In honour of National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW), we spoke with different Postdoctoral Fellows at the CBR to highlight their research, share their stories and celebrate their journeys.

 

Dr. Maomao Tan  – Hedtrich Lab

Tell me about your research.

I am working in Dr. Sarah Hedtrich’s laboratory at the Centre for Blood Research, focusing on human-based disease modeling to investigate the mechanisms underlying atopic diseases. These conditions typically involve complex multi-organ communication at the molecular level and often progress from atopic dermatitis to other atopic manifestations. My work has centered on the development of a three-dimensional, human-derived lymph node model and its integration into an organ-on-a-chip platform to simulate the progression of atopic diseases in vivo.

 

What led you to the lab 

I was particularly inspired by Dr. Hedtrich’s research focus on employing non-animal models to study human diseases, an approach with which I strongly align. This strategy not only reduces animal use in line with the 3Rs principle but also enhances the predictive power for diseases that lack reliable animal models due to fundamental interspecies differences in pathophysiology, such as atopic dermatitis. While developing human-based disease models presents challenges, our laboratory has established a strong foundation in understanding human epithelial physiology and leverages organ-on-a-chip technology to replicate human physiological conditions. This approach holds the potential to lower experimental costs and reduce labor demands, thereby enabling a more efficient, high-throughput methodology for investigating atopic disease mechanisms.

 

What do you like to do outside the lab?

I am passionate about raptors (i.e. eagles, owls, ospreys, etc.) and dedicate much of my time to studying their behavior, supporting raptor rescue initiatives, and engaging in public education to raise awareness about raptor conservation. Beyond this, I have been a long-standing advocate for animal welfare, serving as a scientific advisor to several organizations promoting non-animal research methods. Outside of my academic and advocacy work, I enjoy motorcycling; I currently ride a Harley-Davison CVO Street Glide and a Sportster S—both remarkable machines that fuel my enthusiasm for the open road.

 

What advice would you give someone still searching for a program/postdoc position? 

I believe it is important to work on something one truly believes in—to trust that the work is meaningful and aligned with their values. And this is what I can genuinely suggest to someone searching for a postdoc position.

 

Thank you for speaking with us, Maomao! Learn more about National Postdoc Appreciation Week at UBC which recognizes the significant contributions that postdoctoral scholars make to research and discovery.