Congratulations to PROMISE trainee Deanne Nixie Miao on receiving the 2025 Vanier Scholarship! Deanne Nixie Miao is a PhD student in the department of biochemistry and medical genetics in the Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.

Understanding the genetics of hearing loss caused by cisplatin

Miao’s research focuses on cisplatin, a widely used cancer drug that can cause hearing loss in up to 80 per cent of patients. It especially affects children, who are at a three-fold higher risk of developing cisplatin-induced hearing loss compared to adults. Despite its prevalence, there is a knowledge gap regarding how genes, pathways and specific ear cells are affected by cisplatin. Miao will use cutting-edge single-cell technologies to identify specific genes, pathways and ear cells to help predict and prevent hearing loss.

“Receiving the Vanier Scholarship reinforces that my work and my voice belong in research,” says Miao. “As a Filipino-Canadian PhD student, I don’t often see people in my field who look like me. This honour gives me the confidence to grow as an independent researcher and inspires me to contribute to solutions that can improve the lives of people affected by drug toxicities.”

Her work is supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.