University of Groningen
Novel molecular targets in hepatic stellate cells for the treatment of liver fibrosis Smith Cortínez, Natalia
DOI:
10.33612/diss.128130988
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Publication date: 2020
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Smith Cortínez, N. (2020). Novel molecular targets in hepatic stellate cells for the treatment of liver fibrosis. University of Groningen. https://doi.org/10.33612/diss.128130988
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Chapter 8.
A
CKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND
B
IOGRAPHY
Novel molecular targets in hepatic stellate cells for the treatment of liver fibrosis
I. Acknowledgements
It is hard to realize that I am finally in the last few months of my PhD. This journey started since I have memory, because doing a PhD abroad was my goal since I was very young. This journey concludes not only with my PhD degree and dissertation, but also with the end of my time in The Netherlands. I will try to summarize the extent of support I have been given over the last 5 years and cannot emphasize enough that I consider myself the luckiest person to have so much love and support in my life.
Because this is a journey that started many years ago, I start with acknowledging my parents for giving me the idea that I could do whatever I wanted, for encouraging me to always push forward and for allowing me to mourn when the steps were difficult and unsuccessful.
Papás, esta etapa de mi vida, que culmina con el término de mi doctorado y
estancia en Holanda, es el reflejo de las herramientas que me entregaron durante mi niñez. Me abrieron las puertas a todos los espacios que yo quise tomar, me acompañaron en los momentos difíciles y me dejaron caminar independientemente, confiando que daría el paso correcto, en los momentos que creyeron necesarios. Les agradezco profundamente todo el amor y apoyo que me han entregado siempre.
Papito, gracias por el apoyo diario que me das, a pesar de la distancia has estado
siempre presente, dándome consejos cuando los pedía, retándome cuando creíste necesario y acompañándome en mis decisiones, a pesar de que no siempre las compartiste. Me encanta que en mi adultez podamos tener una relación de confianza y amistad, y que podamos juntos celebrar, llorar, reír, gritar y acompañarnos en nuestras distintas etapas. Mami, gracias por guiarme a lo largo de mi vida, eres un modelo a seguir como mujer, te admiro y sé que parte de mi entrega y amor es un reflejo de ti. Gracias por acompañarme durante este tiempo, por estar presente siempre a pesar de la distancia. Estos años han pasado y hemos aprendido a llevar nuestra relación de otra forma, siempre conversando sobre los espacios que queremos compartir juntas, soñando con los viajes que nos gustaría hacer y planificando la próxima vez que nos veríamos. Los amo profundamente. Gracias por tanto.
This journey continued with the end of my bachelor, finding my partner, and deciding to start this adventure together. César, no tengo palabras para expresar todo mi amor y gratitud hacia ti. Esta etapa la decidimos hacer juntos, con todo lo bueno y malo que ha significado. Has estado presente en cada segundo de mi etapa doctoral, aconsejándome (aunque muchas veces no lo recibí bien, jejeje peldon!), guiándome, acompañándome, o solo entregándome amor. Agradezco infinitamente que hayamos decidido embarcarnos en esta aventura juntos, y espero poder compartir juntos muchas otras aventuras y todos los desafíos que vengan. Creo que en este tiempo hemos madurado y crecido juntos y me es difícil poner en palabras lo mucho que le agradezco a la vida que estés a mi lado. La llegada del Kulfi a nuestras vidas nos hizo más maduros y marcó el inicio de nuestra avidez por tener nuestra propia familia, y sé que aunque seamos solo los tres, seré feliz. Te amo infinito!
After the decision of doing my PhD abroad, I met Joyce in Chile, who gave me the option and opportunity of meeting Klaas Nico Faber and Han Moshage, and doing a short internship in the MDL lab, which led me to coming to The Netherlands to do my PhD. Klaas Nico, I can’t thank you enough for all the support and guidance you have given me throughout this 5 years that we know each other. I greatly appreciate you giving me the opportunity of visiting your lab all the way from Chile in 2015, and quickly accepting to support my application for the PhD grant (after only two weeks of arriving to the MDL lab, I asked you if we could apply together to Becas Chile because the deadline was in 1 week, ups!!!! Unexpectedly you said yes!!!!). During the 4.5 years of this PhD, we have encountered and endured many situations, that have shaped our relationship. I greatly thank you for allowing me to express all of my feelings, whether it was sadness (which lead to crying in front of you many times) due to cells contamination, or stress, or personal situations; happiness, due to abstracts acceptances or successful experiments; excitement; stress; anger; and so, oh so many different feelings!!!! I see you as a model in the academic career and I hope I grow up to have some of the qualities that make you such a great guide and researcher. Han, during this years you have given me support and guidance, although you are not my primary supervisor, I always felt very comfortable asking you not only scientific but also personal questions. I greatly appreciate all the support you gave me during my crazy-conference-organization-times (together with Joyce, thanks!!!).
