so thanks to the TEDx value for inviting me to speak with you today about
me to speak with you today about
me to speak with you today about something I’m very passionate about so
something I’m very passionate about so
something I’m very passionate about so I’m a brain surgeon a researcher and a
I’m a brain surgeon a researcher and a
I’m a brain surgeon a researcher and a mom and the two most common statements I
mom and the two most common statements I
mom and the two most common statements I get from people when they hear this
get from people when they hear this
get from people when they hear this about me is one you don’t really look
about me is one you don’t really look
about me is one you don’t really look like a neurosurgeon I’m not really
like a neurosurgeon I’m not really
like a neurosurgeon I’m not really certain what a neurosurgeons supposed to
certain what a neurosurgeons supposed to
certain what a neurosurgeons supposed to look like but if I’m knocking down
look like but if I’m knocking down
look like but if I’m knocking down stereotypes I think that’s a good thing
stereotypes I think that’s a good thing
stereotypes I think that’s a good thing the other comment I get is how do you
the other comment I get is how do you
the other comment I get is how do you have four kids and still be a
have four kids and still be a
have four kids and still be a neurosurgeon and I think this is what
neurosurgeon and I think this is what
neurosurgeon and I think this is what I’m passionate about when I was a
I’m passionate about when I was a
I’m passionate about when I was a medical student at UBC my Dean actually
medical student at UBC my Dean actually
medical student at UBC my Dean actually told me that women did not go into
told me that women did not go into
told me that women did not go into neurosurgery that wasn’t a career for
neurosurgery that wasn’t a career for
neurosurgery that wasn’t a career for people that wanted to have families and
people that wanted to have families and
people that wanted to have families and so I stand here today for anybody who is
so I stand here today for anybody who is
so I stand here today for anybody who is interested in a career where they think
interested in a career where they think
interested in a career where they think that they cannot have a family and tell
that they cannot have a family and tell
that they cannot have a family and tell you I have four kids two of them are who
you I have four kids two of them are who
you I have four kids two of them are who are in the audience and I think they
are in the audience and I think they
are in the audience and I think they would agree they enjoy having a mother
would agree they enjoy having a mother
would agree they enjoy having a mother who’s a neurosurgeon so I’m going to
who’s a neurosurgeon so I’m going to
who’s a neurosurgeon so I’m going to talk about what I do what some how I
talk about what I do what some how I
talk about what I do what some how I deal with uncertainty and something that
deal with uncertainty and something that
deal with uncertainty and something that I’m very passionate about and I think
I’m very passionate about and I think
I’m very passionate about and I think passion is something you’ve heard a lot
passion is something you’ve heard a lot
passion is something you’ve heard a lot today
today
today uncertainty drives innovation in brain
uncertainty drives innovation in brain
uncertainty drives innovation in brain tumors so these are words that I say
tumors so these are words that I say
tumors so these are words that I say every week it doesn’t make me very
every week it doesn’t make me very
every week it doesn’t make me very popular you have a malignant brain tumor
popular you have a malignant brain tumor
popular you have a malignant brain tumor and I say this much too often and so
and I say this much too often and so
and I say this much too often and so when I’m talking about a malignant brain
when I’m talking about a malignant brain
when I’m talking about a malignant brain tumor I’m talking about this
tumor I’m talking about this
tumor I’m talking about this glioblastoma multiforme II form a
glioblastoma multiforme II form a
glioblastoma multiforme II form a unaffectionate Lee known as GBM this is
unaffectionate Lee known as GBM this is
unaffectionate Lee known as GBM this is the tumor gordoni from the tragically
the tumor gordoni from the tragically
the tumor gordoni from the tragically hip has so this is an MRI and that big
hip has so this is an MRI and that big
hip has so this is an MRI and that big white ugly thing that’s brain cancer
white ugly thing that’s brain cancer
white ugly thing that’s brain cancer unfortunately this is the most common
unfortunately this is the most common
unfortunately this is the most common type of brain cancer in adults and it is
type of brain cancer in adults and it is
