IMS Magazine - Summer 2012 edition in PDF format - Institute of ...

FUTURE DIRECTIONS
that focused on quality of life research in
lung transplant patients. They noticed that a
number of problems faced by these patients,
including organ rejection, were caused by cytomegalovirus
(CMV), a virus belonging to
the herpesviruses family. Farcas-Chan was
fascinated with the literature on infectious
diseases and soon became inspired to pursue
a graduate degree in the field.
Under the supervision of Dr. Kevin Kain, a
clinician-scientist specializing in the diagnostics
and surveillance of infectious diseases,
Farcas-Chan enrolled in the Institute
of Medical Science (IMS). During her studies,
she was an active member of the IMS
Students’ Association, carrying out two
terms as president. She began her thesis
work examining the impact of non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs on malaria, but her
project soon took an interesting turn. In the
midst of her studies, health officials declared
the global epidemic of severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS), a condition caused
by a novel coronavirus (CoV). Approached
by companies trying to develop kits to diagnose
SARS as early as possible, Farcas-Chan
was given an exciting research opportunity:
she analyzed tissue samples from individuals
that had died of SARS using real-time PCR.
Using this method, she could assess viral load
as measured by CoV RNA in different parts
of the body. Her flexibility in taking on this
unexpected project resulted in seminal work
showing the dissemination of SARS-CoV
throughout all major organs, not just the
lungs in fatal SARS patients. 1
“Students need to know
what their rights are, especially
in labs where
there are collaborations
with companies. Students
need to make sure
they’re not being taken
advantage of.”
After completing her PhD and while working
for Fio Corporation, a privately held Canadian
company working to develop a por-
table device capable of molecular diagnosis
of infectious diseases using nanotechnology,
Farcas-Chan participated in a young entrepreneurship
program that greatly impacted
her career path. She had been heavily involved
in intellectual property (IP) searches
on patent databases at Fio when she attended
the Biotechnology YES (Young Entrepreneurs
Scheme) competition held by the UK
government. This competition, aimed at doctoral
students, addressed all aspects of starting
a biotechnology company. Farcas-Chan
was part of the only Canadian team that was
selected to attend the week-long training session
in Oxford, UK. Here, she was further
exposed to IP law, as she began conversing
with lawyers about the patent application
process. Shortly after these discussions, Farcas-Chan
applied to law school.
Although her first semester at Osgoode Hall
Law School at York University was a difficult
transition, Farcas-Chan knew that a career
in law was the right move. Her goal was to
do patent management in a field where she
could also apply the knowledge accumulated
in her graduate degree. To Farcas-Chan, going
to law school was a natural progression.
Achieving her goal, Farcas-Chan is currently
the Vice President of Legal Affairs at Cytodiagnostics
Inc., a biotechnology company
that focuses on the development and distribution
of nanotechnology derived products.
In speaking about this role she said you have
to be a “jack-of-all-trades,” as you need to liaise
between both the scientific and the law
worlds. Remarkably, she is doing this while
balancing family life. When I asked her how
she manages to do it all, she said, “Flexibility
is key. I have a hugely supportive husband
and I am lucky that I have the option to work
from home [to be with my son].”
So what’s next on the horizon for Farcas-
Chan? In addition to continuing her work
at Cytodiagnostics Inc., she would like to be
more involved in teaching and, in particular,
would like to be involved with the IMS.
Just this past April, she was a panel member
for the IMS Career Seminar Series entitled,
“A Graduate Student Alumni Perspective.”
In the future, she discussed the desire to develop
courses for IMS students that integrate
training in IP. She discussed the importance
of bringing awareness to students about protecting
their property: “It’s crucial. Students
need to know what their rights are, especially
in labs where there are collaborations
with companies. Students need to make sure
they’re not being taken advantage of.” She
also discussed the pros of having a patent on
a grant or scholarship application and said,
“You never know when you have something
that somebody may be interested in purchasing
or using.”
“I think the most important
thing is to know
who you are and what
you want. Participate in
things and go to seminars
and lectures and meet
people who are outside
of your field.”
When I asked Farcas-Chan what advice she
would give to current IMS students she said,
“I think the most important thing is to know
who you are and what you want. Participate
in things and go to seminars and lectures
and meet people who are outside of your
field.” She went on to say it is in these situations
where you can have a seed planted in
you for a new idea or career path, or when
you will have the opportunity to network.
She also discussed the importance of being
involved in activities and groups outside of
lab work. Throughout her education she did
more than just her schoolwork, whether it
was participating in research for her undergraduate
work-study program, or serving
as the president of the IMS Students’ Association.
She said, “You should get as much as
you can out of the grad-school experience.”
Given Farcas-Chan’s many successes, current
graduate students would be wise to take this
advice whole-heartedly.
References
1. Farcas GA, Poutanen SM, Mazzulli T, Willey BM, Butany
J, Asa SL, Faure P, Akhavan P, Low DE, Kain KC. Fatal Severe
Acute Respiratory Syndrome is Associated with Multiorgan Involvement
by Coronavirus. J Infect Dis. 2005;191:193-197.
IMS MAGAZINE SUMMER 2012 GENOMIC MEDICINE | 38