{"id":647,"date":"2025-06-23T09:47:07","date_gmt":"2025-06-23T16:47:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/imhablog\/?p=647"},"modified":"2025-07-03T11:49:22","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T18:49:22","slug":"rethinking-boundaries-in-arthritis-research-through-collaboration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/imhablog\/2025\/06\/23\/rethinking-boundaries-in-arthritis-research-through-collaboration\/","title":{"rendered":"Rethinking Boundaries in Arthritis Research Through Collaboration\/Repousser les limites de la recherche sur l\u2019arthrite gr\u00e2ce \u00e0 la collaboration"},"content":{"rendered":"

Le fran\u00e7ais suit \/ French follows<\/u><\/em><\/p>\n

By Melody Choi<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Innovations in arthritis research are increasingly driven by cross-disciplinary collaborations. In this Q&A, STARS<\/a> Career Development Awardee Dr. St-Pierre<\/a>, whose career has been shaped by work across fields ranging from engineering to biology, discusses how this approach is unlocking new possibilities for treating osteoarthritis.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. How has working across different scientific disciplines shaped your approach to research?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    I\u2019ve spent nearly my entire academic career immersed in arthritis research and cartilage tissue engineering. Along the way, I\u2019ve been fortunate to have had exceptional mentors and the freedom to explore different aspects of the field\u2014freedom that has shaped my research direction in meaningful ways.<\/p>\n

    My PhD was completed under the guidance of Dr. Rita Kandel and Dr. Robert Pilliar, where I had the opportunity to dive deep into cartilage-related science. Afterward, I pursued a postdoctoral fellowship in Dr. Molly Stevens’ lab, which focused more on biomaterial design, though still rooted in cartilage tissue engineering. What stood out in that environment was the lab\u2019s emphasis on multidisciplinary collaboration. I worked alongside researchers from a wide range of scientific backgrounds, tackling problems that couldn\u2019t be solved through a single lens. That experience deeply influenced the way I approach research today\u2014I see collaboration as essential to innovation, especially in complex fields like regenerative medicine. This theme of multidisciplinary science has carried through every stage of my career, beginning with my Master\u2019s work. It\u2019s something I\u2019m very passionate about, and it continues to drive the way I design my lab and projects now.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

      \n
    1. What drew you to explore \u2018cryptic\u2019 peptides, and how do you see them potentially transforming osteoarthritis treatment in the future?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      My interest in cryptic peptides emerged during my postdoc. I was involved in a collaborative project unrelated to arthritis, where we were studying these peptides as a way to functionalize biomaterials and guide cell behavior. That work opened my eyes to the broader potential of cryptic peptides. When I later joined the University of Ottawa, I started to see how these signaling fragments might be leveraged in the context of arthritis. There\u2019s still a lot of work to do in this area, but I believe cryptic peptides hold great promise as therapeutic agents or as tools to enhance tissue regeneration. It\u2019s a relatively untapped area, and that\u2019s exactly what makes it exciting.<\/p>\n

      This summer, I\u2019ll be taking a sabbatical, which I\u2019m really looking forward to. It\u2019s a chance to reflect and refocus\u2014to think creatively about how to push my research further. I\u2019m particularly interested in expanding into drug delivery systems for joints, which is a compelling challenge for a biomaterials scientist. I’m also exploring how to integrate machine learning into our workflows to help accelerate discovery.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

        \n
      1. How has receiving the STARS Career Development Award impacted your career so far?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        The STARS Career Development Award has been instrumental in helping me establish and grow my research program. One of the most significant benefits has been the protected time it has given me to focus on research. Since receiving the award, I\u2019ve had the privilege of working with an outstanding group of students and early-career researchers. Being able to dedicate more time to supervising and mentoring them through their projects has been incredibly rewarding. I\u2019ve also had the chance to build collaborations with researchers from various institutions across Canada, bringing together different skill sets to tackle complex research questions\u2014something I find vital in a multidisciplinary field like ours.<\/p>\n