This 4.5 years have not been easy, from long Mondays to Fridays (and sometimes Saturdays or Sundays) the MDL family was there, and I feel so lucky to have reached such a great human group. I specially thank all of you for being there, and for quickly learning that I am a hug-person and for letting me enjoy all the bits of the days with you. Janette, I appreciate your support, not only professional but also personal, I love to be able to confide with you my problems, and greatly appreciate all the help you have given me throughout this years in the lab. Also, thank you with the help in the difficult task of writing the dutch summary!!!!. Tjasso, I consider you not only a great professional but also a good friend. I thank you for all the guidance in the lab, conversations and support during this time. Manon, thank you so much for enduring all my questions (oh so many questions), and for always having a smile and a good word to bright up my days. Dianne, thank you also for having patience with me and replying all the crazy questions. Sofie, although you have just arrived to the lab, your personality and kindness is always appreciated. Ali, thank you for all the professional support you gave me, especially during the first years of my PhD, you are a great example of hard work and focus and appreciate all the long conversations in the office. Danial, I love all the different conversations we had in the office during this years and appreciate you always asking me if I was ok and noticing if I was feeling down. Yana, I thank you for your experience and hard work, I was always able to ask you a favor, which was always returned with a happy face. Turu, your personality and kindness always allowed me to have a happy face and a good time in the lab. Thank you so much for all the help during this long years of isolating HSC, for never having a bad day or an angry moment, and for always asking if I was ok or if needed something, your friendship will be very missed. Mengfan, thank you also for supporting the HSC isolations and for having a good mood in the lab. Fabio, thanks for the good conversations and happy moments in the lab. Johanna, since you arrived we had a
Novel molecular targets in hepatic stellate cells for the treatment of liver fibrosis
good connection, in the lab you are a great and hard worker, I trust you a lot with your vast experience, and love the relationship we have developed also outside of the lab, thank you for your support during the hard times and for your friendship in the good times. Guido, thanks for being a great chair during the MDL meetings (hahaha) and for your friendship during this -long- time. Ying Jing, thank you for always having a smile and for being such a great person. ZongMei, I appreciate your kindness and peacefulness in the lab. Erik, although you have only recently arrived, I appreciate your questions during the MDL meetings and your desire for knowledge. Sandra, you have only shortly arrived to the lab but we immediately started a good friendship, which I greatly appreciate. Emilia, although you have also just recently arrived, I appreciate your scientific guidance and support. Lastly, Raphael, Rapha, hon, sweety, boo… Your arrival to the MDL lab shaped my life in oh so many ways. I cannot imagine my PhD life without you by my side and cannot thank you enough for all the support and love you have given me throughout the years we know each other. We clicked the minute you step in the MDL lab to do your PhD and since then my life has not been the same. I will miss you always but I am sure this is not the end for us. To all MDLers that have left during this time I thank you for all the support and friendship specially to
Shiva, Archie, Herson, Daniela and Alejandra. I specially thank the MDL
department, for all the questions and suggestions during the general MDL research meeting and for the moments together during the MDL day. Special thanks to Jurya, I greatly appreciate your great personality and always welcoming my questions with a happy face.
During this long time, I have encountered many researchers and staff in the UMCG and outside with whom we have extensively collaborated. Barbara, I see you as scientific model to follow and greatly thank you for all the support and guidance during this years. Niels and Aycha, thank you both for always answering my questions with a smile and patience. Dicky, thanks for the conversations in the office. Coen, I greatly appreciate your patience and support during this years of working together, I thank you for your guidance.
I would also like to thank the assessment committee of this thesis, Prof. Geert
Bultynck, Prof. Klaas Poelstra and Prof. Sven van IJzendoorn, for reading and
evaluating this thesis.
