Cell scientist to watch – Barbara Tanos

Barbara Tanos

What inspired you to become a scientist?

Nature inspired me to become a scientist, particularly by observing its constant changes. From a young age, I conducted experiments at home, mixing substances and incubating them, timing each trial. I am very grateful to my parents for tolerating my messy explorations. Also, I could spend hours observing and classifying plant leaves, collecting specimens wherever we travelled. When I was 10 years old, my father gave me a microscope, and I spent countless hours looking at tiny organisms I found in village ponds. That was the first time I saw Paramecium and I was fascinated by its cilia, although I didn't know what they were at the time. The microscope opened a new world, and even when I didn't fully understand what I was seeing, my desire to learn about these organisms persisted.

How did you choose what to do and where to go for your PhD?

I didn't speak much English before I started my PhD, but I wasn't afraid to read it. My university in Buenos Aires subscribed to the journal Cell, and I often visited to read articles that left a lasting impression on me, particularly studies on trafficking. I met an American professor, Ann Stapleton, who encouraged my interest in research and explained that I would need a PhD to work in science. Staying in Argentina wasn't feasible due to a lack of family financial support and insufficient PhD salaries. Seeking a challenge, I decided to move to an English-speaking country like the US or the UK, and I began learning English and took the Graduate Record examination (GRE) and the Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL). At the time, my only research experience was in plant biology, focusing on protein studies in wheat and plant–pathogen interactions, such as leaf rust, in a plant physiology lab. I decided to apply to PhD programmes that balanced plant and mammalian cell research to gain a broader exposure to science. I was accepted into six programmes in the US, but when I visited Duke University, I felt at home. The Cell and Molecular Biology Umbrella Program provided an opportunity to explore a wide range of fields, from plant biology to cancer research, structural biology and bacteriology. I rotated in three different labs in my first year. Program director Dave McClay and the late Jo Rae Wright welcomed me warmly. Conversations with professors and students were deeply engaging, and I quickly formed close friendships. My PhD advisor, Ann Marie Pendergast, was incredible. She elevated discussions in seminars. I studied ABL tyrosine kinases and EGF receptor trafficking, and I learned a great deal about signalling, protein purification and kinase assays. Without family nearby, I felt fortunate for Ann Marie's support; she invited me to her home for Christmas and introduced me to the theatre, taking me to see ‘Rent’ with her mother and daughter. Coming from a challenging environment in Argentina, where I often struggled to make ends meet during university, the support and opportunities at Duke were transformative.

For your post-doctoral studies, you worked in the labs of Enrique Rodriguez-Boulan (Weill Cornell Medical College, NY) and Meng-Fu Bryan Tsou (Sloan Kettering Institute, NY). Could you tell us more about your research there?

During my PhD, I focused on trafficking and signalling, and I aimed to understand how cellular components moved and responded to stimuli. Polarized epithelia, with their asymmetric signalling and trafficking, provided a fascinating example. This interest led me to join the laboratory of Enrique Rodriguez-Boulan's at Weill Cornell Medical School (New York, USA), where we uncovered a novel role for the scaffold protein IQGAP1 in maintaining barrier function during the establishment of epithelial polarity. Our work was featured on the cover of Journal of Cell Science. Around this time, I became increasingly interested in signalling from centrioles and cilia, which are membrane-bound protrusions that act as cellular antennas, and I hypothesized that they could function as signalling hubs. The late Kathryn Anderson and Bryan Tsou, both leaders in this field at the nearby Sloan Kettering Institute, provided valuable insights through shared seminars and events like the Harvey Lectures. These interactions, especially with Bryan, enabled me to delve into cilia biology, then a relatively unexplored area but now a growing focus in research. In Bryan's lab, I identified a novel group of distal appendage proteins (DAPs) at centrioles essential for cilia formation, uncovering the mechanisms and cell cycle regulation of centriole docking to the plasma membrane. Beyond the lab, being part of the research community fostered meaningful connections. The tri-institutional setup among Rockefeller, Memorial Sloan Kettering and Weill Cornell encouraged collaborations, and I often met colleagues through seminars, happy hours and other gatherings. It was in this setting that I met my husband, along with many other talented and inspiring researchers.

Undertaking mobility is part of the career of many scientists. You have worked in Argentina, Spain, USA and the UK. Tell us more about your experience as a global nomad?

My family's resilience had a profound impact on me. My Hungarian grandmother, a force of nature, taught us that no hardship was insurmountable – surviving war made educational pursuits seem easy by comparison. My Argentine–Italian grandmother, a nurse who did some research, albeit without credit, understood my PhD thesis. Their strength inspired me to see challenges not as obstacles, but as opportunities to persevere. My father, a Hungarian WWII refugee, resettled in South America. During the Argentine dictatorship, we moved to Catalonia in Spain, where I grew up speaking Spanish, Catalan, and on occasion French, while also being exposed to Hungarian and other languages. Visits with family to France and gatherings where Hungarian was spoken deepened my appreciation for both the beauty and challenges of cultural diversity. Surrounded by family and friends from diverse backgrounds, I learned early on to appreciate people's unique traits, often relying on gestures when language fell short. When I returned with my mum to Argentina, as an undergraduate at the University of Buenos Aires, resilience was essential. Shortly after, my mum moved away from Buenos Aires, and although I lived alone, my fellow students offered invaluable support. Despite limited resources, I thrived in a collaborative environment. Reflecting on those years, I feel that the cultural diversity and challenges of my upbringing not only taught me to expect the unexpected but also to seek and appreciate the unique strengths in everyone I meet. Although the term ‘global nomad’ wasn't used then, it describes how I feel – foreign wherever I go – even when I returned to Argentina for university. Navigating different cultures taught me resilience and adaptability, skills essential to my scientific career.