        The award has also contributed to professional recognition. For example, I was honored by the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Ottawa, which was a meaningful milestone in my career. Additionally, the credibility that comes with CIHR and Arthritis Society branding has helped open doors for collaboration beyond the traditional arthritis research community. When working in multidisciplinary spaces, especially with researchers who may not be directly involved in arthritis-related work, that recognition helps others understand the value of the research and lends legitimacy to what we\u2019re trying to achieve. It\u2019s not just about the funding\u2014it\u2019s about the visibility, the validation, and the momentum it creates.<\/p>\n

        \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

          \n
        1. What advice you would give to early-career researchers?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          My main piece of advice is to clearly define your priorities\u2014and be intentional about how you allocate your time. As an early-career researcher, there are often many demands pulling you in different directions. It\u2019s okay to say no sometimes in order to protect the time you need for what matters most, whether that\u2019s research, writing, mentoring, or simply space to think creatively.<\/p>\n

          There are also a number of valuable resources out there specifically for early-career researchers\u2014it\u2019s just a matter of seeking them out and taking full advantage. For example, organizations like CIHR, the Arthritis Society, and other research institutes offer opportunities to sit on grant and scholarship review panels. Participating in these panels is incredibly useful; it gives you insight into how grants are evaluated, which in turn helps you become a stronger grant writer. These kinds of experiences can make a real difference early on.<\/p>\n

           <\/p>\n

          \n

           <\/p>\n

          Par Melody\u00a0Choi<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

          Les innovations issues de la recherche sur l\u2019arthrite reposent de plus en plus sur la collaboration interdisciplinaire. Dans le texte qui suit, le Dr Jean-Philippe\u00a0St-Pierre<\/a>, titulaire de la Bourse des \u00e9toiles pour le d\u00e9veloppement de carri\u00e8re<\/a> et dont le parcours professionnel a \u00e9t\u00e9 fa\u00e7onn\u00e9 par des travaux de recherche dans divers domaines allant du g\u00e9nie \u00e0 la biologie, r\u00e9pond \u00e0 des questions sur la fa\u00e7on dont cette approche ouvre de nouvelles possibilit\u00e9s pour le traitement de l\u2019arthrose.<\/p>\n

           <\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Pouvez-vous me parler un peu de votre parcours universitaire et scientifique, puis de la fa\u00e7on dont il a fa\u00e7onn\u00e9 votre approche, qui consiste \u00e0 collaborer avec des acteurs de diverses disciplines?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            J\u2019ai consacr\u00e9 presque toute ma carri\u00e8re universitaire \u00e0 m\u2019immerger dans la recherche sur l\u2019arthrite et le g\u00e9nie tissulaire du cartilage. En cours de route, j\u2019ai eu la chance d\u2019avoir des mentors exceptionnels et la libert\u00e9 d\u2019explorer diff\u00e9rents aspects de ce domaine. Et c\u2019est cette libert\u00e9 qui m\u2019a permis de tracer ma voie.<\/p>\n

            J\u2019ai fait mon doctorat sous la direction de la Dre Rita\u00a0Kandel, clinicienne-chercheuse, et du Dr Robert\u00a0Pilliar, ing\u00e9nieur, qui m\u2019ont permis d\u2019explorer en profondeur les sciences li\u00e9es aux cartilages. Par la suite, j\u2019ai fait un stage postdoctoral au laboratoire de la Dre Molly\u00a0Stevens pour r\u00e9aliser des travaux encore rattach\u00e9s au g\u00e9nie tissulaire du cartilage, mais ax\u00e9s plus particuli\u00e8rement sur la conception de biomat\u00e9riaux. Ce laboratoire se distinguait par son recours \u00e0 la collaboration multidisciplinaire. J\u2019ai donc travaill\u00e9 aux c\u00f4t\u00e9s de chercheurs d\u2019horizons scientifiques tr\u00e8s diff\u00e9rents pour tenter de trouver des solutions \u00e0 des probl\u00e8mes qui n\u00e9cessitaient l\u2019int\u00e9gration des perspectives de diverses disciplines. Ces exp\u00e9riences ont profond\u00e9ment impr\u00e9gn\u00e9 mon esprit. En effet, je consid\u00e8re maintenant que la collaboration est essentielle \u00e0 l\u2019innovation, surtout dans des domaines complexes comme la m\u00e9decine r\u00e9g\u00e9n\u00e9rative. La question de la multidisciplinarit\u00e9 en science me suit depuis le tout d\u00e9but de ma carri\u00e8re, \u00e0 savoir la ma\u00eetrise. Elle me passionne et dicte encore aujourd\u2019hui la fa\u00e7on dont je structure les travaux de mon laboratoire \u00e0 l\u2019Universit\u00e9 d\u2019Ottawa et dont je con\u00e7ois des projets.<\/p>\n