Besides the hard work, I have found a great number of friends in Groningen whom I have gotten to know and love during this time. Mel, amiga, gracias gracias gracias!!! me encanta que después de más de 10 años de conocernos, nuestra amistad haya crecido y madurado. Amo que hayan llegado junto con el Ale a Groningen y espero que la vida nos siga manteniendo juntitas. Ale, gracias por siempre tenerme paciencia y por tu amistad durante todo este tiempo. Rodri y Feli, gracias por todos los momentos y por ser nuestra familia postiza. Alfred, tu apoyo y amistad durante los primeros años de mi vida en Groningen fueron hermosos y agradezco que me hayas dado la oportunidad de conocerte y quererte. Ahora, en tu vuelta a Gro, esta amistad ha madurado y se ha fortalecido, muchas gracias por todos los momentos, consejos y conversaciones. Vale y Jouke, conocerlos ha sido un highlight de nuestra vida en Holanda, gracias por las largas conversaciones, por los carretes y por los tantos viajes Ams-Gro. Espero que podamos seguir esta amistad
por muchos años más. Luzma y Ale, conocerlos a través de IN.NL fue muy entretenido, gracias por los consejos y por los momentos vividos. Mario y Xime, Groningen nos dio la oportunidad de conocernos más y les agradezco por su amistad y cariño durante estos años.
In this many years I have meet many other incredible friends, who have left Groningen, and have all found a place in my heart. John, Pepe y Cata, su hermosa amistad nos alegró la vida los primeros años y los extraño día a día. Alba, Felipe y
Mariela, Rodrigo, Esteban y Cristina, Martin, Feña y Max, gracias por los momentos
compartidos y por la amistad.
I would also like to thank my great family in Chile, who have given me love and support throughout this and all the other stages in my life. Hermanita, Waldo y Amira, Ale eres un sol en mi vida y amo tener la relación de amistad y confianza que tenemos, y junto a Waldo y Amira son una potente energía en mi vida. Ori, amiga, compañera, confidente. Agradezco infinitamente el apoyo, compañía y amor incondicional que me das y has dado a lo largo de mi vida. Eres un pilar fundamental y sé que sigue y seguirá por siempre. Gabi, eres un sol brillante y extenso que cuida a todos los que toca y agradezco infinitamente tenerte en mi vida. Hermanitas, las amo y sé que seremos uno hasta siempre. Maribel, Feña, Lili y David, me considero muy afortunada porque el rol de padres y guías no solo lo siento en mis papas, pero los veo a cada uno de ustedes como figuras paternales fuertes en mi vida, gracias por adoptarme como una más, por la guía, los abrazos, el amor y por mostrarme como es el amor y la fuerza de la familia que se elige. Los amo incondicionalmente. Iván, gracias por el apoyo que siempre me has dado, eres una gran compañía para mi mamá y agradezco el amor, cariño y calma que me entregas. Abuelos, Carmen, Caty y Mauro, Flaquita y tío
Javi, tía Nora y tío Lucho, tía Pollo y tío Eduardo, tía Susy y Juan, primas y primos, gracias por siempre darme apoyo, amor, y cariño, a pesar de la distancia. Los
quiero mucho. Suegritos, gracias por aceptarme como una hija en su hermosa familia, por darme apoyo y por quererme tanto. Vito y Fran, gracias por la hermosa compañía, por los momentos vividos y por el apoyo que siempre he sentido.
Thanks for all the support, friendship, and guidance.
Novel molecular targets in hepatic stellate cells for the treatment of liver fibrosis
II. Biography
Natalia Francisca Smith Cortínez was born in
Santiago, Chile on August 2nd, 1990. She
initiated her interest in the life sciences field during her secondary education while doing a semester abroad in Niagara Falls, Canada. She started her studies in Biochemistry in Universidad de Chile, in Santiago, in 2009, where she was trained with a special focus in research. Her bachelor degree was obtained in 2014 and in 2015 she successfully defended her bachelor thesis, with focus on tumor cell migration and calcium signaling, under the supervision of César Cardenas and Mariolly Muller, in the Cellular Metabolism and Bioenergetics Lab. Soon after that she was granted an Abel Tasman internship from the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) of the University of Groningen, where she met Klaas Nico Faber in the Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology. During that year, she was granted with a Becas Chile scholarship from the Chilean Government to continue her scientific education abroad, and started a PhD in the group of Klaas Nico. She started working in finding novel molecular and metabolic targets in hepatic stellate cells to treat liver fibrosis. After the first year of her PhD she attended her first international conference in Galway, Ireland in 2017, where she presented what is now the first experimental chapter of this PhD thesis. She then attended several international conferences including The Liver Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease in San Francisco, USA in 2018 and in Boston, USA, in 2019, she also attended the European Club for Liver Cell Biology (ECLCB) in 2018, and was granted with a scholarship from the Chilean Government to present in the annual meeting of the Chilean Society for Cell Biology, in Puerto Varas, Chile in 2019. In Groningen she was also able to pursue her interests of science communication and divulgation by joining the just founded Association of Chilean Researchers in the Netherlands (IN.NL) in 2017, where she actively participated as member of the directive committee for 2 years, organizing conferences where prominent Chilean and Dutch researchers were invited to give lectures.
