Faces of PharmSci: Idorenyin Asuquo IWE

What is your academic background and why is this area of research important?

My academic background is in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, a master’s degree in Materials Science, and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering. During my PhD, I initially studied fluidic diodes and ice formation. However, I became deeply interested in diagnostic technologies after losing one of my aunts to breast cancer following a late diagnosis. That experience changed the direction of my research and motivated me to focus on developing better diagnostic systems. This research is important because early and accurate diagnosis can improve treatment outcomes and save lives. My goal is to help develop diagnostic technologies that are sensitive, accessible, and useful in both well-equipped laboratories and resource-limited settings.

What led you to your current Supervisor’s lab/research group?

After completing my PhD, I explored several research groups where I could continue developing diagnostic technologies. Even before joining the Pardee Lab, the lab’s publications had already influenced and helped shape parts of my PhD research.

I was especially inspired by Dr. Pardee’s pioneering work in adapting CRISPR for diagnostics and his innovative research on cell-free systems. I saw the lab as an ideal place to deepen my knowledge, learn new skills, and contribute to the development of next-generation diagnostic technologies. Through a series of fortunate, and, to me, divinely guided connections, I received the opportunity to join the lab.

What are some of the challenges you had to overcome within your research?

My research in the Pardee Lab has involved exploring many unanswered scientific questions. Because much of my work is fundamental, experiments do not always produce the expected results. Each time this happens, I pause, investigate the problem, and try to understand what the unexpected result may be teaching us.

Moving from mechanical engineering into molecular diagnostics also required me to develop skills in molecular biology, synthetic biology, CRISPR systems, and cell-free technologies. Although this transition was challenging, it helped me approach biological problems from a different perspective.

Some of our most important discoveries began as difficult experimental problems. For example, I discovered that nicking double-stranded DNA could change how a CRISPR-Cas system is activated. Understanding this effect was challenging, but it eventually led us to develop a new PAM-free CRISPR-Cas system. The resulting paper was recently accepted for publication in Nucleic Acids Research.

Another challenge led to the development of a guide-RNA-free CRISPR-Cas system, which is now publicly available as a preprint. Overall, these challenges have contributed to three inventions and taught me that unexpected results can sometimes lead to the most important discoveries.

How do you see your current research playing a role in your career?

I believe my current research will play a major role in shaping my future career. It has given me the opportunity to make fundamental discoveries and explore how they can be applied to real-world problems.

Our discoveries have already shown potential in areas such as infectious disease detection, mini-protein discovery, and small-molecule identification. However, we have only begun to explore their full potential. I hope to continue advancing these technologies and transl-ating fundamental scientific discoveries into practical tools that can improve research, healthcare, and disease diagnosis

What do you like to do when you are not working on research?

When I am not working, I enjoy spending quality time with my family, especially playing and relaxing with my wife and children. I also recently started going to the gym. Working out has become an enjoyable way for me to reduce stress, stay active, and maintain a healthy balance between my research and personal life.

If you are an international student or Postdoctoral Fellow, how have you found life in Toronto?

I first came to Toronto as an international postdoc and am now a permanent resident. Although I have not yet had the opportunity to explore the entire city, one of the things I appreciate most about Toronto is its diversity.

At the University of Toronto, I have been fortunate to work and interact with talented people from many cultures and backgrounds. These interactions have broadened my perspective and made my experience more rewarding. My colleagues and I also occasionally visit restaurants to try food from different countries. Toronto brings together some of the brightest talents from around the world, and I hope to take some time soon to explore more of the city and everything it has to offer.