Dr. Krishana Sankar is a Scientist and Science Communicator. In addition to being a diabetes researcher, she dedicates her time to raising awareness about the condition. Having immigrated from Guyana to Canada as a teenager, Dr. Sankar has been resilient throughout her career. She is great at identifying needs and finding ways to fill them.
As a graduate student, Dr. Sankar created Gradwriteslack to combat loneliness during thesis writing, which has developed into a large international community of graduate students who provide support for one another. She also co-founded the University of Toronto Diabetes Canada Chapter and the Women of Colour in STEAMM Canada (WoCScan). Dr. Sankar also advocates for mental health support in higher education, and prioritizes living a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Branching from her diabetes research, Dr. Sankar started the “150 Minutes Challenge” to encourage people to exercise regularly. Exercise is integral to the prevention and treatment of diabetes, particularly type 2. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck and gyms closed, many people struggled to keep up regular fitness routines. In response, Dr. Sankar started offering free virtual zumba classes. She also shared her love of hiking on social media.
As a science communicator, Dr. Sankar uses social media to relay important messages to the public. She has been educating the public on diabetes research, dispelling myths surrounding diabetes, and raises awareness about the condition. Recently, she has become a leader at COVID-19 Resources Canada, where she combats misinformation surrounding the pandemic, and works to provide the public with the information and resources they need to stay safe.
Dr. Sankar obtained her PhD from the University of Toronto, where she focused on diabetes research, specifically islet transplantation. Islet cells are found in the pancreas, and are important for producing insulin. The body needs insulin to process glucose, which makes islet cells important in the prevention of type 1 diabetes. Dr. Sankar’s research combined biology and engineering techniques to ensure the blood vessels of donated islets last long enough to connect to patients - vital for a successful transplant. Islet cell transplants can be a great alternative to the regular insulin injections typically used to treat the condition, as it can be difficult for patients to accurately judge the frequency and quantity of insulin they need accounting for various factors including diet and exercise. Transplants remove the need for regular insulin shots, allowing the body to produce its own insulin.
Throughout her career, Dr. Sankar has shown herself to be a remarkable person. She consistently advocates for equity, diversity, and inclusion in research. She works hard to make science more accessible for all. Whether it’s helping fellow graduate students combat loneliness or educating the public about COVID-19 safety measures, when Dr. Sankar sees an opportunity to help others, she takes it.
You can follow Krishana online at her website, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
— Written by Aaliyah Mulla