This conversation with D2R Training Program Officer, Anthony Van Kessel, has been edited for length and clarity. 

Hi Gaëlle, I am looking forward to learning more about you and your research! You are currently doing your PhD at the RI-MUHC working in the lab of Basile Tessier-Cloutier. Can you briefly describe your journey as an international student that led you to 91ºÚÁÏÍø?

Of course! I am originally from Lebanon and honestly, family is very important to me, so moving abroad was a major decision. However, one thing that has always guided me is following opportunities that feel right in the moment. After high school, I took a big risk and applied to one university and one program in Canada, which was Biomedical Science at Université de Montréal. Fortunately, it worked out, and that's what brought me here. During my Bachelor’s degree, I discovered a real passion for cancer research, and I became fascinated by how precision medicine can bring renewed hope for patients. Towards the end of my undergraduate studies, I got directly involved in ovarian cancer research. Then around the same time, I got contacted by my current supervisor, Dr. Tessier-Cloutier, which led me to join his lab as a Master’s student in Pathology and then fast-track to the PhD program.

You mentioned that during your undergrad you were interested in ovarian cancer research – did you have the opportunity to work in a lab during your undergrad?

Yes, at the end of my undergrad, I did my mandatory internship at the CHUM with Dr. Anne-Marie Mes-Masson. I had the opportunity to test novel targeted therapies on high-grade ovarian cancer ex vivo models using microfluidic chips.

In 2025 you were funded as a D2R Doctoral Scholar – how did you first learn about this program?

Last year, I was actively applying to several scholarships and awards as an international student, which was very challenging. I received an e-mail from my department announcing the information session for the inaugural D2R Scholar Award competition and I was very curious about it. As I learned more about D2R's mission, I saw how it closely aligned with my project. What motivated me most was that it was one of the few funding opportunities that included both a training program and networking opportunities. To be part of this big community was something I truly didn’t want to miss.

Is there anything in particular that you have enjoyed about being part of the D2R community?

Being part of the D2R community has been great, especially since research can sometimes feel very specialized and lonely, but I am now surrounded by other Scholars and experts from different fields with a shared D2R vision. I have interacted with researchers in genomics, data science, and clinical research, which are all areas that directly intersect with my project. Participating in the Annual Symposium and workshops allowed me to share my work and receive very valuable feedback.

Do you think that there's anything you've learned at D2R events that has impacted your project?

Yes, absolutely! Data science is one of the areas in which D2R has helped me the most. It was my biggest challenge when I started my PhD because I did not have a strong background in this field. The data science workshop helped me better understand how to approach large datasets, apply appropriate statistical methods, and think more critically about my own data analysis. More recently, I also participated in the C3G RNA Sequencing Bootcamp, which was an excellent learning opportunity that I can directly apply to my research.

Now focusing on your project, you study a rare and highly aggressive form of endometrial cancer.

That’s correct. Endometrial cancer is one of the most common gynecological cancers affecting women. I specifically study a very rare and highly aggressive subtype called dedifferentiated endometrial carcinomas or DDEC. These tumours undergo profound dedifferentiation, which means they lose most morphological and molecular features that would normally help pathologists identify and classify them. This makes the diagnosis of DDEC very challenging in clinical practice. As a result, they are often detected late and are associated with rapid disease progression, poor outcomes, and less than one year survival rates, due to the lack of effective treatment options.

And what does your project focus on?

A large proportion of these tumours are characterized by the inactivation of a chromatin remodelling complex called SWI/SNF, which contributes to their aggressive behavior. My project addresses the unmet need of better characterizing DDEC by integrating advanced multi-omic approaches to identify novel diagnostic biomarkers and targetable vulnerabilities, informing future RNA-based therapy development to improve patient outcomes.

What are these multi-omic approaches that you are applying?

As I mentioned, DDEC is an understudied disease, so I think of it as a big puzzle with many missing pieces that my project aims to identify and put together using several multi-omic techniques. I'm using methylation profiling, targeted DNA sequencing, single-nuclei RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics. This multi-omic strategy will allow us to characterize this disease from multiple angles, including epigenetic regulation, genetic mutations, gene expression and spatial features. On their own, each of these technologies provides one piece of the bigger puzzle, and by integrating them, we can build a much more complete picture of how DDEC develops, evolves, and behaves. That comprehensive understanding is key to identifying meaningful biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets.

So, you are studying clinical samples?

Yes. DDEC is a very rare cancer and my supervisor Dr. Basile Tessier-Cloutier has built one of the largest biobanks of archival DDEC samples throughout his career as a gynecologic pathologist. We also have a strong network of collaborators across Canada and around the world, which gives us access to additional samples and newly diagnosed cases to expand our cohort.

Clinical Research is one of the Foundational Research Axes of D2R. Why do you think, especially in the context of developing RNA therapeutics, that clinical research is crucial?

For rare cancers such as DDEC, clinical research is critical because it not only helps us better understand the disease but also allows us to identify clinically relevant molecular targets. This is especially important in the context of developing targeted RNA therapeutics, as defining the underlying disease biology is the first crucial step toward designing effective and impactful treatments for patients. I am also fortunate to be supervised by a clinician-scientist, which gives me a unique perspective on both my scientific questions and the real unmet clinical needs. There are no effective treatment options for DDEC at this time, so hopefully my work can help make progress towards that goal.

Thanks for talking to me today. Is there anything that you want the D2R community to know about you?

Thanks for having me! For me, trying to have a work-life balance is very important. So, when I’m not in the lab, I love hanging out with friends, exploring new places, and finding hidden gems in Montreal. Otherwise, whenever there is a holiday, you can find me catching a flight to visit my family in Lebanon!