Contact Information

Department of Life Sciences
The University of the West Indies
St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
 

Location

Professor Peter Bacon Postgraduate Lab
Natural Science Building 
Tel: 1(868) 662-2002
Ext. 83084
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Education

  • 2017 - present PhD Biochemistry candidate, The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine. 
  • 2014 M.Sc. Food Science & Technology (Distinction), The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine.
  • 2010 B.Sc. Biochemistry. Minors: Biology & Chemistry, The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine.

 

Ph.D. Research Project Details

Title: “Accessing the anticancer potential of plant extracts: novel treatments for prostate cancer.”
 
Summary: Prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in men of Trinidad & Tobago with an incidence rate on the rise. After therapy, the cancer may relapse to become castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) which is difficult to treat. This latter situation has fuelled the search for novel treatment options inclusive of plant-derived chemotherapeutic agents. The research focuses on the solvent fractionation of various plants using liquid-liquid extraction to yield extracts for testing against human prostate cancer cell lines in-vitro. Relative cell viability using the MTT assay is used to determine concentrations of extracts required for 50% inhibition of cancer cells growth (IC50). Additionally, to determine extract efficacy and safety, the Selectivity Index (SI) is calculated by testing extracts against normal human prostate cells. Subsequently, purification of the extracts is conducted using bio-assay guided fractionation and the most cytotoxic sub-fractions are selected for further analysis. Morphology of the cancer cells in response to treatment with compounds are captured and studies such as clonogenics (colony-forming assay) and migration studies (scratch assay) are performed to show efficacy of treatment compounds. Furthermore, additional in-vitro experiments are conducted such as cell- cycle assay, apoptosis assay and protein expression studies to deeper understand the mechanistic actions taking place at a cellular level. 
 
Training: Animal cell culture at Faculty of Medical Sciences, The UWI, St. Augustine. 
Chief Supervisor: Dr Milena Mechkarska (Senior Lecturer of Biochemistry, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology).
Advisory Committee: Dr Valerie Bowrin (Retired Lecturer of Biochemistry, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology). 
 

Additional Academic Courses /Training/ Certifications  

2018 - present Distance Learning Courses in Intellectual Property, The World Intellectual Property Organization, Switzerland. Courses taken: 
  • General Course on Intellectual Property
  • Copyright and Related Rights 
  • Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications
  • Intellectual Property, Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions 
  • Basics on Patent Drafting and Using Patent Information 
  • Promoting Access to Medical Technologies and Innovation
  • Scholarship Opportunity- Advanced International Certificate Course (AICC). Step 1- IP Panorama; Step 2- Intellectual Property Management
2019 Entrepreneurship 101 Training, The Entrepreneurship Unit, Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine.
2017 Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) Training, Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance. Qualified as a PCQI. 
2013 Certificate of Proficiency- Level 1A and 1B Italian, Centre for Language Learning (CLL), Faculty of Humanities, The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine. 
2012 Basic and Advanced Level Photography, Trinidad and Tobago School of Photography. 
1998 - 2004 Piano Grades 1-5, Trinity College of London. 

 

Work Experience

2022- Present Engineering Technician I (Food Microbiology), Food Science and Technology Unit, Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of The West Indies, St Augustine

2017 – 2021 Research Assistant/ Laboratory Demonstrator/Tutor/Assistant and Chief Invigilator, The University of The West Indies, St Augustine. 
  • 2019 - Research Assistant, The UWI Research and Development Innovation Grant- awarded to Prof. Trevor Alleyne. “Unlocking the anticancer potential of selected Caribbean plants”, Department of Pre-Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences. 
  • 2017 - 2020 Part-time Demonstrator, Food Science and Technology Unit, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering. Courses demonstrated: FOST 6004 and FOST 6005. 
  • 2019 Chief Invigilator for UWI Final Examinations at The Student Life and Development Department. 
  • 2017 - 2019 Assistant Invigilator for UWI Main Final Examinations and for The Student Life and Development Department. 
  • 2018 Marker of Biochemistry Laboratory Scripts, Department of Pre-Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences. Courses: MDSC 1001 and MDSC 1101.
  • 2018 Peer Tutor for BIOL 1362 at The Student Life and Development Department.
  • 2017 Full-time Demonstrator at Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology. Courses demonstrated: BIOL 1263, BIOL 2165, BIOL 2360, BIOC 2069.
 
2017 Quality Assurance Clerical Assistant, Quality Assurance/Quality Control Department, National Canners Ltd., Arima. 
 
2016 - 2017 Research Assistant, Food Science and Technology Unit, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of the West Indies, St, Augustine. 
 