type of brain cancer in adults and it is uniformly fatal the average life
uniformly fatal the average life
uniformly fatal the average life expectancy is 12 to 14 months the 5-year
expectancy is 12 to 14 months the 5-year
expectancy is 12 to 14 months the 5-year survival is less than 10% so why is that
survival is less than 10% so why is that
survival is less than 10% so why is that what is it about this disease that makes
what is it about this disease that makes
what is it about this disease that makes it so fatal you know this is a CT scan
it so fatal you know this is a CT scan
it so fatal you know this is a CT scan of a body so unlike other cancers so if
of a body so unlike other cancers so if
of a body so unlike other cancers so if you think about lung cancer breast
you think about lung cancer breast
you think about lung cancer breast cancer that metastasized are go to other
cancer that metastasized are go to other
cancer that metastasized are go to other organs in the body like the heart the
organs in the body like the heart the
organs in the body like the heart the liver the kidneys the bones brain cancer
liver the kidneys the bones brain cancer
liver the kidneys the bones brain cancer doesn’t do that it does something more
doesn’t do that it does something more
doesn’t do that it does something more insidious it takes over who you are
insidious it takes over who you are
insidious it takes over who you are it invades your brain like little
it invades your brain like little
it invades your brain like little spiderwebs weaving tentacles throughout
spiderwebs weaving tentacles throughout
spiderwebs weaving tentacles throughout your brain and I think that’s what makes
your brain and I think that’s what makes
your brain and I think that’s what makes brain cancer so terrifying to people is
brain cancer so terrifying to people is
brain cancer so terrifying to people is unlike other cancers it can take over
unlike other cancers it can take over
unlike other cancers it can take over who you are and what your soul is how
who you are and what your soul is how
who you are and what your soul is how invasive visit Walter dandy was one of
invasive visit Walter dandy was one of
invasive visit Walter dandy was one of the Great’s of neuro surgery in the
the Great’s of neuro surgery in the
the Great’s of neuro surgery in the nineteen 1900s when somebody had a brain
nineteen 1900s when somebody had a brain
nineteen 1900s when somebody had a brain cancer on the right side of their brain
cancer on the right side of their brain
cancer on the right side of their brain he took out the entire right hemisphere
he took out the entire right hemisphere
he took out the entire right hemisphere and then tumor recurred on the other
and then tumor recurred on the other
and then tumor recurred on the other side
side
side now this is a medieval picture of
now this is a medieval picture of
now this is a medieval picture of neurosurgeons I hope we’ve advanced a
neurosurgeons I hope we’ve advanced a
neurosurgeons I hope we’ve advanced a bit from these days can see the surgeon
bit from these days can see the surgeon
bit from these days can see the surgeon drilling a hole with a dunce cap on I
drilling a hole with a dunce cap on I
drilling a hole with a dunce cap on I think the enesta s– is saying prayers
think the enesta s– is saying prayers
think the enesta s– is saying prayers I’m not sure how that actually works and
I’m not sure how that actually works and
I’m not sure how that actually works and I guess that’s the nurse with the book
I guess that’s the nurse with the book
I guess that’s the nurse with the book hoping to learn something from osmosis
hoping to learn something from osmosis
hoping to learn something from osmosis I’d like to say we’ve improved from this
I’d like to say we’ve improved from this
I’d like to say we’ve improved from this so this is myself and dr. Pickett a
so this is myself and dr. Pickett a
so this is myself and dr. Pickett a colleague operating at an operating
colleague operating at an operating
colleague operating at an operating microscope that magnifies the brain we
microscope that magnifies the brain we
microscope that magnifies the brain we have neuro navigation and that allows us
have neuro navigation and that allows us
have neuro navigation and that allows us to see where we are in real time in
to see where we are in real time in
to see where we are in real time in relation to important neurological
relation to important neurological
relation to important neurological structures where the tumor is where the
structures where the tumor is where the
structures where the tumor is where the arteries are everything that we need to
arteries are everything that we need to
arteries are everything that we need to know so we can safely take out a tumor
know so we can safely take out a tumor
