The Power of Community for Women in Science and Research
Expert Perspectives · Keira Smith · 2026-04-13
At a recent symposium hosted by Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research in honor of International Women’s Day, Dr. Katelyn Byrne, Assistant Professor of Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology at OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, shared insights spanning pancreatic cancer immunotherapy and the power of community for women in science leadership positions. Afterwards, she sat down with Oncology Data Advisor to share more about her work investigating immune responses to better target pancreatic cancer and perspectives highlighting how culture and mentorship directly influence innovation.
Reprogramming the Tumor Microenvironment
Dr. Byrne’s research centers on overcoming immune suppression in pancreatic cancer. “We are working on trying to get a suppressive immune population to alter their function, and instead of promoting tumor growth, to actually fight the tumor,” she explained. Her team is investigating an immunotherapy capable of shifting immune cell behavior. Notably, “this is the first time we've found that it can convert this suppressive immune population into a tumor-fighting population.” Preclinical findings show promising changes within the tumor microenvironment, with clinical translation underway and an analysis expected soon.
Scientific Progress Through Community and Safety
Beyond the bench, Dr. Byrne emphasized the importance of psychological safety in research environments. “The more that someone feels like they’re part of a community and the more psychologically safe they feel, the more creative they can be.” This environment fosters better experimental design and interpretation. She added that reducing fear of judgment “allows people to be much more creative with their science and to be more thoughtful about how they're designing experiments,” ultimately accelerating discovery.
Women in Science: Shifting Mentorship Landscapes
Dr. Byrne reflected on evolving mentorship dynamics for women researchers across generations. “I have been able to train with many women throughout my career, and I know that many of them did not have women mentors when they were training.” Exposure to diverse mentorship styles revealed structural differences: “I also learned a lot about how differently men and women are treated in the research community.” She now aims to extend opportunities forward, noting, “we can give women researchers choices that weren't always available.”
Building Meaningful Connections Early in Careers
For early-career scientists, Dr. Byrne underscored the value of connection beyond direct collaboration. “People should search for connections, whether or not they're directly related to the science.” Emotional and intellectual engagement strengthens resilience and purpose: “just having this emotional connection with somebody else can really make someone feel like they're part of a community.”
Empowerment Drives Career Trajectories
A key observation from the symposium was how community shapes decision making. “People feel more empowered when they have a strong sense of community,” Dr. Byrne notes. “And the more empowered people feel, the more they have a sense of autonomy in their work.”
Key Takeaways
Immunotherapy strategies that reprogram suppressive immune cells may unlock new approaches in pancreatic cancer.
Psychological safety in labs enhances creativity, rigor, and innovation.
Mentorship diversity has improved but remains critical for expanding opportunities.
Building community—inside and outside of direct research—supports better science and career resilience.
Empowerment through connection enables more intentional and flexible career decisions.
About Dr. Byrne
Katelyn Byrne, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology at the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Knight Cancer Institute. She is also a member of the Brenden-Colson Center for Pancreatic Care at OHSU. Dr. Byrne’s research program utilizes a genetically engineered mouse model of pancreatic cancer to investigate the immunobiology of the tumor microenvironment, with the goal of identifying novel targets to active and enhance immune responses against cancer. Translational findings from these preclinical models have led to several clinical trials studying immune agonists in patients with pancreatic cancer.