  • Involvement in The FAO/The UWI collaboration project: “Integrated Development of Value -Added Cassava Products in the Caribbean”.
  • Microbiological Testing of Food Products for Private Sector Food Companies.
  • Assistant Invigilator for UWI Main Final Examinations.
 
2013 - 2016 Quality Assurance Technician (Senior Staff Position) / Sanitation Supervisor/ Laboratory Intern, Quality Assurance/ Quality Control Department, National Canners Ltd., Arima. 
 
2010 - 2012 Laboratory Demonstrator/Tutor/Invigilator, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science & Agriculture, The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine.   
  • Courses demonstrated: BIOL 1061, BIOL 1261, BIOL 2162, BIOL 2361, BIOL 2362, BIOL 2364, BIOL 3361 and BIOL 3364. 
  • Courses tutored: BIOL 1061 and BIOL 1261.
  • Assistant Invigilator for UWI Main Final Examinations. 
 
2008 Laboratory Trainee, Dry/Wet Chemistry Laboratories, Quality Control Department, Arcelor Mittal Point Lisas Co. Ltd. 
 

Awards/ Grants/ Bursaries

2021 Poster Prize Winner in the category “Health & Well-Being” for 2nd Commonwealth Chemistry Posters- Building Networks to Address the Goals 2021.
2018 - 2021 UWI Postgraduate Scholarship.
2018 Campus Research and Publication Fund Grant awarded for PhD research. 
2013 Highest Mark for “Literature Survey” of M.Sc. Food Science and Technology. 
2012 Highest Mark for “Food Chemistry” of M.Sc. Food Science and Technology. 
2008 Best Biochemistry Student Award for Year Two (2) of B.Sc. Biochemistry. 
2008 UWI Development and Endowment Fund Bursary for good academic record- Year Two (2) of B.Sc. Biochemistry.
2007 UWI Development and Endowment Fund Bursary for good academic record- Year One (1) of B.Sc. Biochemistry.
 

Conferences/ Research Symposiums/ Seminars

Dec 16th, 2021 PhD Graduate Seminar Two (II) as a requirement for PhD Biochemistry. Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine.

Nov 2nd– Nov 5th, 2021 Attendance at Live Seminars of The 12th Annual WIPO-KIPO-KIPA-KAIST Advanced International Certificate Course (AICC) on IP Asset Management for Business Success.

Sep 30th - Oct 1st, 2021 Virtual Poster Presentation. “Phytochemical screening and in-vitro assessment of the cytotoxic potential of extracts from a commercially prepared fruit skin using PC-3 prostate cancer cells.” Sian Ramdass, Diane Ignacio, Milena Mechkarska, Sonia Peter, Trevor Alleyne. 2nd Commonwealth Chemistry Congress. 
 
June 1st – 2nd, 2019 Attendance at T&T Chapter of The Caribbean Academy of Sciences: Prostate Cancer Seminars, Scarborough Library and Louis D’or Multipurpose Facility, Tobago. Funded by The Tobago House of Assembly. 
May 22nd - 24th, 2019 Attendance at Biennial Regional Conference and Expo on Chemical Science, Technology and Industry, Department of Chemistry, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine.
 
May 20th-24th, 2019 Attendance at Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) Research Week, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine.
 
Mar 21st, 2019 Attendance at Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS) Research Day, The Hyatt, Trinidad. 
 
Dec 11th, 2018 Attendance at T&T Chapter of The Caribbean Academy of Sciences Seminar. Men take care of your prostate. Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine. 
 
Nov 24th, 2017 PhD Proposal Graduate Seminar One (I) as a requirement for PhD Biochemistry. Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine.
 
Oct 6th, 2016 Presenter at Regional Workshop - an output of The Food and Agriculture Organization of The United Nations (FAO) and The University of The West Indies, St Augustine Collaborative Project “Integrated Development of Value-Added Cassava Products in The Caribbean”, The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine. 
 
Jul 5th, 2016 Discussion panellist at National Workshop - an output of The FAO/ The UWI, St. Augustine Collaborative Project “Integrated Development of Value-Added Cassava Products in The Caribbean”, Ministry of Agriculture Conference Room, Christ Church, Barbados. 
 
Jun 2016 Speaker at CARDI Grenada Conference - an output of The FAO/ The UWI, St. Augustine Collaborative Project “Integrated Development of Value-Added Cassava Products in The Caribbean, Grand Etang, Grenada. 
 
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