Meet Susanna Cooper, a Postdoctoral Research Scientist in IDRM's Riley group. Susanna undertook a BHF-funded PhD at St. George’s University in London, where she investigated the cardiac impact of kinase inhibitors used as cancer treatments, specifically in the hypertensive setting.
Can you give a brief overview of your career trajectory so far?
After moving to Canada when I was 13 years old, I did my undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. I then came back to the UK to combine my interests in science and criminology and did a MSc in Forensic Science at King’s College London. Following my master's, I spent two years as a research technician in a cardiovascular pathology lab funded by the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young, which investigates cardiac causes of sudden death. After falling in love with the heart (pun intended), I then undertook a BHF-funded PhD at St. George’s University in London, where I investigated the cardiac impact of kinase inhibitors used as cancer treatments, specifically in the hypertensive setting. Following the completion of my PhD in October 2022, I moved to Oxford and joined Professor Paul Riley’s group at the IDRM as a Postdoctoral Research Scientist.
What is your research focus?
I work in the regenerative branch of the IDRM and am investigating how we can modulate the immune response after a heart attack to optimise the local injury environment for repair and improve healing. Within this I principally focus on the importance of the cardiac lymphatic system and look to interrogate its role in immune cell clearance. We are working to understand what immune cells are beneficial at the beginning of the healing process versus what cells should be flushed out to avoid excessive scarring, which can lead to heart failure. The aim is that by gaining a phenotypic understanding of the immune cells present in the infarcted heart and by comparing between settings of improved recovery and diminished functionality, we can work to inform therapeutic strategies.
What has been your highlight this past year at the IDRM?
My highlight this year has been working with Prof. Riley to secure two equipment grants to be able to purchase a new ultrasound machine for the IDRM. With this machine, we are looking to implement a new minimally invasive myocardial infarction model, which will significantly improve our experimental outcomes as well as animal welfare. It was also great to win the coveted IDRM bake-off cake stand at the Christmas party!
How have you contributed to IDRM life?
I contribute to IDRM life by being an active member of the Organisational Culture Forum and the Public Engagement working group. As such, I have helped with the planning and running of various events within the Institute and have participated in outreach activities. Additionally, I am a member of the DPAG Researcher Society and although most of the department is based down the hill, I work to host some of our social and scientific events at the IDRM, including the Halloween movie night. We hope to host more events here in the upcoming year!
What do you do outside of the lab/Institute?
Outside of the Institute I am a team manager for Oxford Pint of Science where I help to organise and host several evenings of scientific talks to a lay audience with the goal of making science more accessible to the public. In my spare time I like to keep active in dance classes and catch up on the latest true crime documentaries.