Science in the Cinema: Death Becomes Her

Dr. Biernaskie completed his BSc in neuroscience at the University of Lethbridge, his PhD in neuroscience at Memorial University and postdoctoral training in Stem Cell Biology at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. In 2009, he joined UCalgary's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, where is he currently a professor in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. His research program is focused on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying tissue regeneration and the potential to exploit tissue-resident stem cells toward restoration of function following injury or disease. He is specifically interested in how skin and brain stem/progenitors cells are regulated during homeostasis and how factors like injury, advanced aging and the immune system impact their function.

Dr. Chu is an associate professor in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at UCalgary, a Tier II Canada Research Chair in cellular reprogramming and a member of the Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI). He earned his PhD in cell and molecular biology from Baylor College of Medicine and completed postdoctoral training at the Morgridge Institute for Research and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research focuses on understanding how developmental timing is encoded and regulated during human and animal development. Using pluripotent stem cell-derived developmental clock models, 3D organoids, live-cell imaging and single-cell omics, his laboratory investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying spinal and retinal development, congenital disorders and regenerative medicine.

Dr. Hirota is a professor and associate dean research (infrastructure) at UCalgary in the Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases. Dr. Hirota and his team are working to better understand how the gut functions in both health and disease. They study how gut bacteria and the immune system help keep the intestines healthy, as well as what causes inflammation, scarring and tissue changes in conditions like Crohn’s disease. Dr. Hirota also co-leads the Canadian National Organoid Network and co-directs the Snyder Institute’s Human Organoid Innovation Hub.

Amanda holds an Honours Bachelor of Health Science degree in biomedical sciences from the University of Calgary, where she founded a student foods club and served as president of the Health Science Students’ Association. She recently completed an MBA in finance from the University of Cambridge’s Judge Business School as a professional impact scholar, exploring areas including international research commercialization, process improvement and innovation. She currently serves on the UCalgary Alumni Association Board of Directors.