I have chosen to be a doctor and to devote my life to research applied to oncology in order to improve the life of cancer patients. This choice has inspired me and has given to me the force to overcome all the difficulties I had to face in my professional and personal life...
My statement:
If you want to achieve your dreams, you have to eliminate the word "impossible" from your brain.
I reached where I am today, thanks to a mental attitude of positive thinking, never quitting my goals, and constantly aiming at achieving results. I had to face challenges of different type and often simultaneous: technical, financial, misconduct, and unfair competition among others.
Important achievements:
Professorship in the prestigious University Paris Descartes, high-level scientific publications, achievement of unique results in the fight against cancer.
Challenges:
They may be of different types, but the way to face them should be the same. I would like to tell women aiming at reaching their goals: just do not let anyone nor anything stopping you.
How can women contribute as professionals?
Women can bring their own touch: their respect and care for life, for improving, protecting and saving life. This seems obvious but is not what many leaders aim currently. Women have the capability of improving life globally.
We need to inspire, motivate, promote and encourage women to invest energies, accept responsibilities and engage in their task of improving life. They will be successful!
Traditional bio:
Prof. Patrizia Paterlini-Bréchot is Oncologist, Hematologist and Molecular Biologist. She is a Professor of Oncology/Molecular Biology at Paris Descartes University- Necker Hospital, with a triple task of research leader, academic teacher and hospital practitioner.
Author or co-author of more than 120 peer reviewed scientific articles, and inventor or co-inventor of 7 patents, Prof. Paterlini-Brechot published fundamental studies on liver carcinogenesis and calcium signaling. She then developed and patented with her team the method ISET (Isolation by SizE of Tumor/Trophoblastic cells) allowing the sensitive isolation from blood of intact circulating tumor and fetal cells without loss and without the use of antibodies, now recognized as a breakthrough in the fields of predictive oncology and non-invasive prenatal diagnosis.
ISET has been proven to be a unique blood test allowing early detection of tumor invasion as a way to diagnose invasive cancers before imaging. The same ISET approach, followed by single cell molecular analyses, has been proven to provide non-invasive prenatal diagnosis of recessive disorders like cystic fibrosis and spinal muscular atrophy and is potentially valid for all types of genetic disorders. In 2009 she founded the company Rarecells, which has the exclusive license of the ISET patents belonging to the French Public Institutions to bring the ISET tests to the public. Her work has been rewarded by several prestigious Prizes and Awards.
