Bringing Lasallian Values to the Lab

A neuroscientist’s quest to gain knowledge and share it for the betterment of others

By TJ Krzystek ’11

My journey to becoming a Neuroscientist began at 845 Kenmore Avenue as a member of the Class of 2011. While at St. Joe’s, I developed a strong affinity for life sciences and became fascinated by the cells in our brain called neurons.

The summer after my junior year, my science teacher, Mr. Roland, organized an internship for me in the University at Buffalo Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. I assisted both graduate and undergraduate students in researching cancers, and it was the first time I saw how a lab functioned and research was conducted. That initial experience transformed the trajectory of my future studies and career. I was hooked.

After graduating from Canisius College, I focused my attention towards neurodegenerative diseases. I earned my Ph.D. in biological sciences fromthe University at Buffalo, where I investigated novel biological pathways that become disrupted in Huntington’s disease. Currently a research fellow jointly affiliated with Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, I am working to combine gene editing with advanced microscopy and biochemistry to stimulate intrinsic growth machinery in neurons to prevent degeneration, promote regeneration, and restore function after spinal cord injury.

Reflecting on my time at SJCI, I am grateful for the abundance of lessons learned where each teacher was as influential as the next. I could not imagine trekking this path without the discipline developed from Mr. Deiotte’s music program, the scientific rigor learned from Mr. Roland’s AP biology, the curiosity for the brain sparked by Mr. Lina’s AP Psychology, or the critical lens shaped by Deacon Hynes and my English teachers: Mr. Kenny, Mr. Kania, and Mr. Hoerner.

A phrase I heard at St. Joe’s has stuck with me: “Brothers teaching Brothers.” To me, this has meant that we should not just strive to be successful researchers, doctors, lawyers, or bankers. Instead, we need to seek to gain knowledge and share it.

This Lasallian lesson set the wheels in motion for my academic journey and continues to shape my growth as a person and a scientist. In addition to striving for excellence in a craft that I love, it is equally important to hone this gift in a way to help and enrich those around me. It always helps me better align my research curiosity with the needs of others in hopes that I can improve the lives of the patients affected by the ailments I study.

Photos and neuron description provided by TJ Krzystek ‘11

Photo: Human neurons induced from patient-derived stem cells probed for proteins localized to specific compartments of neurons: axon vs dendrites vs cell body. While developing, neurons possess a growth capacity unlike any other cell in our body, but the neurons in our brain and spinal cord lose this shortly after development. Therefore, these neurons easily degenerate from disease (e.g., Huntington’s, Parkinson’s) or after injury (e.g., spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury) with no regenerative ability.