Aeson Chang

What is your current research focussed on?

My research focuses on understanding the interaction between neural signalling, cancer cells and other cellular compartments (immune cells and stromal cells) in the metastatic microenvironment, and how this interaction can be targeted to improve cancer outcome in advanced triple negative breast cancer (TNBC).

 

What is your study background and when did you decide you wanted to be a research scientist?

I did my undergraduate in Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences in University of Nottingham Malaysia. After graduated from my BSc degree, I decided to pursue my interest in research rather than becoming a sales representative of any pharmaceutical company as those were the only 2 common options in Malaysia.

 

What attracted you to cancer research?

My passion in cancer research is primarily driven by my experience as a family member of cancer patients. Witnessing how cancer had impacted their life had made me to direct my interest in science into cancer research.

 

Why do you think research on metastases is important?

Metastasis is the main cause of death for most cancer and treatment options are very limited. Patients tend to lose hope when they receive a diagnosis of cancer spread to distant organs. Therefore, I believe the research on the biology of metastasis is critical to provide us with different approach to prevent, manage and ultimately cure metastatic disease.

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What do you find exciting about your research work?

Almost all tissues in our body receive some form of neural innervation from the autonomic nervous system, be it sympathetic, parasympathetic or sensory. This is especially true in tissues that are colonised by metastatic TNBC cells, yet the role of neural signalling on established metastases is somewhat overlooked and yet to be uncovered. I’m excited to understand the communication between these nerves, cancer cells and the metastatic tumour microenvironment and how this can be targeted to improve the control and treatment of metastatic disease in TNBC.

 

What do you hope to achieve in your research career?

I hope to see my research leave a clear impact in the life of cancer patients with metastatic diseases.

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