Celebrating Dr. Sari: Dedication and Discovery in Pancreatic Cancer Research
We are thrilled to extend our congratulations to Dr. Bilge Sari on successfully defending her thesis at viva voce today and earning her PhD! This marks the culmination of her journey in the field of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) research. It has been an inspiring period, marked by perseverance, innovation, and a commitment to advancing scientific knowledge.
Bilge has written a really packed thesis stretching from big data analyses through to complex cancer models.
Her work has enhanced our understanding of the role of laminins and LaNt a31 in pancreatic cancer. Her published research (available here and described in blog-form here) delved into the potential of laminins as prognostic or diagnostic biomarkers. Through in silico analysis, she explored whether the expression levels of laminin genes could aid in making informed treatment decisions for PAAD patients. This study opens avenues for personalized medicine; offering hope for more accurate and effective treatment strategies.
In addition to her published work, Dr. Sari also conducted pioneering research on LaNt a31, marking the first-ever analysis of this protein in pancreatic cancer. Her study detailed the expression and distribution of LaNt a31 in normal and cancerous tissues. She went further to manipulate its expression in 2D cell cultures and progressed to using chicken egg models, providing ground-breaking insights that we eagerly anticipate seeing published soon.
Bilge’s dedication to her research was matched by exceptional teamwork and collegiality. She has been a joy to work with, consistently demonstrating a collaborative spirit and a positive attitude that has endeared her to everyone in the lab. She has helped to foster a supportive and dynamic research environment that has been at the core of our team for the last few years.
As Dr. Sari embarks on the next chapter of her career, we are excited to see her take up a faculty position in her native Turkey. We have no doubt that she will continue to make substantial and substantive contributions to the field of cancer research and inspire the next generation of scientists. Her journey serves as a testament to the power of hard work, perseverance, and passion for science.
Congratulations, Bilge! Your hard work has truly paid off. We are incredibly proud of you and look forward to your future achievements.
Huge thank you to Prof Edel O’Toole and Dr Ceniz Zihni for examining this work.
Edit- little quote from Bilge for anyone nervous about their upcoming viva:
LaNts and Laminins 