Curiosity drives young epigenetics scholar

trevor.kenney — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:55:43 +0000

At a time when most kids were glued to TV shows about talking purple dinosaurs, Kristy Kutanzi was exploring the inner workings of the world around her.

"I have always had a curious mind," she explains. "As a child, I loved to experiment. My parents bought me a book with basic science experiments and explanations for general phenomena – a book that I read from front to back countless times."

Kristy Kutanzi is making a difference with her research focus.

They also bought her a microscope to indulge her fascination with "things too small to be seen by the human eye," says the Grassy Lake, Alta., native.

But it wasn't until she began her undergraduate degree at the U of L and had an opportunity to work in the lab of Dr. Olga Kovalchuk for her honours program, that Kutanzi realized her sights were set on becoming a scientist.

"The practical training that I received in labs during my undergrad was a turning point for me," says Kutanzi. "Dr. Kovalchuk fostered my interest in science and encouraged me to pursue a higher level of education in the field. Undoubtedly, she has provided and continues to provide me with invaluable tools and advice to succeed in my research career."

These days, Kutanzi is well on her way to realizing her ambitions. She's now in the MSc/PhD transfer program, which allows students with research potential to enter the PhD program without defending their master's thesis. She continues to work with Kovalchuk on a project to unravel the epigenetic changes that precede the development of cancer.

While traditionally researchers have studied the genetic influences of cancer, Kutanzi is working to understand the epigenetic factors that "turn on" cancer genes. Through funding from the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (Prairies-NWT chapter) and the Alberta Cancer Research Institute, Kutanzi is looking at how estrogen may trigger genes that cause breast cancer, the leading cause of death for women 30 to 55 years of age.

Kutanzi's work on the topic has not gone unnoticed and her amazing aptitude for science has earned her high praise. In addition to being an Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research scholar, Kutanzi recently earned a prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, valued at $50,000 per year for up to three years.

The Vanier program, launched by the Government of Canada in 2008, aims to attract and retain world-class doctoral students who demonstrate a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies.

The prestigious award is a big boost for Kutanzi's burgeoning career. Not only does the funding allow her to focus on the research, but it allows her to present her results at international scientific conferences. There, she'll develop research collaborations and investigate current and future prospects in her field.

But perhaps most importantly, the award brings recognition to a dangerous disease.

"Receiving the Vanier reflects the merit of my field of research," Kutanzi explains graciously. "It brings national attention to the value of researching breast cancer development, particularly during the early stages when there's a greater chance for us to discover a successful treatment."

Kutanzi earns Vanier Canada award

trevor.kenney — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:07:28 +0000

Kristy Kutanzi grew up in the Alberta hamlet of Grassy Lake, with a population of less than 1,000 people and more than 7,000 kilometres from Ukraine. Dr. Olga Kovalchuk grew up in the shadow of Chernobyl, site of the worst nuclear power plant disaster in history.

Despite their divergent backgrounds, they are now linked as researchers, delving into the field of epigenetics and its potential role as a basis for a number of health problems, including cancer. Kutanzi (BSc '06), now a PhD student working with Kovalchuk in the Department of Biological Sciences, has been awarded a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship as a result, a prestigious doctoral scholarship valued at $50,000 per year for up to three years.

"Success in my field of research is something that I have always worked hard to achieve and will continue to do so," says Kutanzi. "Although I was surprised to receive the Vanier, I feel that this recognition is a reflection of the merit of my field of research."

Her proposed research is entitled, "Epigenetic dysregulation in estrogen-induced mammary carcinogenesis" which she describes as, "addressing the role of estrogen in the development of breast cancer."

"The Vanier brings national recognition to the value of researching breast cancer development, particularly during the early stages when there is a greater chance of successfully treating the disease," says Kutanzi. "This award is an important step in raising awareness of the research being conducted to better understand how to prevent and treat cancer."

The Vanier program is in its first year, having been launched by the Government of Canada in 2008 with an initial $25-million investment. The program aims to attract and retain world-class doctoral students by supporting students who demonstrate a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies in the social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and engineering and health.

Kutanzi is one of 55 recipients chosen by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), one of three federal research granting agencies responsible for the administration of the award.

"This scholarship allows me to focus on cutting edge research in the field of epigenetics, and provides me with the funding to present my results at international conferences," says Kutanzi. "Attendance at these scientific conventions is crucial for developing collaborations, potential employment opportunities and gaining insight into the current and future prospects of my field. Moreover, this award serves as recognition of the high quality of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's graduate program."

Kutanzi's interest in cancer epigenetics was sparked when she was still an undergraduate student. She would carry that interest to her graduate and now doctoral studies and sees a future that has her continuing work to combat the world's health problems.

"I could definitely see myself working in collaboration with governmental institutions, such as Health Canada, to explore the long-term health problems associated with the lifestyle and environmental factors that affect Canadians," she says.

UNews - Kristy Kutanzi

Curiosity drives young epigenetics scholar

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