James Tran - Medical Biophysics

PhD Candidate
Country of Origin: Mississauga, Ontario Canada
Pre-MSc/PhD Education: BMSc Honours Specialization in Microbiology & Immunology at the University of Western Ontario

Recent Research Experience:
Studying signal transduction in sarcomagenesis

Current Research:
My lab is interested in Li-Fraumeni syndrome, a hereditary cancer predisposition syndrome that often leads to a spectrum of cancers at an early age. My project is focused on rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare soft tissue sarcoma highly represented in Li-Fraumeni patients. I am currently studying aberrant signal transduction pathways in rhabdomyosarcoma to identify important targets and to develop more effective treatments.

Why Faculty of Medicine?
When I graduated from undergrad, I knew I wanted to do cancer research. I discovered that the Department of Medical Biophysics was home to a majority of the cancer labs at SickKids, The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and Sunnybrook, and I immediately started working on my application.

The Discovery District in Toronto is home to countless world-leading experts in all aspects of biomedical research. Being a member of this community is a privilege, and I’m constantly reminded of the strong collaborative environment after every single meeting, seminar and conference. The Faculty of Medicine is a huge part of this stimulating atmosphere, which attracts strong researchers and inspires innovative research.

Future Education Plans and/or Career Goals:
Being a student in Medical Biophysics has led to many strong relationships with faculty, students, and alumni, which will help guide and support me into the next phase of my career. While a PhD does not lead to one specific career, it leads to a number of exciting possibilities that have been highlighted by career development and entrepreneurship programs offered by FacMed, SickKids and MaRS. While I do not have a specific career path in mind, being a part of the innovative environment in the Faculty of Medicine will no doubt open many doors when it comes time for me to move forward.

Contact Ambassador James Tran