know so we can safely take out a tumor so I apologize if anybody has an
so I apologize if anybody has an
so I apologize if anybody has an aversion to blood don’t look at the next
aversion to blood don’t look at the next
aversion to blood don’t look at the next slide so we can see really cool things
slide so we can see really cool things
slide so we can see really cool things so this is a view under the microscope
so this is a view under the microscope
so this is a view under the microscope of the internal carotid artery that’s
of the internal carotid artery that’s
of the internal carotid artery that’s what feeds your brain the brain the
what feeds your brain the brain the
what feeds your brain the brain the optic nerve and the optic chiasm which
optic nerve and the optic chiasm which
optic nerve and the optic chiasm which help you see and the third nerve which
help you see and the third nerve which
help you see and the third nerve which actually controls your eye movements so
actually controls your eye movements so
actually controls your eye movements so these are the kind of cool pictures I
these are the kind of cool pictures I
these are the kind of cool pictures I get to see every day I think it’s pretty
get to see every day I think it’s pretty
get to see every day I think it’s pretty awesome
but GBM is more than just an MRI it is
but GBM is more than just an MRI it is more than just a tumor that I cut out
more than just a tumor that I cut out
more than just a tumor that I cut out it’s more than just a subject of a TEDx
it’s more than just a subject of a TEDx
it’s more than just a subject of a TEDx talk it’s about people so this is a
talk it’s about people so this is a
talk it’s about people so this is a picture of a woman in her 20s in the
picture of a woman in her 20s in the
picture of a woman in her 20s in the 1940s she fought in the Second World War
1940s she fought in the Second World War
1940s she fought in the Second World War in the Royal Canadian Air Force she got
in the Royal Canadian Air Force she got
in the Royal Canadian Air Force she got accepted to University in the 40s at a
accepted to University in the 40s at a
accepted to University in the 40s at a time when women didn’t go to university
time when women didn’t go to university
time when women didn’t go to university she had seven children over 20
she had seven children over 20
she had seven children over 20 grandchildren and if she looks somewhat
grandchildren and if she looks somewhat
grandchildren and if she looks somewhat similar to somebody who met on the stage
similar to somebody who met on the stage
similar to somebody who met on the stage five minutes ago that would be correct
five minutes ago that would be correct
five minutes ago that would be correct because this is my grandmother and she
because this is my grandmother and she
because this is my grandmother and she died of a GBM
died of a GBM
died of a GBM she had radiation she had surgery she
she had radiation she had surgery she
she had radiation she had surgery she had chemotherapy and eventually as
had chemotherapy and eventually as
had chemotherapy and eventually as always is the case this tumor came back
always is the case this tumor came back
always is the case this tumor came back and herein lies my uncertainty and this
and herein lies my uncertainty and this
and herein lies my uncertainty and this is what I struggle with every day
is what I struggle with every day
is what I struggle with every day because at some point there’s no more to
because at some point there’s no more to
because at some point there’s no more to say in medical school we learn how to
say in medical school we learn how to
say in medical school we learn how to fix things how do you fix blood pressure
fix things how do you fix blood pressure
fix things how do you fix blood pressure how do you fix high cholesterol how do
how do you fix high cholesterol how do
how do you fix high cholesterol how do you fix a ruptured appendix how do you
you fix a ruptured appendix how do you
you fix a ruptured appendix how do you fix a broken heart both figuratively and
fix a broken heart both figuratively and
fix a broken heart both figuratively and literally we don’t learn what to say
literally we don’t learn what to say
literally we don’t learn what to say when there’s nothing left to say what do
when there’s nothing left to say what do
when there’s nothing left to say what do you do when you can’t fix it and how do
you do when you can’t fix it and how do
you do when you can’t fix it and how do you look at somebody in the eyes and say
you look at somebody in the eyes and say
you look at somebody in the eyes and say there’s nothing more I can do and this
there’s nothing more I can do and this
there’s nothing more I can do and this is what I’m faced with on a daily basis
is what I’m faced with on a daily basis
is what I’m faced with on a daily basis and so what I choose to do as a surgeon
