Dr Bel Esain Garcia, who has recently left our group after completing her PhD studies, has won the CRUK CI Thesis Prize 2024. This prize is awarded annually to a student who has undertaken an outstanding research project to the highest standards during the course of their PhD study at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute.
Behind this Prize Bel spent four years of hard work towards answering the fundamental question of how information can be stored in the form of DNA structures in the genome. She uncovered the mechanism behind how G-quadruplex (G4) structures can positively regulate transcription of the critical MYC oncogene, by recruiting transcription factors, dictating its own epigenetic landscape and positioning nucleosomes. Bel was the first one to bring CRISPR into the lab to edit G4 structures and developed an epigenome editing approach to modulate G4 formation in cells. Her journey was far from easy, but this success reflects many years of learning from failures, having the resilience to persevere through tough times, the determination to refine an idea into focused experiments and the strength to overcome challenges on both professional and personal levels. We are very proud of her.
Bel says, “I am truly honoured to have been awarded the CRUK CI Thesis Prize 2024. Knowing that my hard work and results were recognised really means the world to me. I am truly thankful for the Academic Office and the selection committee for awarding me this Prize and I would also like to congratulate my fellow colleagues for their outstanding research and discoveries.
As I stand proudly by my PhD results and years pursuing molecular mechanisms, I have to mention everyone that supported me along the way, especially Professor Shankar Balasubramanian and Dr David Tannahill for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to follow my ideas, Jo Lockhart for providing the balance to my academic work, Dr Angie Kirchner for embarking on the MYC G4 adventure with me, my thesis advisors Professors Masashi Narita and Wolf Reik, everyone in the Balasubramanian group for the insightful discussions and everyone at the Cancer Research UK institute for creating a supportive environment to work in.”
Bel is now continuing her work in Professor Jennifer Doudna’s laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley (USA), where she is working on targeted chromatin editing mechanisms to address novel fundamental questions on chromosome structure function. Her goal for the future is to change the world through the discovery of novel molecular mechanisms and the development of precision therapeutics. We wish her every success.
