E11: Learning a Little about Liver Disease w/ Chrystelle Vilfranc

In this episode, we interview and highlight Chrystelle L. Vilfranc. She shares how she went from wanting to go to medical school to find her calling in research. She tells us about her journey to her to a Ph.D. program and gives insight into how she remains mentally healthy while getting her degree.   Chrystelle is a Ph.D. candidate studying cancer and cell biology. She went to Oakwood College and got her bachelor's degree in biochemistry and mathematics. Her specific areas of research include liver injury, hepatocellular carcinoma, and DNA damage and response.   The specific focus of her project involves the use of a mutant mouse model to understand novel roles of DNA damage repair and response pathways in the regulation and protection against acute and chronic liver disease, including hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common form of liver cancer. She has a recent publication related to this work.   Chrystelle hopes to provide new knowledge for understanding liver tumor initiation and progression as well as providing new information on how a DNA damage response protein can potentially be a target for potential cancer therapeutics.   Apart from her work in the lab, Chrystelle serves as the digital curator for @VanguardSTEM. Being passionate about mental health and mental well-being she started a writing series in collaboration with #VanguardSTEM, known as #RevealToHeal (found on Medium). She is also a proud #YaleCienciaAcademy2019 fellow.     Find Chrystelle: Twitter: @GiveHerThePhD24 Instagram: @giveherthephd24   Connect with me: Website: TheResearchHer.com Instagram: @TheResearchHer Twitter: @TheResearchHer Facebook: @TheResearchHer   Show Sources:   Chrystelle's publication   Liver problems - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic   Liver Cancer | CDC