[youtube]https://youtu.be/YGN1ngAZJG8[/youtube]
A master’s student specializing in radiation oncology won Canada’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) challenge.
Elizabeth Watt’s explanation of how radioactive “seeds” can be used in breast in cancer treatment was chosen from the 11 national finalists.
Watt, a graduate student in the University of Calgary’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, says there is a vital need to explore uncertainties in the procedure and optimize the treatment to make it accessible to more women with breast cancer.
“This procedure has the potential to play a significant role in the lives of women who bravely fight breast cancer every day in this country and that drives my research,” she says.
Women took all three top spots in this year’s competition.
Immunologist Rebecca (Delong) Dielschneider took second place with her explanation of targeting lysosomes in the treatment of leukemia. The University of Manitoba doctoral student says her research is a way of contributing to human health from “behind the scenes.”
Both Watt and Dielschneider moved forward to the National 3MT from the Western Canadian 3MT, which was hosted by TRU on April 30. In the regional competition, Watt was awarded first place and Dielschneider was named People’s Choice.
