And how can we visualize, and learn about these alternate structures in the nucleus of the cell?

At the University of British Columbia Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Judy Wong and her team are investigating the formation of one alternate structure, the G-quadruplex (G4). This rare DNA structure is implicated in an increasing range of biological roles, with links to the pathology of ALS and frontotemporal dementia.

"When you find a new area (of research) that interests you, it’s like being a kid in a candy store. There’s so many interesting questions that you want to answer. It’s about picking the one that you can, with the technology that’s available at the time, and that makes the most sense for understanding the biology."

The University of British Columbia is one of the most respected research institutions in the world. Our reputation as a top research centre attracts some of the brightest and most productive minds in the field.

Research in Focus is a UBC Pharm Sci production designed to highlight the ground-breaking health science research of our talented scientists, graduate students, and postdocs. In each episode, we will profile a different area of research focus and the work that goes on behind the scenes.