If you’ve watched Wolverine, you were probably blown away by the character’s ability to heal his own skin. Guess what? That’s no longer just science fiction!
At the Academic Roundtable at the University of Toronto, I got the chance to speak with Dr. Amini-Nik Saeid, who is collaborating with burn surgeon-scientists and chemical engineering scientists to create “skin substitutes” for burn patients!
I also met Dr. Milica Radisic who has been investigating alternative treatments and suitable models for studies of myocardial infarction - a disease that affects nearly a million people in North America alone.
My mind was blown when Dr. Elvin Wagenblast discussed how a single amino acid can regulate breast cancer metastasis.
Last but not least, I had a great conversation with Dr. Penney Gilbert, who is uncovering the secrets of muscle cell repair and employing muscle stem cells in the fight against muscle atrophy. Her life story has inspired me, and she reminded me of why I started studying biology in the first place: to reach a level of expertise where we can understand nature so well that we can use our knowledge to change the world!