LEARN. ENGAGE. BE INSPIRED.
Welcome to Mini Med School Fraser Valley On behalf of BC Children’s Hospital, it is my pleasure to welcome you to Mini Med School Fraser Valley. We are honoured to be speaking to you from the unceded, traditional and ancestral territories of the Tsel’weyeqw and Stó:lō peoples. Today at Mini Med School, you’ll learn about some of the latest big ideas and discoveries in health research. Our speakers are among Canada’s leading investigators, healthcare professionals and up-andcoming new researchers. They will share their passion, their commitment and the way they’re working to transform child health for kids in our province and around the world. We’re here today with a big goal: to inspire you. We hope that you leave today excited about what’s possible in the fields of science and health and, most importantly, your own future careers. Sincerely,
Quynh Doan, MDCM, MHSc PhD Interim Senior Executive Director, Research, BC Children’s Hospital Clinician Scientist, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, UBC Director, Clinical Research, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Stay connected with BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute @bcchresearch
@bcchresearch
Mini Med School Fraser Valley
@bcchresearch
Group 1: New Discoveries
Friday, April 8 8:30 am - 3:05 pm Coast Chilliwack Hotel 45920 First Ave
OUR SCHEDULE 8:30 am
Registration & Welcome Activity Mini Med School is not a nut-free event. We cannot guarantee that there will be no cross-contamination by catering. Participants with any food allergies or dietary restrictions are asked to bring a lunch. We apologize for any inconvenience.
8:55 am
Welcome & Introductions
9:00 am
Neuroscience, epigenetics and your developing brain Discover how your genes and environment shape who you are. After a short primer on the epigenetics in the brain, you’ll be using your full (action) potential to test your knowledge in a friendly game of Neuro-jeopardy. Presented by Dr. Annie Ciernia
9:45 am
Ex-Quiz Me? Test your health sciences knowledge! This interactive game will let you compete for prizes and gain more insight on the latest translational and clinical research topics. Presented by Laura Christensen and Sharon Yau
www.bcchr.ca/MiniMedFraserValley
10:00 am
Research Leader Introductions
10:05 am
10:15 am
- Break -
Meet the 2022 Mini Med School Faculty! Learn more about the BC Children’s Hospital researchers who are pursuing discovery and translating their research into life-saving clinical innovations and excellence in child health.
Research Activities – Session 1 Get ready for some hands-on science! Students will work in groups and participate in a selection of the following activities:
The Five Second Rule – Heart Health Edition! Time to brush up on your biology and think fast! Delve into the world of heart health as you explore this vital organ, provide rapid-fire answers and compete for heartfelt prizes. Presented by Bianca Fukakusa
See it to believe it! From visual perception to your brain Looking at your surroundings, how does your brain understand where you are and what you’re doing? In this interactive demonstration, learn how visual aspects, such as shape and colour, can be combined with contextual cues to stimulate the pathway between the visual cortex and brain. Presented by Hallee Shearer
Mini Med School Fraser Valley
Gut feeling: which foods promote good or bad bacteria? A balance of good and bad bacteria in your intestinal tract is essential for a healthy gut. However, certain types of food can upset this balance by promoting an abundance of bad bacteria. Challenge your assumptions on everyday food choices as you explore the microbiome, and discover how bad bacteria can thrive and lead to long-term health complications. Presented by Matthias Mslati
Applying the Scientific Method to Pediatric Cancer Research Discover how human immune cells can be used to treat and prevent diseases in the field of pediatric cancer. In this session, you will be presented with scientific data and challenged to formulate your own research proposal based on the information provided. You’ll be able to think like a health scientist and apply the scientific method as you state your hypothesis, design your experiment, interpret your results, draw a conclusion and devise a new research question. Presented by Madeline Lauener
On the Road In 2017, Mini Med School expanded beyond the Lower Mainland for the first time to Terrace. Over the past two years, sessions were also held in Fort St. John, Kamloops and Williams Lake. Where to next? This award-winning science education program will be on the road for years to come! 222.
www.bcchr.ca/MiniMedFraserValley
11:15 am
Lunch
12:15 pm
Role of Membrane Contact Sites: How do Organelles in a Cell Communicate? Our cells are made up of specialized compartments called organelles that are constantly communicating with each other. Join us as we explore the regions of close contact between organelle membranes, and discover how these membrane contact sites are vital, not only for the functioning of cells, but for entire organisms. Presented by Vaishnavi Sridhar
1:00 pm
Research Activities – Session 2 Students will continue to work in groups to participate in the remaining activites from Session 1.