and so what I choose to do as a surgeon
and so what I choose to do as a surgeon is look that person straight in the face
is look that person straight in the face
is look that person straight in the face and say although I can’t help you I’m
and say although I can’t help you I’m
and say although I can’t help you I’m working on it and I might not help you
working on it and I might not help you
working on it and I might not help you directly but I’m trying to find an
directly but I’m trying to find an
directly but I’m trying to find an answer and so that’s why I work in the
answer and so that’s why I work in the
answer and so that’s why I work in the lab so this is my laboratory at
lab so this is my laboratory at
lab so this is my laboratory at Dalhousie it’s a basic science lab I
Dalhousie it’s a basic science lab I
Dalhousie it’s a basic science lab I apologise because one of my students in
apologise because one of my students in
apologise because one of my students in McQueen who’s my honor student she’s not
McQueen who’s my honor student she’s not
McQueen who’s my honor student she’s not in this picture but basically in essence
in this picture but basically in essence
in this picture but basically in essence we take brain tumors from the operating
we take brain tumors from the operating
we take brain tumors from the operating room and then we try to kill them and we
room and then we try to kill them and we
room and then we try to kill them and we try to find novel ways of making brain
try to find novel ways of making brain
try to find novel ways of making brain tumors or our treatments more effective
tumors or our treatments more effective
tumors or our treatments more effective so the first project I have is on RNA
so the first project I have is on RNA
so the first project I have is on RNA stress granules and if you’re sitting
stress granules and if you’re sitting
stress granules and if you’re sitting there looking at the slide going what’s
there looking at the slide going what’s
there looking at the slide going what’s an RNA stress granule that’s exactly the
an RNA stress granule that’s exactly the
an RNA stress granule that’s exactly the position I was in in 2011 when I was
position I was in in 2011 when I was
position I was in in 2011 when I was doing my PhD and I’m walking down the
doing my PhD and I’m walking down the
doing my PhD and I’m walking down the hallway of an unfamiliar developmental
hallway of an unfamiliar developmental
hallway of an unfamiliar developmental biology lab muttering to myself what’s
biology lab muttering to myself what’s
biology lab muttering to myself what’s an RNA stress granule because I had an
an RNA stress granule because I had an
an RNA stress granule because I had an experiment that showed that there was
experiment that showed that there was
experiment that showed that there was RNA stress granules and this is where
RNA stress granules and this is where
RNA stress granules and this is where serendipity kind of takes over in your
serendipity kind of takes over in your
serendipity kind of takes over in your life because another graduate student
life because another graduate student
life because another graduate student came up to me and said why are you
came up to me and said why are you
came up to me and said why are you talking about RNA stress granules that’s
talking about RNA stress granules that’s
talking about RNA stress granules that’s a developmental thing I’m working on and
a developmental thing I’m working on and
a developmental thing I’m working on and that started off a research
that started off a research
that started off a research collaboration that I still do today so
collaboration that I still do today so
collaboration that I still do today so what is a stress granule well tumor
what is a stress granule well tumor
what is a stress granule well tumor cells some of them live on earth so it’s
cells some of them live on earth so it’s
cells some of them live on earth so it’s a great environment there’s lots of
a great environment there’s lots of
a great environment there’s lots of oxygen it’s norm nice cozy these tumor
oxygen it’s norm nice cozy these tumor
oxygen it’s norm nice cozy these tumor cells are easy to treat and some tumor
cells are easy to treat and some tumor
cells are easy to treat and some tumor cells live on Mars they live in a very
cells live on Mars they live in a very
cells live on Mars they live in a very hostile environment there’s no oxygen
hostile environment there’s no oxygen
hostile environment there’s no oxygen there’s radiation around there’s
there’s radiation around there’s
there’s radiation around there’s chemotherapy and somehow
chemotherapy and somehow
chemotherapy and somehow these cells have adapted so they can
these cells have adapted so they can
these cells have adapted so they can survive this so they live in this
