We are excited to announce that Dr. Nika Shakiba has been selected as one of five recipients of the Gairdner Early Career Investigators award by the Gairdner Foundation, an organization dedicated to recognizing international excellence in fundamental research that advances human health. She was selected by committee members Dr. Spyros Artavanis-Tsakonas, Dr. Iva Greenwald and Dr. Gary Struhl.
“I am honoured to have been selected by Dr. Artavanis-Tsakonas, Dr. Greenwald and Dr. Struh for this award. Their transformative work on the Notch signalling pathway has seeded our fundamental understanding of how cells communicate as our bodies are built. I look forward to engaging with these Gairder Laureates and members of the community to discuss science and reflect on scientific journeys. The opportunity to network with such a vibrant group of high-calibre scientists is inspiring, providing a unique chance to learn the human stories behind the scientific discoveries.” Dr. Shakiba comments.
Dr. Shakiba’s research program is interested in the “social lives” of stem cells: how these cells interact to influence one another’s survival and cell fate decisions, both in culture and embryonic development. Her lab uses systems and synthetic biology to understand the genetic rules that encode cooperative and competitive interactions between stem cells. Leveraging genetic engineering, her lab seeks to program these interactions to enable robust bioprocesses for manufacturing stem cell-derived cell therapies.
Aligned with her mission to make stem cells an engineerable substrate, she co-founded the international Virtual Human Development consortium, which brings together experimentalists and theoreticians around the central goal of creating a computer-based simulator of human embryonic development. This simulator provides a window into the formation of the human body while serving as a tool for rational cellular design. Beyond her research and teaching, Nika is passionate about providing equity in mentorship and multi-directional advice-sharing through her latest project, Advice to a Scientist.
Dr. Nika Shakiba will present ‘The Molecular Rules of Embryonic Stem Cell Competition’ during the Laureate Lectures at Gairdner Science Week 2025, taking place from October 20–23. Her lecture is scheduled for Thursday, October 23. Details here.