What attracted Dr. Sonya MacParland to the world of science was the possibility of making a discovery no one else has ever made. It’s exactly what she went on to do – the award-winning scientist at UHN’s Toronto General Hospital Research Institute developed the world’s first transcriptomic map of the liver, triggering a paradigm shift in liver research and therapy.
On this episode of Behind the Breakthrough, Dr. MacParland takes the listener through the intricacies of the only organ in the human body with the ability to regenerate itself - the liver. She explains how she and her team mapped the thousands of cells within it, and why they felt it was integral to keep the research open-access for scientists around the world to use as a guide. Dr. MacParland also dives into the personal side of her success as a scientist, sharing how she deals with the failures and pressures of her work and the role mentorship plays in a successful career.
“Being able to do science and discover together on a daily basis is a gift,” says Dr. MacParland. “The fact that I'm able to do this and work with brilliant students, brilliant scientists and wonderful patients is just so fulfilling.”
Check out season 3 of Your Complex Brain
Dr. Gelareh Zadeh’s pioneering research in brain tumours
Dr. Howard Abrams champions innovative housing solution to help seniors age at home
Sleep disruption research by UHN’s Dr. Tatyana Mollayeva shows the impact on recovery from brain injury, cognitive reaction
Hunting the origin cell of Head and Neck Squamous Carcinoma
Leveraging the human microbiome to be a therapeutic agent
UHN’s Dr. Cristina Nostro pioneers stem cell research to cure Diabetes
Identifying novel acute pain treatments following major surgery
Pioneering UHN research targets long-term complications of liver transplantation
Dr. Andrew Boozary prescribes housing to curb homelessness
Checkout Season 2 of Your Complex Brain
Dr. Shaf Keshavjee has transformed lung transplant worldwide with his medical discoveries
Pioneering the use of virtual reality devices to restore vision
Dr. Rama Khokha on her breakthrough to map the biology of pancreatic cancer
Promising new treatment for Parkinson’s Disease
Dr. Eleanor Fish pioneers research using Interferons to treat virus outbreaks
Dr. Jonathan Irish pioneers Augmented Reality in Cancer Surgery
Pioneering a Diagnosis for CTE
A new toolkit for LTC to help care of residents during an outbreak
Dr.Gordon Keller on his ground breaking research to advance stem cell based therapies
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