Beyond Borders

Pandemic, War Strengthen Research Efforts of Ph.D. Candidate Tetiana Kolodiazhna

Forced to flee her home country due to the horrors of war, Tetiana Kolodiazhna has endured many challenges in her journey to the University of Houston College of Pharmacy (UHCOP). When faced with the uncertainty of displacement, her dream of helping others through her research pushed her to persevere and thrive despite unimaginable complications.

After graduating high school in her native Ukraine, Kolodiazhna decided to study pharmacy out of her love for chemistry and biology. She earned her master’s in pharmacy from the National University of Pharmacy in Kharkiv, but her fascination with the intricate workings of molecules led her to pursue a Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry.

"I chose medicinal chemistry because it is the first step in discovering new drugs," Kolodiazhna said. "It answers the fundamental questions, like what is the molecular structure of the future drug and how it interacts with macromolecules in the human body."

First Covid, Then War

After graduating with her master's, Kolodiazhna started her Ph.D. in the organic and medicinal chemistry department at the university in Ukraine. Initially, she had to contend with the Covid pandemic, which imposed significant restrictions on her research.

"I felt like I couldn’t complete what I started, and that really bothered me," Kolodiazhna said.

As the situation began to normalize, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 forced Kolodiazhna to flee her home and relocate to Western Europe. She is one of millions of Ukrainians displaced since the beginning of the conflict.

Kolodiazhna was able to secure a position as visiting researcher in Essen, Germany, for six months. She was not able to conduct research on medicinal chemistry, so she looked for options elsewhere and, in her search, she found the University of Houston College of Pharmacy.  

"I like new opportunities, and I saw that the department at the University of Houston had great facilities needed for running 'med chem' research, where I could learn any technique, I wished to learn," Kolodiazhna said.

CDK5

Kolodiazhna is now a Ph.D. candidate at UHCOP. Her current project focuses on researching CDK5, a type of enzyme that plays a crucial role in various cell processes. Dysregulation of CDK5 has been associated with many different diseases, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, Abdominal Polycystic Kidney Disease, Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (IPAH), and more.

"My current project focuses on targeting CDK5 as a key factor that promotes pathogenic changes in the pulmonary artery and lungs in IPAH," Kolodiazhna said. "The disruption in the balance between apoptosis and proliferation results in the thickening of the pulmonary artery and lung vessels walls, causing a persistent increase in blood pressure that leads to heart failure."

According to a 2023 National Institutes of Health study, the five-year survival rate after diagnosis of IPAH is less than 60%.

Given that there are no advanced therapies for IPAH, Kolodiazhna’s work is crucial in providing new tools for clinicians to fight against the disease.

"I am incredibly proud to be working on this project as a medicinal chemist," Kolodiazhna said.

Given the nature of medicinal chemistry research, which considers targets, drug profiling, pharmacokinetics and synthesis of compounds, the potential therapeutic applications of Kolodiazhna’s research are vast.

"By designing molecules that specifically inhibit or modulate CDK5 activity, we could offer new treatment options for many diseases where CDK5 plays a pathogenic role," Kolodiazhna said.

Reflecting on her Journey

Despite all the challenges Kolodiazhna has faced, she is as committed as ever to make a real difference in science and public health.

"I am most proud of my ability to stay stronger and adapt, especially after having to leave my home country because of the ongoing war," Kolodiazhna said. "The support that I’ve received from my scientific advisor, Dr. Alexander Statsyuk, colleagues and the scientific community has strengthened my belief that, even far from home, I am part of a global effort that goes beyond borders."

Kolodiazhna hopes to work in the pharmaceutical industry after completing her Ph.D. studies.

"The situation in Ukraine has only made me more determined to make a meaningful contribution, not just for my own growth but also for the benefit of those who may one day need the results of my research," Kolodiazhna said. 

— By Elias Lilienfeld