Michelle Brenner.
Award Recipient: Michelle Brenner, DO, MS, 3rd year fellow in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, Medical College of Wisconsin/Children’s Wisconsin
Supervisor: Dr. Brian Branchford
Conference: Earl W. Davie Symposium on November 13, 2024
Location: Vancouver, BC
Oral/Poster Presentation Title: Characterization of Glycosylation Profile of Collagen-stimulated Platelets upon IL-6 Stimulation
I am very appreciative of the support from the Centre for Blood Research External Travel Award to attend the 2024 Earl W. Davie Symposium in Vancouver. This was my first time attending the EWD Symposium and after this trip, I hope it will not be my last. I was made aware of the symposium by my clinical and research mentor, Dr. Brian Branchford, who sent me an email about the symposium and travel award. When I reviewed the list of speakers and topics, I was so excited to apply, and even more honored to be chosen to come in-person.
I was not disappointed by the conference. The research talks were all excellent, interesting, and informative. The schedule was on-time and the food throughout the day was delicious. I had the opportunity to learn about a lot of the research at the CBR and interact with other graduate, post-docs, and fellows interested in my field. What I enjoyed the most, was interacting with many students with engineering backgrounds as their research topics align with mine, but they approach the research from a unique perspective to a biochemically-focused physician-scientist.
Michelle asking a question at the symposium.
I was able to present my research poster on the platelet glycosylation profile of platelets stimulated by both collagen and the cytokine IL-6. My overall research project focuses on delineating how inflammation-associated changes in platelet glycosylation contribute to venous thromboembolism (VTE). As the cytokine IL-6 has been independently associated with occurrence of VTE, my central hypothesis is that IL-6 enhances platelet contribution to pathologic thrombosis development via glycosylation changes of platelet surface adhesion receptors. My results of a lectin array of treated platelets demonstrates that addition of IL-6 to collagen-activated platelet concentrates leads to changes in glycosylation, such as increased fucosylation, as well as differential sialylation. These are changes seen in other inflammatory conditions and lay the foundation for my future research endeavours to identify platelet adhesion receptors that are differentially glycosylated in inflammation.
My trip to Vancouver was wonderful. I had the opportunity to explore and enjoy the city- be it eating so much delicious food, or having an afternoon to explore the amazing Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. I am thankful to the organizers who made my trip seamless as well as the funds to make my trip from Wisconsin to Vancouver possible. I recommend any trainee apply for this opportunity!
*With funding from the Sheldon Naiman and Linda Vickars Endowment Fund, the CBR supports travel and accommodation expenses for trainees to attend and present at the EWD symposium.