Why macrophages matter in the fight against cystic fibrosis
ImmuONE
May 23, 2023
Lung macrophages play a significant role in the chronic inflammation associated with cystic fibrosis
From microbiology to biotech: Meet Brendon
This week we had the pleasure of sitting down with Brendon Ghiot, our Senior Scientist and expert in flow cytometry. In this coffee chat, Brendon walked us through his career journey so far, revealing an intriguing path that spans from predictive microbiology to the development of cutting-edge CAR-T therapy for cancer. Join us as we delve into Brendon’s experiences and insights, discovering what led him to ImmuONE and how he is navigating life in the dynamic realm of biotechnology!
Can you give us an insight into your career background?
It depends on how far back you want to go in my career history! I graduated from Leeds Beckett University with a degree in biomedical sciences, specialising in molecular biology and microbiology. From there I got my first role working in cellular biology where we used both adherent and suspended cell lines to study how cells react to different drug treatments. I then moved on to something completely different and took a role with Aberystwyth University’s microbiology lab, creating predictive models for microbial limits in drinking water based on rainfall. This was really interesting, but I wanted to diversify my skills even further, particularly in biochemistry, and so, I worked for an analytical testing lab where I had exposure to techniques such as High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), UV analysis, Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and more. I have since worked in other areas such as in the cell and gene department of a global biopharmaceutical company where I had the opportunity to work on clinical trials for CAR-T cell therapy for the treatment of stage four cancer. This role reignited my passion for cellular biology and the exposure to expert colleagues and multidisciplinary work has significantly advanced my career.
What attracted you to your role in ImmuONE?
In many roles there is very little wiggle room for the development of new technologies and assays. However, ImmuONE offered me the opportunity to research and develop new methods for inhalation toxicity testing. The freedom to explore new methods and optimise these methods is hugely exciting and it was an opportunity I couldn’t miss. I knew I had to be part of the dynamic and challenging environment of ImmuONE!
The other thing that drew me to ImmuONE was the company’s commitment to developing animal free products. Victoria and Ewelina mentioned this aspect of ImmuONE while I was being interviewed and it was something that really resonated with me. Animal-free testing is not something you normally come across in the scientific industry and it’s a very unique and important element of ImmuONE.
What is your vision of success at ImmuONE?
I have been at ImmuONE since August 2023, and it has already been a great experience. I have already developed a flow cytometry method called LipidONE, which focuses on phospholipidosis within cells. This is an assay which provides valuable insights into the potential effects of certain substances to the cellular mechanisms within the lung, particularly in predicting early signs of diseases such as atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances on the inner walls of the arteries.
However, real success for me at ImmuONE would be to expertly optimise and develop a multiplex assay which combines both flow cytometry and high-content image analysis which will offer a comprehensive overview of the impact of particular substances within cells, providing consistent and confident results to our customers. This is a huge learning curve for me but an exciting one.
What aspects of ImmuONE do you most appreciate?
I think the supportive and understanding approach taken by the leadership here at ImmuONE makes it an ideal place to work. I have ADHD and so I thrive on organisation, planning and independence. The management at ImmuONE have been extremely supportive of this and allowed me to implement a visual planning tool which allows us to visually track and manage our workload. Of course, this tool not only helps me be more efficient but also helps other team members too. ImmuONE have been really supportive in figuring out what the best way is for me to work. I don’t mind chaos, as long as it’s organised!
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