11 February 2023 – International Day of Women and Girls in Science
International Day of Women and Girls in Science is all about raising awareness of the need for gender equity in science. “Women and girls bring diversity to research, expand the pool of science professionals, and provide fresh perspectives to science and technology, benefiting everyone.” as highlighted by Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations.
In celebration of International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Can Too Foundation recognise the significant contributions made by each of its 81 past and present funded female cancer researchers.
One of these researchers is Dr Holly Holliday. An early career cancer researcher at Children’s Cancer Institute , Dr Holliday was recently awarded funding for her project titled ‘Investigating histone citrullination as a novel epigenetic driver in diffuse midline glioma’.
Can Too were fortunate to catch up with Dr Holliday this week, to learn more about her project, and step inside the laboratory to see where the research happens.
Dr Holliday points out that “diffuse midline glioma is one of the most devastating and incurable brain cancers affecting children. There are currently no effective treatments, which means young school-aged children affected by diffuse midline glioma die far too young.”
Dr Holliday will explore an understudied histone modification – referred to as ‘citrullination’ – to determine if targeting this specific histone modification can prevent activation of genes responsible for driving the growth of diffuse midline glioma.
“The goal of the project is to increase our understanding of diffuse midline glioma biology, and ultimately develop novel treatment strategies for people with this type of brain cancer.”
Can Too are pleased to be supporting Dr Holliday and her endeavours to increase understanding of this type of brain cancer.
Further information on Can Too funded researchers can be found here.
Further information on International Day of Women and Girls in Science can be found here.
Featured in top row from left to right: Paul Rose, Ben Buckingham, Dr Emmy Fleuren, Barbara King
Featured in bottom row from left to right: Jeffrey Cohn, Allison Rossiter, Dr Holly Holliday, Edith Hurt, Victoria Kvisle
Author Trish Dwight
