This month we feature Susanna Fang, a first-year MSc student in the lab of Dr. Daniel Drucker. Susanna is the recipient this year of the Stuart Alan Hoffman Memorial Prize, awarded at the LMP Annual Celebration of Excellence this month. This prize is awarded annually to the top LMP MSc or PhD graduate who has demonstrated excellence in research.
What are you studying at LMP and why are you interested in studying it?
The success of glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1)-based medicines in treating type 2 diabetes and obesity has generated interest in their effects beyond their role in energy balance. In rodent models of neurodegeneration and infection, GLP-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) reduce neuroinflammation through unclear mechanisms. Some of the metabolic and anti-inflammatory effects of these peptides in the brain may be mediated through their receptors found on astrocytes, cells that maintain brain homeostasis via many functions such as neurotransmitter recycling and inflammation signalling. Therefore, I am studying the roles of the astrocyte GLP-1 and GIP receptors in GLP-1/GIP-mediated control of metabolism and inflammation.
Through my undergraduate coursework and lab experiences, I developed a strong interest in metabolism research which led me to work on this project supervised by Dr. Daniel Drucker in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology. It is particularly exciting to study GLP-1-based medicines while there are ongoing clinical trials investigating their effectiveness in treating various diseases.
What is the most interesting thing you’ve done, seen or got involved with while at LMP?
As the VP external on CLAMPS, I had the opportunity to plan outreach events to bring science at LMP to the community. It was highly rewarding to organize REACH Day to showcase the academic journeys and some of the science being done by graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and residents at LMP to high school students within the Greater Toronto Area. It is also always a pleasure to organize activities to make science accessible to a younger crowd through Science Rendezvous and Kids Passport (Alumni Reunion) at the University of Toronto.
What was the best career advice you ever received?
The greatest growth comes from stepping outside of your comfort zone.
What has been an important learning experience in your life?
The road to success is not linear… It is a bumpy ride with holes, but it is important to appreciate and enjoy the process.
Who is an influential person in your life and why?
My parents are the most influential people in my life. They have supported me endlessly in my academic and non-academic endeavors and remind me to take things slow and pursue what I love. I am also grateful to have the guidance of my past and current scientific mentors who have shaped my academic journey.
What would it surprise people to know about you?
I can fall asleep anywhere and anytime (I most recently did it during the opener of an Incubus concert).
What activities do you enjoy doing outside of your studies?
I love doing all kinds of art. I mainly do traditional pencil drawing and acrylic painting, but I’ve also picked up some watercolour, oil painting, and digital art. I also enjoy exploring the city, hiking, and cooking/baking with friends and family.
What is your favourite album, film, and novel?
It is hard to pick just one, but…
Album: AM by Arctic Monkeys (but Taylor Swift is my guilty pleasure).
Film: Good Will Hunting. I love heart-warming movies, especially if they make you cry.
Novel: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is a close second.
Who would be your dream dinner guests?
Meryl Streep, my paternal grandfather, and Johnny Harris. Maybe not all at once.
Where/what is your favourite place?
Anywhere peaceful with a view surrounded by nature.
If you were stuck on a deserted island but had all your basic needs taken care of (i.e. food and water), what two items would you bring with you and why?
A Kindle (solar-powered) full of books for entertainment and learning/survival purposes. I think my entire painting set-up should count for the second item.
