Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde? The Two Faces of Heparanase in the Diabetic Heart

Abstract

Gala Araujo was a semi-finalist in the 2026 UBC Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition. Gala presented the research titled “Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde? The Two Faces of Heparanase in the Diabetic Heart.” Diabetes affects more than six million Canadians and significantly increases the risk of heart failure. The heart relies on constant communication between different cell types to maintain normal function, particularly between endothelial cells that line blood vessels and cardiomyocytes responsible for beating. Using a rat model of diabetes, Gala’s work shows that diabetes tips this balance toward the detrimental HpaA. This change was associated with increased markers of cell death and reduced cardiac function, highlighting a potential pathway that could be targeted to protect the diabetic heart from failure. Gala Araujo is completing a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences under the supervision of Dr. Brian Rodrigues. #3MT is an academic competition that assists current graduate students with fostering effective presentation and communication skills. Participants have just three minutes to explain the breadth and significance of their research project to a non-specialist audience. For more information or to participate in UBC’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) visit https://3mt.grad.ubc.ca.