The More You Know: How a multidisciplinary career lends a valuable perspective to Syantra’s research team
The typical career journey for a scientist is fairly linear. Whether it’s chemistry, biology, physics or another, once a scientist commits to a field, it’s not unusual to stay on that track from university to retirement.
But a lens focused on only one speciality can make it challenging to leverage the many ways these disciplines can crossover. Imagine the possibilities of a single scientist who brings expertise from more than three disciplines to research. Sounds too good to be true, right?
Not for Syantra, a precision healthcare company in Calgary, Alberta. They recently added Olesya Kharenko, PhD to their research team, so they know exactly what it’s like to have this integrated, multi-disciplinary expertise on deck.
Olesya’s 15+ year career has had many interesting twists and turns; the result of an almost insatiable hunger for learning. She’s completed a bachelor’s, masters and PhD degree, published research and conducted studies in bio-organic chemistry, epigenetics, oncology and drug discovery. Today, Olesya is bringing that multi-disciplinary perspective to her work at Syantra.
But Olesya’s journey has not been circumstantial. Each evolution was a step toward something bigger — something that has the potential to save lives. And after her own mother was diagnosed with breast cancer years ago, Olesya found fulfillment performing cancer research at Syantra as Senior Scientist, Molecular Discovery.
“For me [Syantra] is very exciting because it’s a space where I can have the maximum impact. I can apply my knowledge and expertise in breast cancer, general oncology and drug discovery to hopefully save lives. That's very fulfilling and motivating.”
How do you think your unique career path benefits cancer research?
In retrospect, it would’ve been easier to stay in one field [laughs]. I already had a name established in bio-organic chemistry. But it was my intention to challenge myself, to learn whatever it took to become a biologist, to gain experience in drug discovery and to eventually become an expert in oncology.
Coming from a chemistry background helps me to combine the mindset of the chemist and biologist and to integrate both expertises into the drug discovery and ongoing research.
For example, when I'm looking at research and mechanisms in oncology, I always come across novel drugs, how they work, their chemical structure, I understand it all. It makes sense. So, it’s had its challenges, but it’s been super helpful.
What made you choose breast cancer?
In 2008, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, and that motivated me to lean into my work and become an expert in breast cancer.
I think cancer is much scarier when you don’t know much about it. So I dove deeper and deeper into the research, how the therapies work, how cancers are introduced to chemotherapy, and so on.
Luckily, my mom went through treatment and she's now a breast cancer survivor. For me, my mom’s cancer was a huge motivating factor to learn as much as I could. Because the more I learned about it, the more it gave me hope.
What are you most looking forward to in Syantra's future?
Right now, Syantra is really known for the Syantra DX™ Breast Cancer blood test. But we have several other very cool projects going on behind the scenes.
Syantra has a platform which is quite versatile and has the potential to not just to be a piece of detection, but could be transferable to multiple cancer indications. And eventually it could be a tool in monitoring progression and things like that. Digging deeper into all of these interesting mechanisms, oncogenic signals and signatures has all been part of my work. It’s a multi project initiative and it's definitely going to grow even more because there is so much potential.
For me it's very exciting because it’s a space where I can have the maximum impact. I can apply my knowledge and expertise in breast cancer, general oncology and drug discovery to hopefully save lives. That's very fulfilling and motivating.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Before I moved to Calgary I was mesmerized by its proximity to the mountains. I’m completely in love with the Canadian Rockies, so almost every weekend I’m out hiking or skiing. I can honestly say, having lived in different countries, it’s the best city in the world to me because it offers so much. Having this vast natural landscape in our backyard…you just can't find that anywhere else…
