Iulia Grigore, Pharmacology and Toxicology

Lulia Grigore

Why Temerty Faculty of Medicine:
I believe that the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto is an remarkable hub of top-level scientists that are working together to improve our medical knowledge. I chose to be part of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine research community as I want to develop under the guidance of world-renowned scientists and to collaborate with researchers from various medical disciplines. Additionally, I value the opportunities offered through the faculty which vary from training workshops to networking days or mental health-focused events. 

Why this Department:
Throughout my previous studies, I became interested in understanding the genetic and epigenetic alterations that occur and lead to cancer development and progression. I am keen to contribute to the understanding of cancer biology, specifically brain cancer, and to the discovery of novel therapeutic strategies to combat brain cancer. The Pharmacology and Toxicology Department offered me the opportunity to study what I am passionate about as a graduate member of the Salmena team. Additionally, I find the wide variety of research completed within the department to be inspiring as it offers insight into the whole drug discovery pipeline. I appreciate the intra-departmental networking and social events because it provides opportunities to gain new knowledge regarding different aspects of pharmacology and collaborate with other researchers.

Current Research Experience:
My doctoral project is conducted in the laboratory of Dr Leonardo Salmena. I am studying the role of microRNAs in glioblastoma, which is the most aggressive brain tumour in adults. My project aims to identify microRNAs that drive stemness and tumour aggression in glioblastoma for the development of novel microRNA-based therapeutic strategies. To do so, we designed a novel microRNA-focused CRISPR-Cas9 screening platform to investigate the function of all known microRNAs on stem-like characteristics in glioblastoma using 2D and 3D patient-derived glioblastoma stem cell cultures.

Future Education Plans and/or Career Goals:
My long-term career goal is to push the boundaries of cancer research and aid in the development of novel treatment strategies to improve the lives of brain cancer patients. To do so, I initially have to complete my graduate studies, throughout which, I aim to continuously improve my biomedical knowledge and laboratory expertise. After my PhD project, I plan on continuing my research in the academia with the hope of establishing my own laboratory later in my career.

Contact Ambassador Iulia Grigore