Science Making Miracles Did you know BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute conducts world-class research to improve the health of children and families? 1,000+ researchers are leading scientific discoveries for a healthier future for all kids in BC and beyond.
Mini Med School Fraser Valley
2:15 pm
- Break -
2:00 pm
Who Wants to be a Health Scientist? Challenge your assumptions about what it means to work in health sciences. This interactive activity will give you a better idea of the dayto-day responsibilities of those working in the medical or research field.
3:00 pm
Closing remarks
3:05 pm
Optional: Student Networking Interact with our health science experts! After dismissal, the Mini Med School Faculty will be available to network one-on-one with interested participants.
Summer Student Research Program The Summer Student Research Program fosters research awareness and interest for undergraduate and medical students. Each year, the program provides an opportunity to participate in research projects related to child and family health under the supervision of researchers at BC Children’s Hospital. Learn more: www.bcchr.ca/ssrp
www.bcchr.ca/MiniMedFraserValley
OUR FACULTY Annie Ciernia Affiliate Investigator, BC Children’s Hospital; Assistant Professor, UBC Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Fun Fact: I have run over 20 marathons! Dr. Ciernia’s research focuses on understanding how genes are regulated in the brain. Her lab studies epigenetics, one of the key mechanisms for turning genes on and off. Using model systems such as mice and brain cells growing in a dish, Dr. Ciernia’s lab tests hypotheses about epigenetics in brain development and neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder. Her work studies different types of brain cells including neurons and microglia and how they are co-regulated in the developing brain. Findings from her lab will help identify drug targets for treating neurodevelopmental disorders.
Bianca Fukakusa Masters Student, UBC Department of Medicine; Harris Research Team, BC Children’s Hospital Fun Fact: Despite moving to Vancouver, I’m a Toronto Maple Leafs fan! Bianca is a Masters Student in the Experimental Medicine program at UBC. She is from Ontario, where she completed an Honours Bachelor of Science with a major in Biology – Physiology at McMaster University. Bianca’s research focuses on piloting a physical activity counselling program for children with congenital heart disease. In her free time, she enjoys playing soccer and trying new food.
Mini Med School Online High school students throughout BC can now experience Mini Med School online at any time and from anywhere. Participants in our self-directed program are also eligible to receive an electronic certificate of participation. Learn more: www.bcchr.ca/mmsonline
Mini Med School Fraser Valley
Bianca Vizcaino Research Assistant, Endocrinology & Diabetes, BC Children’s Hospital; Panagiotopoulos Research Team Fun Fact: My favourite way to stay active is by attending different types of dance classes, such as hip-hop Bianca completed her B.Sc. in General Studies with an emphasis in Biology and Psychology at UBCO, and is currently a Research Assistant in the Endocrinology and Diabetes Unit at BC Children’s Hospital. Bianca’s research focuses on a range of studies related to type 1 and type 2 diabetes (T1D, T2D) and metabolic complications. This includes an international research program focused on determining the validity of using autoantibodies to predict the risk of T1D, and investigating ways to diagnose T1D before participants see symptoms.
Claire Galvin Research Coordinator, Armstrong Research Team, BC Children’s Hospital Fun Fact: I was a tap dancer for 8 years! Claire holds a Master of Science in Experimental Medicine from the University of British Columbia, as well as an Honours Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto. Claire joined BC Children’s Hospital in the Children’s Heart Centre as a Research Coordinator in 2020. She is passionate about implementing mobile health technologies for pediatric patients and their families to improve health outcomes, quality of life, and increase access to care.
Hallee Shearer Masters Student, UBC Department of Neuroscience; Vanderwal Research Team, BC Children’s Hospital Fun Fact: I have held a human brain Hallee finished her undergraduate degree in Behavioral Neuroscience at UBC, and is now working on her Masters degree in Neuroscience. Currently, she’s researching a treatment for depression that uses a strong magnet to activate special parts of the brain. Hallee loves teaching people about the brain, and hopes to be a professor one day. When she’s not studying or doing research, Hallee likes to play volleyball and slackline at the beach.
www.bcchr.ca/MiniMedFraserValley
Madeline Lauener Doctoral Student, UBC Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; Schultz Research Team, BC Children’s Hospital Fun Fact: In my spare time I enjoy water sports, crabbing, prawning and ocean fishing Madeline completed her Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University. She is now a PhD student at UBC and is working to comprehensively describe and expand an immune cell population known as regulatory natural killer cells. The goal of this research is to develop a cell therapy to prevent chronic graft-versus-host disease in pediatric cancer patients who receive a stem cell transplant.