             <\/p>\n

              \n
            1. Qu\u2019est-ce qui vous a amen\u00e9 \u00e0 vous int\u00e9resser aux peptides cryptiques, et comment croyez-vous que ceux-ci pourraient transformer le traitement de l\u2019arthrose \u00e0 l\u2019avenir?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              J\u2019ai commenc\u00e9 \u00e0 m\u2019int\u00e9resser aux peptides cryptiques quand j\u2019\u00e9tais au postdoctorat. J\u2019ai particip\u00e9 \u00e0 un projet collaboratif qui portait non pas sur l\u2019arthrite, mais sur la fonctionnalisation des biomat\u00e9riaux avec ces peptides pour provoquer des r\u00e9ponses cellulaires contr\u00f4l\u00e9es. Ce travail m\u2019a ouvert les yeux sur le vaste potentiel des peptides cryptiques. Lorsque j\u2019ai ralli\u00e9 les rangs de l\u2019Universit\u00e9 d\u2019Ottawa, j\u2019ai commenc\u00e9 \u00e0 voir comment ces fragments de signalisation pourraient \u00eatre utiles dans le contexte de l\u2019arthrite. Il reste encore beaucoup de travail \u00e0 accomplir dans ce domaine, mais j\u2019ai la conviction que les peptides cryptiques sont tr\u00e8s prometteurs en tant qu\u2019agents th\u00e9rapeutiques ou signaux biologiques pour am\u00e9liorer la r\u00e9g\u00e9n\u00e9ration tissulaire. C\u2019est un domaine relativement inexploit\u00e9, et c\u2019est ce qui le rend captivant.<\/p>\n

              J\u2019ai vraiment h\u00e2te de profiter de mon cong\u00e9 sabbatique cet \u00e9t\u00e9 pour me recentrer et songer \u00e0 des fa\u00e7ons cr\u00e9atives d\u2019approfondir mes recherches. J\u2019aimerais bien me pencher sur les syst\u00e8mes d\u2019administration de m\u00e9dicaments pour les articulations, un d\u00e9fi de taille pour un chercheur en biomat\u00e9riaux. Je m\u2019int\u00e9resse \u00e9galement \u00e0 l\u2019int\u00e9gration de l\u2019apprentissage machine aux flux de travail pour acc\u00e9l\u00e9rer les d\u00e9couvertes.<\/p>\n

               <\/p>\n

                \n
              1. Comment la Bourse des \u00e9toiles pour le d\u00e9veloppement de carri\u00e8re vous a-t-elle aid\u00e9 dans vos travaux jusqu\u2019\u00e0 maintenant?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                La Bourse des \u00e9toiles pour le d\u00e9veloppement de carri\u00e8re m\u2019a permis d\u2019\u00e9tablir et de d\u00e9velopper mon programme de recherche et, surtout, de disposer de temps r\u00e9serv\u00e9 \u00e0 mes travaux de recherche. Depuis l\u2019obtention de cette bourse, j\u2019ai eu le privil\u00e8ge de travailler avec un groupe exceptionnel d\u2019\u00e9tudiants et de chercheurs en d\u00e9but de carri\u00e8re. Il a \u00e9t\u00e9 incroyablement gratifiant de pouvoir consacrer plus de temps \u00e0 les superviser et \u00e0 les encadrer tout au long de leurs projets. J\u2019ai \u00e9galement eu l\u2019occasion d\u2019\u00e9tablir des collaborations avec des chercheurs de divers \u00e9tablissements au Canada et \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9tranger. J\u2019ai pu ainsi rassembler diff\u00e9rents ensembles de comp\u00e9tences pour \u00e9tudier des questions de recherche complexes, ce qui me semble crucial dans un domaine multidisciplinaire comme le n\u00f4tre.<\/p>\n

