From textbooks to tissue models

At UBC Okanagan, research isn’t confined to textbooks and lecture halls; it’s hands-on, collaborative, and often involves students who never expected to find themselves at the forefront of discovery.

For undergraduate biochemistry student Janaeya Baher, that journey started with a single email.

“I never had any classes with Dr. Emmanuel Osei, but I was fascinated by his research on artificial disease models,” explains Baher, who had been searching for the ‘right’ research opportunity throughout her undergrad.

Despite not knowing Dr. Emmanuel Osei, undergraduate student Janaeya Baher reached out to him anyway about potential research opportunities.

“He quite literally had no idea who I was when I first emailed him, but it evolved from there,” she laughs.

Now, as part of the Immunobiology Research Excellence Cluster, led by Dr. Osei and Dr. Isaac Li, Baher is contributing to work that could transform cancer treatment and other lung diseases.

The role of bio engineering in lung disease research

Dr. Osei’s lab focuses on developing bio-artificial disease models to better understand how chronic lung diseases develop and progress.

By creating models more representative of the human body, the team can assess complex mechanisms behind conditions such as lung cancer, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

“Humans exist as multicellular organisms,” explains Dr. Osei. “Much research focuses on single cells, but that’s not how the body works. We believe that by studying how multiple cells interact in a 3D environment, we can uncover new targets for therapy.”

According to Dr. Osei, the research could revolutionize immunobiology by providing tools to better understand how immune cells interact with other cells and the proteins in their environment.

By using patient-specific cells to create models, this could one day pave the way for precision medicine, whereby treatments are tailored based on patient-specific cellular responses rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Equipped with five 3D printers, Dr. Osei’s lab can develop cutting-edge lung models to understand disease mechanisms and develop potential new treatments.

As part of the cluster’s research, Baher is developing micro- to milli-scale models and bio-scaffolds—tiny to very small engineered structures that help researchers track the specific behaviour of cells.

“Some of these models and scaffolds are about the size of a single rain droplet on your windshield,” she explains. “They imitate the 3D configuration of how cells exist in the lung, allowing us to study their interactions under different conditions that mimic disease.”

Baher is currently working on hand-casting the droplets as well as using a specialized extrusion 3D bio printer for more precise and scalable production.

This 3D bioprinter uses digital light processing and a special bio-ink to create 3D structures that mimic human body tissues.

“Eventually, we’ll load cells into the printer, and generate controlled 3D micro-models for our studies,” she says.

The engineered structures—known as 3D organoids and bioprinted models—have been crucial in recent drug research that will impact future clinical practice.

For example, lung organoids were some of the main models used for vaccine and therapeutic research during the COVID-19 pandemic; other ongoing research explores how the application of organoids and 3D bioprinted tissue can repair and rebuild damaged or injured lung tissue in the clinic.

This cell culture bright field microscope is essential for the close examination of the health, growth and behaviour of living cells used in the models.

Finding opportunities in a close-knit campus community

For Dr. Osei and Baher, UBC Okanagan’s community has been key to their success.

Dr. Osei was drawn to the Okanagan campus for its collaborative atmosphere.

“I wanted to work on a smaller campus but still have the support of a big institution, so I was attracted to UBC Okanagan. It was one of the first places I applied, and thankfully, you asked me to come!”

Dr. Emmanuel Osei appreciates UBC Okanagan’s close-knit campus, which he believes has been key to his success.

He adds, “Here, your office neighbour could be researching something different that complements your work. That fosters new ideas.”

For Baher, the size of the campus made it easier to connect with faculty members.

“I find that I’m able to build relationships with my professors here in a way that I might not have been able to at a larger university,” she says.

Baher admits that although she initially faced a steep learning curve, the support from Dr. Osei and lab colleagues made all the difference.

Learning through hands-on experience

When she first joined Dr. Osei’s lab, Baher faced a steep learning curve.

“I had never been in a lab before,” she admits. “Then all of a sudden, I was asked to conduct experiments I had no experience with.”

With the help of Dr. Osei and his graduate students, Baher quickly learned the fundamentals of lab work—cell culturing, making gels and working with reagents. In addition to her technical skills, she also developed the ability to troubleshoot problems, think critically, and work within a team.

Baher credits her undergraduate research experience with teaching her a host of technical and soft skills that will be useful in any endeavour.

“All these experiences will be invaluable for whatever I do next in life.”

Now, as a work-study student in the lab, Baher balances lab work with a full course load—an experience she describes as both rewarding and challenging.

“It’s exhausting going from four hours of lectures straight into the lab. There are days I don’t want to go in because I’ve had exams and I’m tired. But I push through because I know this work is valuable.”

For Dr. Osei, facilitating these opportunities to students like Baher is one of the most rewarding aspects of his work.

“I tell my students, if you’re interested in research, don’t give up. Keep knocking on doors. Just as the door was opened for me as a student, someone will open one for you. Who knows, it could very well be a good fit for you to work with someone to achieve scientific knowledge and success.”