survive this so they live in this
survive this so they live in this hostile environment easily in fact these
hostile environment easily in fact these
hostile environment easily in fact these tumors are these tumor cells on Mars are
tumors are these tumor cells on Mars are
tumors are these tumor cells on Mars are the hardest to kill and so RNA stress
the hardest to kill and so RNA stress
the hardest to kill and so RNA stress granules are a way of that cell adapting
granules are a way of that cell adapting
granules are a way of that cell adapting to living to the harsh environment of
to living to the harsh environment of
to living to the harsh environment of Mars so these are what are any stress
Mars so these are what are any stress
Mars so these are what are any stress granules look like so the lid there’s
granules look like so the lid there’s
granules look like so the lid there’s for actual brain cancer cells here the
for actual brain cancer cells here the
for actual brain cancer cells here the blue stain is the nucleus and those red
blue stain is the nucleus and those red
blue stain is the nucleus and those red dots those are the RNA stress granules
dots those are the RNA stress granules
dots those are the RNA stress granules so I’ve told you what a stress granule
so I’ve told you what a stress granule
so I’ve told you what a stress granule is though it’s RNA and this is a
is though it’s RNA and this is a
is though it’s RNA and this is a metaphor I’ve taken from Steve Jobs I
metaphor I’ve taken from Steve Jobs I
metaphor I’ve taken from Steve Jobs I can’t take credit for this but if you
can’t take credit for this but if you
can’t take credit for this but if you think of DNA as the CEO so the CEO wants
think of DNA as the CEO so the CEO wants
think of DNA as the CEO so the CEO wants to direct a message to his workers the
to direct a message to his workers the
to direct a message to his workers the protein right so how is he gonna get
protein right so how is he gonna get
protein right so how is he gonna get that message as a CEO to his workers the
that message as a CEO to his workers the
that message as a CEO to his workers the protein well he makes RNA so RNA is the
protein well he makes RNA so RNA is the
protein well he makes RNA so RNA is the message that goes from the seats the
message that goes from the seats the
message that goes from the seats the middle manager it’s the message that
middle manager it’s the message that
middle manager it’s the message that goes from the DNA to the protein to tell
goes from the DNA to the protein to tell
goes from the DNA to the protein to tell them what to do and so what a stress
them what to do and so what a stress
them what to do and so what a stress granule does it it acts as kind of like
granule does it it acts as kind of like
granule does it it acts as kind of like the external audit or auditor of the
the external audit or auditor of the
the external audit or auditor of the company so if you think of these little
company so if you think of these little
company so if you think of these little dots as messages in the cell that are
dots as messages in the cell that are
dots as messages in the cell that are out to the cell to tell them what to do
out to the cell to tell them what to do
out to the cell to tell them what to do and you apply a hostile environment what
and you apply a hostile environment what
and you apply a hostile environment what the cell what this dress granule does is
the cell what this dress granule does is
the cell what this dress granule does is says ok so these blue messages they’re
says ok so these blue messages they’re
says ok so these blue messages they’re very important I want to keep them in my
very important I want to keep them in my
very important I want to keep them in my stress granule I want to save them here
stress granule I want to save them here
stress granule I want to save them here so that when I survive this stress I can
so that when I survive this stress I can
so that when I survive this stress I can make them again and I can I can
make them again and I can I can
make them again and I can I can reestablish myself these gray messages
reestablish myself these gray messages
reestablish myself these gray messages here they’re not important they’re
here they’re not important they’re
here they’re not important they’re garbage don’t want to make them gonna
garbage don’t want to make them gonna
garbage don’t want to make them gonna degrade them don’t need them and these
degrade them don’t need them and these
degrade them don’t need them and these yellow messages these messages are
yellow messages these messages are
yellow messages these messages are important now these are the message that
important now these are the message that
important now these are the message that are gonna make you survive and make you
