Author: Michelle Prunier
As a third-generation survivor, retinoblastoma (RB) is deeply woven into my family’s story. While I am fortunate to have grown up with other RB survivors, this was limited to my own immediate family until I joined CRRAB.
In early 2020, I heard from my father about the Retinoblastoma Research Symposium that happened to be taking place in Toronto. Growing up in upstate New York and only recently moving to Toronto to attend university, I was previously unaware of the Canadian RB community. After attending the Symposium, I joined CRRAB. As both an RB survivor and a student who had recently become invested in research, my involvement with CRRAB uniquely brought together aspects of my life that were previously separated. At the time, I was working on my first research project through the University of Toronto, a literature review about youth engagement in environmental research. CRRAB’s patient-oriented research model aligned well with my existing interest in making research accessible to everyone. I quickly joined the CRRAB social media team and participated in projects such as the development of the Retinoblastoma Research and You! Booklet.
This summer, I joined the Dimaras Lab as a research student, where I have supported research projects full time. Throughout the summer, I worked on several RB research initiatives, culminating in a poster presentation at the SickKids Summer Student Research Symposium. I gained a new view on the clinical research process through supporting a project examining examines the long-term outcomes of patients treated for RB. And in assisting with the SickKids Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences Biobank I got a glimpse into decades of retinoblastoma research.
My work this summer has reaffirmed my interest in research as both a scientist and a survivor. Through CRRAB, I have found a field that both sparks my intellectual curiosity and allows me to aid the future generations impacted by RB. As I transition back to my studies and enter my fourth year of university, I will carry with me the breadth of knowledge I have gained through my experiences with this diverse community. To this day, I am still surprised by the unlikely chain of events that caused me to discover the Canadian Retinoblastoma Research Community, but I am grateful for the doors it has opened. I look forward to continuing my involvement in CRRAB and contributing to the space that has welcomed me with open arms.