Email:听lysanne.desharnais [at] mail.mcgill.ca
Linkedin:听
Twitter: @LysDesharnais
Research Area:听Lung cancer, obesity, immunotherapy
Department:听Human Genetics
Faculty supervisor:听Dr. Logan Walsh and Dr. Daniela Quail
Tell us a bit about yourself:听I鈥檓 about to finish the first year of my master鈥檚 degree here at 黑料不打烊. I鈥檓 originally from Ottawa and completed my BSc at the University of Ottawa in the Translational and Molecular Medicine program. It鈥檚 while working at the cancer centre at The Ottawa Hospital that I first became interested in cancer research.
1. Why did you choose the GCRC?听In my last year as a student in Ottawa, I started looking into different graduate programs in cancer research across Canada, with a particular interest in immunology and metabolism. I also attended the GCRC鈥檚 annual recruitment event in January 2019. It was there that I met many of the professors, toured the facilities, and chatted with graduate students. It was a great opportunity to learn what the GCRC has to offer and the event played a major part in my decision to study here.
2. Tell me about your research in three sentences or less?听My research is about understanding how obesity impacts response to immunotherapy among lung cancer patients. Interestingly, recent studies have shown that patients who are obese show improved survival following treatment with checkpoint inhibitors, compared to patients who are lean. My lab is using mouse models of obesity and patient-derived organoids to better understand the immunological听mechanisms leading to this unexpected positive outcome in obese patients.
3. What excites you most about doing research?听What excites me the most is that I have a real opportunity to contribute to our understanding of a disease that affects millions of people around the world.
4. What is your favorite thing to do outside of the lab?听I love exploring the different areas in Montreal. There are so many unique places in this city, and of course different types of food to try. I also love to travel which has allowed me to experience different cultures and see some beautiful parts of the world! My favorite countries so far have been Vietnam and Peru.
5. What are your plans after leaving the GCRC?听I want to continue working in cancer research but I鈥檓 open to exploring other career options. Teaching and science communication are other potential avenues. As scientists, we can get so insular in our own research that we often forget the need to communicate it to the outside world. Yet it鈥檚 so important for our research to get recognized!
6. What will you miss the most about the GCRC?听I will definitely miss the people. As a graduate student, it is so important to surround yourself with a supportive group of people and I for sure have that at the GCRC. It鈥檚 been great getting to know everyone at the social and educational events organized by the GCSS. That is one of the reasons why I鈥檓 so excited to be co-leading our student society!
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*6 Questions With听is a new GCRC initiative focusing on the students behind the lab coats. Our trainees are the heart and soul of the centre and we want to put a face to the names by learning what they are up to both inside and outside the labs.
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