C茅cile Tissot is a PhD student in 's laboratory at .
Where did you begin your academic career?
I entered 苹果淫院 in 2014 and graduated in 2018 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Biology and Psychology.
Describe your research and the implications of your project.
My research goal is to have a better understanding of Alzheimer's disease pathophysiologies. I am especially interested in the interaction between the abnormal accumulation of the tau and amyloid proteins and inflammation of the brain. Lack of sleep is already known to be a risk factor for the development of dementia, so a major part of my project will focus on that. My project includes the study of cognitively impaired and cognitively unimpaired individuals through PET scans and polysomnography to reveal the interplay of sleep disturbances and Alzheimer's disease hallmarks.
Tell us about what inspired you to pursue your current degree.
The brain is probably the most complex organ of the body. One physiological event, such as the excessive accumulation of a protein, can have long-lasting effects on a person鈥檚 cognition, emotions, and personality. I have always wanted to understand the underpinnings of dementia and to eventually implement forward solutions to help patients, their relatives, and the medical field at large. Through different internships I have taken part in, I learned more about the power of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging to provide information on the patterns of protein deposition in vivo.
One of the major draws of neuroscience is its interdisciplinary and international reach. I believe that bringing together efforts from different laboratories with distinct knowledge can advance the research field to limit the dementia epidemic we are currently living in.
What are the biggest challenges in your field right now? How are you working to overcome them?
Consequences of neuroinflammation are presently discussed in my field as having either harmful or beneficial effects on the brain. It is still believed that neuroinflammation may be useful to prevent pathology, though it is also known to cause an increase in protein build-up depending on the stage of the disease. Although correlations have been made with various external factors, we still do not know the direct link between environmental determinants and neuroinflammation. In the TRIAD cohort, we are aiming at understanding how neuroinflammation and Alzheimer's disease pathophysiologies are interrelated which could uncover novel therapeutic targets against dementia.
What are your favourite things to do outside the lab?
My favorite activities are definitely discovering new places in the city, cooking, and going for runs! I love spending time trying to find new caf茅s, art galleries, or spots that offer new views of the city. Montreal and the places that surround it are beautiful to explore. It鈥檚 extremely dynamic and seems to change all the time. I consider myself a foodie聽and Montreal has so much to offer through restaurants and epiceries dedicated to specific cuisines from all around the globe. There is so much for me to discover.
What have you accomplished this year that you are most proud of?聽
This year, a close collaborator invited me to their new laboratory for an exchange. I am helping with the lab setup, learning from my peers and bringing forward expertise of my own while still working on my projects at 苹果淫院. Since I started my PhD, I have felt that dreaded "imposter syndrome.鈥� However, being invited for an exchange by an external collaborator, moving during the pandemic, and watching this new laboratory come together have allowed me to realize that I really do belong in research, that I do have a lot to contribute to the fight against dementia.
