Here is the profile of the recipient of the 2023 Bernard-Têtu Scholarship, Laurence Carignan, a master's student in Cellular and Molecular Biology in the team of Professor François Bordeleau and Dr Stéphane Bolduc. This scholarship is made possible by the Centre de recherche sur le cancer de l’Université Laval and the Fonds de cancérologie de la Fondation de l’Université Laval.
Laurence grew up with varied interests in science, biology, arts, and mathematics. She chose to specialize in biomedical research by completing a Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences at Université Laval. During her undergraduate studies, she completed several research internships in various laboratories in Quebec City, where she gained diverse skills by exploring fields such as pulmonary health, regenerative medicine, and molecular medicine. For her final undergraduate internship, her interests led her to Dr. François Bordeleau's laboratory, specializing in cancer mechanobiology.
After joining Dr. Bordeleau's multidisciplinary team, Laurence took on a project in collaboration with Dr. Stéphane Bolduc, combining oncology, engineering, mechanobiology, and tissue engineering. This project aims to optimize a 3D model of bladder cancer, to better replicate the biophysical properties of cancerous tissues. This model represents an innovative and promising tool for fundamental research, clinical research, and personalized medicine. Her passion for this project and her involvement in the research team led her to continue this work through an optional summer internship, and then into a Master's in Cellular and Molecular Biology.
During her graduate studies, Laurence contributed to several related projects, including characterizing the biophysical properties of bladder cancer cell lines and studying the effects of bisphenols on the activation of cancer-associated fibroblasts. She is also involved in the writing of several scientific articles to be published soon. Her technical and analytical skills have enabled her to conduct complex experiments and generate significant results. Additionally, her qualities earned her the trust of her research directors, allowing her to train and supervise an undergraduate intern during the summer, demonstrating her ability to pass on her knowledge and inspire others. In addition to her research, she has actively participated in scientific outreach events and presented her work at national and international conferences, including the Canadian Cancer Research Conference in 2023 and the Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting in 2024.
Laurence is recognized for her natural leadership, teamwork skills, and passion for research. She plans to pursue doctoral studies to continue making significant contributions to biomedical research. Her commitment and academic record earned her the Bernard-Têtu Excellence Scholarship, recognizing her potential in oncology research.