Vanessa Chan
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
I have always wanted to be a part of the fight to cure cancer. After having been a part of various research opportunities during my undergraduate degree, I was inspired by my mentors to pursue further education, as there were many challenges in the field that were yet to be addressed. I think the time spent during a graduate degree solving problems and discovering new avenues to treat disease is very exciting, and I'm grateful to have the opportunity to work with world-class researchers and contribute to the field.
Why did you decide to study at UBC?
UBC is one of the top-ranked universities in Canada, as well as in the world. The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences also boasts excellent research, particularly in the field of targeted therapeutics for cancer, which aligns with my research interests. My supervisor also has many collaborators, so I had the opportunity to do research exchanges in different countries. In addition to the scientific knowledge I gained, I was also able to develop my intercultural and interpersonal skills during my degree. The university also has an extremely beautiful campus, so it's hard not to choose UBC when you have the mountains and the ocean so close by!
What is it specifically, that your program offers, that attracted you?
Pharmaceutical Sciences is a very multidisciplinary program, with researchers working in a variety of avenues within the pharmaceutical space. I've been able to foster different collaborations, as there are experts in so many different fields just within the same building. I also really enjoy working with my supervisor, Dr. Shyh-Dar Li, as his expertise in both drug delivery and cancer immunotherapy has allowed me to conduct a project encompassing both areas of interest.
What was the best surprise about UBC or life in Vancouver?
UBC has an excellent scientific community with various seminars and conferences that are constantly happening on campus. I've been able to meet so many wonderful people at these events from all across the different faculties. Life in Vancouver is great! The city has so many outdoor activities that you can do regardless of the season! In winter, there's some of the best skiing in the world just nearby, and in the summer, there's tons of hiking and biking with really great trails in or close to the city.
What aspects of your life or career before now have best prepared you for your UBC graduate program?
I think my co-ops and honours thesis project in my undergraduate degree prepared me very well for my UBC graduate program. I was able to learn both relevant lab skills and organizational skills to give me a bit more independence when conducting my studies.
What advice do you have for new graduate students?
Make a lot of friends! Graduate studies is hard, so having a good support system is really important. Whether it be in friends you meet in your faculty, in clubs, in a lab or other places. Be open to meeting people! I find it'll make or break your experience.
Learn more about Vanessa's research
Despite being a promising new treatment for various cancers, the success rate of immunotherapies is still relatively low for solid tumours. Some barriers include an immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment or an over-activation of the systemic immune system, leading to undesirable side effects. To address this, the goal of my thesis is to develop lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to deliver immune-stimulating drugs directly to the tumour site while reducing its systemic circulation and increasing efficacy and safety. To assess the efficacy of these formulations, metastatic models of colorectal and ovarian cancers and liver cancer models are used.