Isabel Kannampuzha is an MSc student in the Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology at
Western University. She is conducting BCC-funded breast cancer research under the
mentorship of Dr. Armen Parsyan and Dr. Alison Allan.
- Could you share your motivation/personal connection to breast cancer research?
Growing up I unfortunately experienced the loss of family members and relatives to breast
cancer. This experience both drew my interest to the field and fuels my motivation to provide a
better understanding of breast cancer treatments and lay the groundwork to uncover novel
therapies. - What specific areas of breast cancer research are you currently focusing on, and why are
they important?
My research aims to understand how and why triple negative breast cancer responds to
treatment or becomes resistant to treatment. My research focuses on two proteins called Polo-
like Kinase 4 and Artemis, and how these proteins play a role in breast cancer growth and
response to radiation. Ultimately, we believe that targeting one or both of these proteins may
help triple negative breast cancer become more sensitive to radiation therapy. This research is
important because it may help inform and develop new therapies and drugs to improve
outcomes for breast cancer patients. - How do you see the future of breast cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment
evolving through research?
With further research I can see breast cancer screening strategies, diagnosis, and treatment
moving in a more personalized direction for each patient. It is well known now that no two
breast cancers are the same, so this is an important evolution of care that will help doctors and
breast cancer patients choose the right personalized treatment approach for them. - What advice do you have for young individuals interested in pursuing a career in breast
cancer research?
Breast cancer research is an ever-evolving field and a huge topic, so you should determine what
you are specifically interested in and what questions you are interested in tackling as a scientist.
Although you may settle on one aspect of breast cancer research to pursue, always continue to
learn, read, talk with researchers both in and outside of the field to expand your perspectives
on your work. - In your opinion, what role can public awareness and advocacy play in advancing breast
cancer research and treatment?
Public awareness and advocacy hold essential roles in moving the needle of breast cancer
research by amplifying patient voices and needs in order to shape research priorities. With this
approach, breast cancer research incorporates more diverse views with a more patient-
centered approach. This in turn can lead to changes in health policies and funding that increase
accessibility and push for better quality research.
