IRELAND

‘From an early age I have been fascinated with science because of the
high impact that it has on our daily life. I would like to contribute to
society by using science to ameliorate human suffering and to improve
the quality of human life. I chose to pursue this interest by studying
Biotechnology at NUIG, because this course comprises the application
of biology for the benefit of humanity and the environment. I also think
I have always been lucky to have passionate science teachers who have
inspired me and let my passion for science and research to develop,’ says
Izabela Koryga, a doctoral student at the School of Natural Sciences at
the Apoptosis Research Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway
(NUIG).
Ms. Koryga completed her second-level education in Poland and then
successfully completed the NUIG Access Programme in Co. Longford that
enabled her to progress into higher education. She graduated from NUIG
with first class honours in Biotechnology and was awarded the
Biotechnology Prize Medal for academic excellence as well as a host of
other awards and research grants.
It was at NUIG that Ms. Koryga found the particular niche within scientific
research that now dominates her work: ‘During my undergraduate studies
I took a module given by Dr. Adrienne Gorman which focused on the
process of cell death. I became fascinated by the idea of manipulating
this process to ameliorate human suffering. The cell death field is growing
very quickly. Every year new discoveries are made which have direct
implications for patients suffering from a broad range of diseases such as
cancer and degenerative diseases.’
‘We believe that detailed investigation
of these cellular phenomena can bring
advances in our understanding of the
cell death process and its regulation.’
Having been fascinated by Dr. Gorman’s undergraduate lectures, Ms.
Koryga approached her to enquire about research positions in her
laboratory. This led, in turn, to the development of an Irish Research
Council-funded Ph.D project entitled ‘Identification of a Novel Cell
Death-Inducing Complex Assembled in Response to Stress’: ‘The aim of
my project is to characterise a novel cell death inducing protein
complex, called the Stressosome. This protein complex was recently
discovered in the Apoptosis Research Centre to which our laboratory
belongs and represents an exciting development in the field of cell
death. The importance of this discovery was highlighted by its
publication in the highly renowned scientific journal Autophagy in 2014.
This protein complex forms in cells that are unable to die by normal
means due to the absence of one crucial cell death protein. Such cellular
conditions are commonly found in cancer cells which can inactivate prodeath
proteins to escape cell death and continue to grow, eventually
leading to death of the patient.’
Ms. Koryga continues: ‘The formation of the Stressosome activates an
alternative and slower mode of death, and relies on the activation of a
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