Casiraghi, Costanza
Research
Involvement of viruses in the development of multiple sclerosis
Viruses have often been thought to be implicated in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). Several lines of evidence have identified Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) as a potential trigger of MS. In fact epidemiological studies indicate that the risk of developing MS is ten fold greater in individuals who were infected by EBV during childhood and twenty fold greater in those developing mononucleosis, a disease caused by EBV. Additionally, EBV infected B cells have been found in the brain of MS patients. But the mechanisms triggered by EBV that lead to MS are still not clear. My project's aim is to unravel how EBV could cause MS using both animal models and primary human cell lines.
I hope that my research will help a little in unraveling the etiology of MS. The understanding of the causes of a disease is a critical step for the development of effective therapeutic approaches.
A PhD degree is a requirement nowadays if you aspire to leading research and development jobs in a pharmaceutical company.
I always thought that international experiences are fundamental if your area of expertise is life sciences. After my bachelor degree in Italy, I considered the idea of pursuing a PhD degree in North America. I chose UBC because of its excellent reputation. When I first met my supervisor, I was impressed by both his publication record and the exciting research pursued by his lab. Moreover BC is a great place for outdoor activities that are one of my greatest passions and Vancouver has been ranked more than once as one of the most sustainable and livable cities.
At the beginning it was very difficult to find a supervisor. This is understandable: when you come from a foreign country and a different education system, it is difficult for the prospective supervisors to understand your level of knowledge and experience. My tip is: never give up. After a lot of time and effort spent in contacting people, I finally found a great lab and supervisor!
As I mentioned before, I love outdoor activities especially hiking and skiing. I remember the first time I went to Whistler for a day of skiing. It was February 2008 and I was still a lot home sick (I came in January 2008). When the bus drove past West Vancouver and I saw the spectacular Howe Sound with high mountains capped with snow, I was so delighted! When then I arrived in Whistler and I realized how beautiful it was, so close to "my Alps", I understood that I made the right decision and I will be happy in BC.
Reading, hiking, skiing and snowshoeing
I would like to work for a biothech/pharmaceutical company. I am especially interested in research and development of new drugs that act on the immune system and can be used to cure chronic infections, autoimmune diseases, graft rejection and chronic inflammatory diseases.
