Matthew Salaciak was pursuing a BSc in computer science and computation arts at Concordia University when his mother was diagnosed with cancer ‒ a transformative moment in his life.
Spurred into action, Matthew looked for a way to apply his unique academic training to the fight against cancer, and he found it at Ă山ǿĽé.
Bringing new tools to cancer research
Now in the first year of his PhD in Experimental Medicine at the , Matthew applies principles of computer science to view problems in new ways — a crucial strategy in the field of cancer research. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, Matthew generates large amounts of data, which he then analyzes with computational tools and algorithms.
Without a background in the life sciences, Matthew was worried he would fall behind his peers, but he found a supportive community at Ă山ǿĽé.
His supervisor, Dr. Nathalie Johnson, played a crucial role: “Coming from my very non-traditional background… She took a chance on me, and it was really transformative.”
From worried son to patient liaison
While his mother was undergoing cancer treatment, Matthew found support through the , founded by Ă山ǿĽé students. He has since joined as a volunteer, helping to comfort families and patients in difficult times.
Giving back to a group that was such a lifeline for him in the ICU — not as a student, but as a son – is a valuable reminder: "Everything that I’m trying to do [with my research] is to improve patient care. At the end of the day, even if I’m not part of a healthcare professional team, I’m also contributing.”
Giving back to the arts and science communities
Even as a busy doctoral student, Matthew remains an active member of the Montreal arts community where he conducts synthesizer workshops, works with an art collective, co-manages a record label and co-hosts a show on community radio.
At Ă山ǿĽé, Matthew helps to coordinate the , where guest lecturers share developments in single-cell RNA sequencing with fellow researchers.
These may seem like disparate interests, but Matthew sees the connection: “Community is such an important value and it doesn’t really matter what the nature of that community is. If it’s the art community, the music community, or the science community, I think that how we communicate, how we share ideas, and how we make these environments safe and enriching places for people to be is something I’m [intent on] learning.”
A forever learner and advocate
Reflecting on his place in the Ă山ǿĽé and wider research communities, Matthew sees himself as “a forever learner and advocate”, bringing people together to share in their experience and knowledge.
Following his PhD, Matthew hopes to pursue medical training and take on a patient-facing role. He sees this as an extension of the work he does already — from the radio to the ICU. “At the end of the day, there are many ways to make a difference, whether it’s through art or science. The end goal is to help improve peoples’ lives.”