Matthias Mslati Doctoral Student, UBC Department of Pediatrics; Vallance Research Team, BC Children’s Hospital Fun Fact: I love nature Matthias is a PhD student studying how bad bacteria in the gut can obtain nutrients that compromise the health of a host. This could lead to various intestinal diseases such as the very common inflammatory bowel disease: Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s. By understanding their nutrition, his research also aims to develop ways to deprive the bad bacteria from these nutrients. One way, for example, is by introducing a direct competitor: good bacteria that use similar nutrients and therefore kick out the bad bacteria from the intestine. Matthias is looking forward to meeting the Mini Med School students and sharing with them what he has discovered so far.
Olivia Sullivan Masters Student, UBC Department of Neuroscience; Ciernia Research Team, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health Fun Fact: I spent a semester studying abroad in Sydney, Australia, where I got to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef and also learned how to surf! Olivia completed her B.Sc. in Behavioural Neuroscience last April and is currently a Masters of Neuroscience student at UBC. Her research investigates communication signalling between the gut and the brain along the gut-brain-axis. Specifically, she is interested in characterizing how early life disruptions to microorganisms in the gut impact neurodevelopment and brain health later in life. In her free time, Olivia likes to run, hike, and spend time with family and friends.
Mini Med School Fraser Valley
Inspiring the Future BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute constantly aims to inspire the next generation of scientists. Over the past 5 years, students from 142 high schools and 16 school districts across the Lower Mainland have attended our public outreach events.
Spencer Anderson Doctoral Student, UBC Department Medical Genetics; Carleton & Ross Research Teams, BC Children’s Hospital & Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy Innovations Fun Fact: I’ve travelled to more than 15 countries to present my research and for my previous role as a university recruiter Spencer is currently a Doctoral Student in the UBC Department of Medical Genetics. By studying patients’ genetic profiles, his research aims to discover genetic variants that can predict adverse drug reactions for childhood cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Prior to his studies at UBC, Spencer completed his undergraduate degree in biochemistry and molecular biology at Trent University. He then earned a graduate diploma in population health risk assessment and management from the University of Ottawa while collaborating with healthcare leaders at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) and the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH). Spencer has also completed a MSc in Environmental Life Sciences from Trent University, where he studied white-tailed deer genomics.
Vaishnavi Sridhar Doctoral Student, UBC Department of Cell and Developmental Biology; Conibear Research Team, BC Children’s Hospital & Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics Fun Fact: I can speak three different languages and am named after a Hindu goddess Vaishnavi is a PhD candidate in the Conibear research team at the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics and BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute. Using budding yeast as a model system, she studies how different compartments of a cell come in contact with each other and its implication for cell homeostasis.
www.bcchr.ca/MiniMedFraserValley
Outreach Opportunities Looking for additional opportunities to get involved in research and health sciences? Check out the resources below to see the different types of outreach programs available for high school students. BC Children’s Hospital is not affiliated with the programs below. For any questions, please contact the program organizers directly.
Program Name
Program Type
Operation Medical School
Conference
UBC Pathways to Medicine Club
Online Resource
Shad Canada
Summer Program
PuMP+ Vancouver
Conference
Skype a Scientist
Online Resource
Pre-Health Shadowing
Online Resource
Description Operation Med School is a student-run organization that hosts one-day conferences to educate youth about the journey of a medical career. UBC Pathways to Medicine is a club run by current UBC Medical Students and offers equitable access and guidance to students who would like to learn more about the field of Medicine and BC’s only Medical School. Shad is a month-long STEAM program that allows grade 10 and 11 students to collaborate and work with different peers outside of their home province. Prospective Medical Professionals, known as PuMP for short, is a federally registered charity on a mission to help Canadian high school and post-secondary students understand different career pathways in life and health sciences. Skype a Scientist has a database of thousands of scientists and helps them connect with classrooms, families, libraries, and more all over the globe! Pre-Health Shadowing can be completed from the comfort of your home. Meet with healthcare professionals from various domains and specialties to get an inside look at their education and career paths.