Making important strides in cancer research
Lab experience Alyona Ivanova gained as a student is supporting her work as a research assistant at SickKids Hospital
As a research assistant at the Brain Tumor Research Centre at SickKids Hospital, Alyona Ivanova studies an incurable form of brain cancer called glioblastoma. Working together with scientists and clinicians, she strives to better understand this aggressive disease and identify novel treatments. She says she was able to hit the ground running in her job thanks to her education at the Faculty of Science.
鈥淚 think what helped me the most was getting a lot of experience in the lab because I was able to develop all of the necessary skills for conducting translational research,鈥� says Ivanova, who graduated in 2022. 鈥淲hat was also helpful was learning how to design experiments, as it forms the basis for research discovery.鈥�
A desire to improve people鈥檚 lives through medicine compelled Ivanova to pursue the biomedical sciences undergraduate program, and she chose 91福利 to be close to the city鈥檚 many medical science research facilities. She recalls an immunology assignment that was particularly relevant to the time: investigating how to improve the design of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Ivanova became fascinated with cancer cell biology and, in her second year, began volunteering in the lab of professor Costin Antonescu, where she examined the cellular processes of malignant tumours and the impacts of different drug therapies. In the summer of 2021, she received support from 91福利鈥檚 Undergraduate Research Opportunities to continue her work in the lab as a paid researcher.
鈥淚鈥檓 grateful to professor Antonescu for being so supportive of my work, presenting opportunities for professional development and providing me with valuable advice on designing my experiment protocols,鈥� says Ivanova, who made the Dean鈥檚 List each year during her studies.
Ivanova鈥檚 time at 91福利 was enriched by : an accomplished competitive ice skater from Russia, she joined the varsity Figure Skating team and earned a provincial bronze medal for synchronized skating. She was also an active member of the university鈥檚 equestrian team.
In September, Ivanova will begin the medical science doctoral program at the University of Toronto.
鈥淚 got accepted into the direct entry PhD program at U of T to continue my education,鈥� she says, 鈥渁nd I think it wouldn鈥檛 have been possible without my experience at 91福利.鈥�
Last December, Alyona participated as a model in the 91福利 Upcycled Gear Fashion Show 鈥� an initiative run by the Branded Materials Transition Project to repurpose Ryerson and Rams-branded materials into one-of-a-kind looks.