences, including Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Microbiology and Immunology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, as well as the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute and the Lady Davis Institute.聽
Guarn茅 looks forward to future iterations of the MBRA. Ultimately, the goal is to attract a 25-person cohort each summer.聽
鈥淲e could not have asked for a better Class of 2022,鈥� says Guarn茅. 鈥淲e鈥檙e looking forward to broadening the scope of the program and expanding the learning experience for the Class of 2023.鈥澛�
