# First person – Chad VanSant-Webb and Jessye Castro

## TL;DR

This paper explores how microRNA-21 contributes to liver cancer by disrupting lipid metabolism.

## Contribution

The study identifies microRNA-21 as a key driver of dysregulated lipid metabolism and hepatocellular carcinoma.

## Key findings

- MicroRNA-21 promotes dysregulated lipid metabolism in liver cells.
- This dysregulation contributes to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.
- The findings suggest microRNA-21 could be a target for liver cancer therapies.

## Abstract

First Person is a series of interviews with the first authors of a selection of papers published in Disease Models & Mechanisms, helping researchers promote themselves alongside their papers. Chad VanSant-Webb and Jessye Castro are co-first authors on ‘
MicroRNA-21 promotes dysregulated lipid metabolism and hepatocellular carcinoma’, published in DMM. Chad is a Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) student in the lab of Dr Kimberley Evason at University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA, investigating inflammation. Jessye is a PhD student in the same lab, investigating cancer biomarkers that allow for early-stage diagnosis of cancer.