Professor Isabelle Plante and Professor Bangyan Stiles recognized for their revolutionary work in cell and gene therapy research

SANTA CLARA, Calif., November 06, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced that Professor Isabelle Plante at Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), and Professor Bangyan Stiles at the University of Southern California (USC) are recipients of an Agilent Solutions Innovation Research Award (SIRA). The honorees will receive separate awards on behalf of their institutions in recognition of their research in cell and gene therapy.

Developing new cell and gene therapies is increasingly vital amid the heightened focus on personalized treatments in the healthcare industry. In recognition of this growing need, Agilent will grant two SIRA awards to support and encourage research to drive critical breakthroughs in cell and gene therapy.

"We are thrilled to recognize the groundbreaking research of Professor Isabelle Plante and Professor Bangyan Stiles with an Agilent Solutions Innovation Research Award," said Nahid Chalyavi, associate vice president of University Relations and External Research at Agilent. "Their work in cell and gene therapy is paving the way for significant advancements in personalized medicine. At Agilent, we are committed to supporting innovative research that addresses critical scientific challenges and drives the future of healthcare."

Professor Plante is a Professor at INRS and the Director and Co-founder of the Intersectoral Centre for Endocrine Disruptor Analysis (ICEDA) research network. Her work aims to understand the biology of the breast and the mechanisms that lead to breast cancer, particularly after exposure to environmental pollutants. To achieve this, Professor Plante has developed a platform of models for fundamental and toxicological research, and for evaluating the effects of therapeutic agents on the breast. The study involves using proteomic, transcriptomic, and functional analysis to assess the impacts of pollutants or therapeutic molecules combined with imaging. Professor Plante will receive a one-year loan of Agilent NovoCyte Penteon, BioTek Cytation 5, and xCelligence instruments as part of the award.

"On average, 15 women lose their lives to breast cancer each day. While the exact causes of breast cancer remain largely unknown, a growing body of epidemiological and laboratory evidence suggests that exposure to environmental pollutants increases the risk. Given the vast number of potentially carcinogenic molecules present in our environment, there is an urgent need to develop biologically relevant models for rapid risk assessment and to explore new therapeutic avenues," stated Professor Plante. "We extend our heartfelt thanks to Agilent for this invaluable opportunity to co-develop new models and methodologies that will help prevent and treat breast cancer, potentially saving many lives."