are gonna make you survive and make you
are gonna make you survive and make you live and adapt to this a hostile
live and adapt to this a hostile
live and adapt to this a hostile environment so again the stress granules
environment so again the stress granules
environment so again the stress granules are the external audit or a deterrence
are the external audit or a deterrence
are the external audit or a deterrence company that allow the tumor cells to
company that allow the tumor cells to
company that allow the tumor cells to live in this hostile environment and so
live in this hostile environment and so
live in this hostile environment and so one of the key things my lab tries to do
one of the key things my lab tries to do
one of the key things my lab tries to do is interfere with this process so if the
is interfere with this process so if the
is interfere with this process so if the cells can’t live on Mars they can’t live
cells can’t live on Mars they can’t live
cells can’t live on Mars they can’t live and the tumor dies and so that’s a lot
and the tumor dies and so that’s a lot
and the tumor dies and so that’s a lot of the strategies that we’re trying to
of the strategies that we’re trying to
of the strategies that we’re trying to do in my laboratory
the other strategy we’ve had is in
the other strategy we’ve had is in collaboration with dr. Jeremy brown
collaboration with dr. Jeremy brown
collaboration with dr. Jeremy brown who’s an engineer at Dalhousie and dr.
who’s an engineer at Dalhousie and dr.
who’s an engineer at Dalhousie and dr. Jim Fossett he’s a developmental
Jim Fossett he’s a developmental
Jim Fossett he’s a developmental biologist and dr. Jeremy Browns invented
biologist and dr. Jeremy Browns invented
biologist and dr. Jeremy Browns invented this tiny tiny little ultrasound probe
this tiny tiny little ultrasound probe
this tiny tiny little ultrasound probe and when you applied into SMO
and when you applied into SMO
and when you applied into SMO spaces while you’re operating it uses
spaces while you’re operating it uses
spaces while you’re operating it uses ultrasonic waves to ablate a brain tumor
ultrasonic waves to ablate a brain tumor
ultrasonic waves to ablate a brain tumor deep but leave this other surrounding
deep but leave this other surrounding
deep but leave this other surrounding tissue undisturbed and so we’re testing
tissue undisturbed and so we’re testing
tissue undisturbed and so we’re testing this ultrasound probe in the awara
this ultrasound probe in the awara
this ultrasound probe in the awara and and to see whether or not we can
and and to see whether or not we can
and and to see whether or not we can ablate brain tumors with actually having
ablate brain tumors with actually having
ablate brain tumors with actually having to come without having to actually cut
to come without having to actually cut
to come without having to actually cut into the brain and so these are just two
into the brain and so these are just two
into the brain and so these are just two projects that are going on in my
projects that are going on in my
projects that are going on in my laboratory but in the research worldwide
laboratory but in the research worldwide
laboratory but in the research worldwide there’s people using vaccines using
there’s people using vaccines using
there’s people using vaccines using viruses using electromagnetic waves all
viruses using electromagnetic waves all
viruses using electromagnetic waves all an ability to try to deal with this
an ability to try to deal with this
an ability to try to deal with this devastating tumor but ultimately I’d
devastating tumor but ultimately I’d
devastating tumor but ultimately I’d like to acknowledge my patients and
like to acknowledge my patients and
like to acknowledge my patients and their families because they’re the ones
their families because they’re the ones
their families because they’re the ones that gave me the drive and the courage
that gave me the drive and the courage
that gave me the drive and the courage to do what I do to see the courage that
to do what I do to see the courage that
to do what I do to see the courage that they face and adversity gives me
they face and adversity gives me
they face and adversity gives me strength and I love this quote from
strength and I love this quote from
strength and I love this quote from Winston Churchill success is not final
Winston Churchill success is not final
Winston Churchill success is not final failure is not fatal it is the courage
failure is not fatal it is the courage
failure is not fatal it is the courage to continue that counts so thank you
to continue that counts so thank you
to continue that counts so thank you very much for listening to me today
very much for listening to me today
very much for listening to me today [Applause]
”
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