                Cette bourse m\u2019a \u00e9galement aid\u00e9 \u00e0 obtenir une certaine reconnaissance professionnelle. Par exemple, la Facult\u00e9 de g\u00e9nie de l\u2019Universit\u00e9 d\u2019Ottawa m\u2019a d\u00e9cern\u00e9 un prix, ce qui a marqu\u00e9 une \u00e9tape majeure dans ma carri\u00e8re. De plus, la cr\u00e9dibilit\u00e9 que me conf\u00e8re l\u2019image de marque des Instituts de recherche en sant\u00e9 du Canada\u00a0(IRSC) et de la Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 de l\u2019arthrite du Canada m\u2019a permis d\u2019\u00e9tablir des collaborations au-del\u00e0 du milieu traditionnel de la recherche sur l\u2019arthrite. Lorsqu\u2019on participe \u00e0 des projets multidisciplinaires, surtout avec des chercheurs qui ne s\u2019int\u00e9ressent pas directement \u00e0 l\u2019arthrite, des marques reconnaissables aident les autres \u00e0 comprendre la valeur de la recherche et donnent une l\u00e9gitimit\u00e9 \u00e0 ce que l\u2019on essaie d\u2019accomplir. Je ne fais pas allusion ici qu\u2019au financement, mais aussi \u00e0 la visibilit\u00e9, \u00e0 la validation et \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9lan qui s\u2019ensuivent.<\/p>\n

                 <\/p>\n

                  \n
                1. Quels conseils donneriez-vous aux chercheurs en d\u00e9but de carri\u00e8re?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  Je leur conseillerais surtout de d\u00e9finir clairement leurs priorit\u00e9s et de partager judicieusement leur temps. En d\u00e9but de carri\u00e8re, les demandes nous viennent de partout, et en grand nombre. Il est acceptable de dire non parfois pour avoir le temps d\u2019accomplir ce qui compte le plus, qu\u2019il s\u2019agisse de recherche, de r\u00e9daction d\u2019articles, de mentorat ou simplement de moments r\u00e9serv\u00e9s \u00e0 la cr\u00e9ativit\u00e9.<\/p>\n

                  Je leur sugg\u00e9rerais \u00e9galement de tirer parti des pr\u00e9cieuses ressources qui sont \u00e0 leur disposition; il suffit de chercher un peu! Par exemple, des organismes comme les IRSC, la Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 de l\u2019arthrite du Canada et des instituts de recherche offrent des occasions de si\u00e9ger \u00e0 des comit\u00e9s d\u2019\u00e9valuation des demandes de subvention et de bourse. La participation \u00e0 ces comit\u00e9s est extr\u00eamement formatrice\u00a0: elle permet de mieux comprendre le processus d\u2019\u00e9valuation, ce qui permet aux participants de pr\u00e9parer des demandes de plus grande qualit\u00e9. Ce genre d\u2019exp\u00e9rience peut vraiment transformer la carri\u00e8re d\u2019un chercheur qui en est encore \u00e0 ses d\u00e9buts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                  Le fran\u00e7ais suit \/ French follows By Melody Choi Innovations in arthritis research are increasingly driven by cross-disciplinary collaborations. In this Q&A, STARS Career Development Awardee Dr. St-Pierre, whose career has been shaped by work across fields ranging from engineering … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91514,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-647","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/imhablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/647","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/imhablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/imhablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/imhablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/91514"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/imhablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=647"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/imhablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/647\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":734,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/imhablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/647\/revisions\/734"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/imhablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=647"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/imhablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=647"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/imhablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=647"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}