Lili Som
Meet Liliana (Lili) Som, a DPhil student in Nicola Smart's group. Lili studied Medical Biosciences at Imperial College London before joining the Smart lab to study the underlying relationship between changes in arterial smooth muscle cells and heart disease.
Can you give a brief overview of your career trajectory so far?
I moved from Hungary to the UK in 2019 to start my undergraduate studies in Medical Biosciences at Imperial College London. Straight after completing my bachelor's studies, I moved to Oxford to begin my DPhil studies in the Smart Group, focusing on characterizing the phenotypic switch of smooth muscle cells from contractile to synthetic phenotype. I am honoured to be part of the esteemed McKie McLean Class of 2022, holding a prestigious 4-year British Heart Foundation PhD Studentship.
What's your research focus?
My DPhil project focuses on characterising the phenotypic switch of smooth muscle cells from contractile to synthetic phenotype. Arteries are formed of an inner layer of endothelial cells and supported by a thick layer of smooth muscle cells that interact to regulate blood flow in healthy individuals. In disease, however, smooth muscle cells switch to a so-called ‘synthetic’ state associated with impaired contractile function upon damage to the endothelial cells. This transition is an underlying factor in the remodelling of vessel walls observed in many cardiovascular diseases. Due to our poor understanding of the underlying mechanisms and the low success rate of translation from animal studies to the clinic, there is a lack of targets for drug treatments. By uncovering the underlying mechanisms, we aim to identify potential therapeutic targets to inhibit this transition, addressing a critical gap in current treatment strategies for cardiovascular pathologies.
What has been your highlight at the IDRM this past year?
A standout moment for me this past year was presenting my DPhil project at the Get to Know Each Other event. Being awarded the best poster by my peers made it even more special!
What do you look forward to most this year?
This year, I'm looking forward to presenting my work at the first international conference of my DPhil, the International Vascular Biology Meeting in Amsterdam. Additionally, I'm excited about my first cross-Atlantic trip to attend the North American Vascular Biology Organization’s Vasculata summer course at Stanford University.
What do you do outside of the lab/Institute?
Outside of my academic pursuits, I am passionate about science outreach. I joined DPAG’s Outreach and Public Engagement Working Group and volunteered at various events throughout the year. The Science in the Park and Brookes Science Bazaar are events aimed at children and include various hands-on science activities. I especially enjoyed volunteering at the World Anatomy Day held in the Natural History Museum, delivering human anatomy-related activities to sixth-form students aspiring to join medical school.
Outside of science, I enjoy indulging in DIY projects at home. I learned to tile, panel, and install light fixtures. So far, it has only resulted in one long trip to the ER, which we consider a triumph.