Interview with :

Guest :

Megan Tsao is a second-year MSc student in Human Genetics at McGill University, supervised by Dr. Audrey Grant. With a BSc in Human Biology and Sociology from the University of Toronto, Megan brings an interdisciplinary approach to her research, drawing from experiences in basic science, clinical labs, and the pharmaceutical industry. Her work focuses on integrating genomics, proteomics, and multi-omics data to address complex health questions, with a particular interest in exploring genetic contributors to chronic pain. Megan is passionate about leveraging biobank and health record data to uncover insights into disease, promote health equity, and drive innovation in precision medicine.

Host:

Chen-Yang Su is a 3 rd year PhD student in Quantitative Life Sciences (https://www.mcgill.ca/qls/) at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and part of the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Genomic Medicine (https://www.genomic- medicine-cerc.online/) under the supervision of Dr. Satoshi Yoshiji (https://yoshiji- lab.org/) and Prof. Sirui Zhou (https://szhoulab.github.io/). Previously, he completed his M.Sc. (Computer Science, 2022) and B.Sc. (joint majoring in Biology and Computer Science, 2020) both at McGill University while being affiliated with the Lady Davis Institute (https://www.ladydavis.ca/en/) at the Jewish General Hospital and Mila – Quebec AI Institute (https://mila.quebec/en). During his MSc, he had the opportunity to work with proteomics and genomics in the context of COVID-19 under the supervision of Dr. Brent Richards (Faculty of Medicine; CEO of 5 Prime Sciences; https://www.mcgill.ca/genepi/) and Joelle Pineau (Faculty of Computer Science; Vice President, AI research at Meta); https://www.cs.mcgill.ca/~jpineau/). He has worked in industry briefly as a data scientist and his current broader interests are in using multi- omics approaches (proteomics, genomics, metabolomics) for precision medicine and drug target discovery.

Summary of the episode :

In this episode of Let's talk about Pain, we meet Megan Tsao, a master's student at Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain at McGill University under the supervision of Dr. Audrey Grant. We explore her background and experiences in research and what led her to take an interest in pain research, specifically the pain genomics.

Twitter links : @megantsao0914 @chenyangsu @mcgillu @rqrd_qprn

Interview with :

Interviewer: Hannah Derue

PhD Candidate in the labs of Dr. Alfredo Ribeiro-da-Silva and Dr. Jeffrey S. Mogil at McGill University's Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain (AECRP).

Interviewee: Dr. Marc O. Martel

Dr. Marc O. Martel is an Associate Professor at McGill University, holding joint appointments in the Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, and the Department of Anesthesia. He also serves as an Associate Member of the Department of Medicine. In recognition of his contributions to research, Dr. Martel was awarded the Canada Research Chair in Chronic Pain, Mental Health, and Opioid Use (Tier 2) in 2018, with a renewal in 2023.

Summary of the episode :

In this episode of Let's Talk About Pain, we meet Dr. Marc O. Martel, an Associate Professor and clinical researcher at McGill University specializing in chronic pain and opioid addiction. We explore his background and experiences in clinical research, examining what led him to focus on the intersection of chronic pain and opioid use. The discussion delves into the factors influencing opioid addiction in chronic pain patients, as well as protective factors that may reduce risk. Looking ahead, Dr. Martel shares his insights on the future of pain research, healthcare advancements, and policy considerations.

Twitter links : @HannahDerue @AECRpain

Interview with :

Interviewer: Hannah Derue

PhD Candidate in the labs of Dr. Alfredo Ribeiro-da-Silva and Dr. Jeffrey S. Mogil at McGill University's Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain (AECRP).

Interviewee: Lesley Singer

Lesley Singer is a licensed physiotherapist with extensive experience in chronic pain management. She earned both her Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy (1995) and Master of Science in Rehabilitation Science (2010) from McGill University. In addition to her clinical work, Lesley contributes to academia as an Adjunct Professor at McGill University's School of Physical & Occupational Therapy. She teaches in McGill's Graduate Certificate in Chronic Pain Management program and has been involved in courses on integrated pain management since 2008. Lesley is also a patient partner and advocate for individuals living with chronic pain. Her advocacy extends to roles with the Chronic Pain Network and the Quebec Pain Research Network, where she represents the perspectives of those affected by chronic pain. Her research interests include chronic pain management and the factors that contribute to living well with chronic pain.

Summary of the episode :

This episode of Let's Talk About Pain features guest Lesley Singer. The discussion focuses on chronic pain, including Lesley's personal experience, management strategies, and challenges. The interviewer, Hannah Derue, a PhD student at McGill University, aims to bridge the gap between researchers and individuals living with chronic pain. Topics include opioid use, community support, and some words for researchers and policymakers.

Twitter links : @HannahDerue @AECRpain