How did you then decide what direction you wanted to go in, and where to go, when making the transition to setting up your own research group?

I found centrioles and cilia fascinating. Although the hedgehog pathway had been identified some time ago, ciliary signalling was still a relatively new field. I wanted to investigate the role of centrioles and cilia in diseases, especially in cancer and kidney disease. My background in trafficking, signalling and cell biology, provided a strong foundation for building my research group. Initially, my partner and I faced a two-body problem, but we ultimately found opportunities in London where we both secured positions. Adjusting to a system with limited start-up support and a heavy teaching load wasn't easy, but I think I've adapted well.

What are the main research questions that your lab addresses?

The focus of my lab is to investigate the molecular mechanisms governing centriole and cilia assembly, signalling, and function. We aim to understand how ciliary signalling pathways maintain cellular homeostasis and how their dysfunction leads to pathological states, particularly kidney disease and cancer. Our primary research questions include understanding how centrioles and cilia are assembled, identifying the specific signalling cues generated by cilia, and determining their effects on cellular function. Recently, we identified novel regulators of cilia biogenesis and are examining their impact on kidney disease and cancer progression.

Looking back at the beginning of your independent career, what challenges did you face when starting your lab? How are the challenges that you're facing now different?

The start of my independent career was marked by significant challenges, including moving across countries, two maternity leaves without family support, and the demanding process of several IVF rounds, which added both biological and financial stress. During this time, my lab was closed for over a year due to the pandemic. After initially establishing a strong footing in the UK, my lab was reduced to just me for nearly three years. Despite these circumstances, I remained committed to my work, although balancing it with young children was challenging. Over the past year, my lab has gradually regained stability. I now mentor a talented group of PhD students, each making significant progress toward their discoveries. My current goal is to secure additional funding to hire postdocs and ensure continuity in my research program – a common challenge for academic scientists. I also prioritise training my students to conduct rigorous, reproducible science despite time and budget constraints.

What advice or guidance do you pass on to your students?

Honesty and integrity are the most important qualities a student can possess. Mistakes are inevitable, and I encourage open communication about them. Scientific rigor is a priority in my lab, as robust science relies on trust in the data, so it's essential for students to feel comfortable acknowledging when things don't go as planned. I advise students to be resilient and not to dwell on mistakes, but to move forward, using past experiences as stepping stones for their future. In today's digital age, I encourage my students to set aside their phones, focus on their work and take the time to read foundational texts and understand the biology behind the protocols they use. There is a growing tendency to view everything as a product to be sold, but science is different, it is not a product, it's a process requiring critical thinking and evidence. I also urge students to simplify their approach, as often the simplest path provides the clearest answers. Recently, a story I read to my children inspired me to offer my students this guiding principle: make your science simple enough to explain to anyone. This clarity not only makes your work more accessible but helps avoid unnecessary complexity.

What is your advice on establishing good collaborations?

Science is a collective effort where each person's contribution is equally important, regardless of their role. In true collaboration, hierarchies fall away when everyone is focused on a common question. Finding collaborators who share this view and whom you can trust is essential, as reliability and mutual respect are the foundation of strong collaborations. My best collaborations have always felt spontaneous, driven by shared enthusiasm and trust. Reading a method is one thing, but learning it directly from a trusted colleague transforms a complex experiment into a true team effort. Reflecting on my upbringing, I appreciate that connecting with people involves recognizing their unique interests and strengths. Sometimes, this connection isn't immediate – some people might seem reserved or avoid eye contact – but with patience, you can discover what truly excites them when they discuss their work. For instance, my interactions with Peter Satir, a pioneering figure in cell biology, brought me invaluable insights about cilia and the ciliary vesicle. Seeing his passion as he explained these structures was inspiring. Another time, I connected with Tobias Zech, a fantastic mechanobiologist, over a casual beer, which led us to start a collaboration on a paper now undergoing final revisions. Every collaborator brings a unique perspective, and understanding these perspectives strengthens our collective scientific journey. Cultivating genuine trust and appreciating each person's contribution makes collaborative science become productive and truly rewarding.

How do you get the most out of the meetings you attend, particularly in the early stages of your career?

Talking to people is crucial in fostering connections and generating new ideas. Don't hesitate to ask questions, even when faced with constructive or blunt criticism. Establishing connections is important, regardless of how others respond to your work. When attending meetings or talks, bring a notebook and pen. I prefer an unlined notebook for the freedom to draw while listening. This practice keeps me engaged and stimulates my thinking; often, my best ideas emerge when I'm away from routine distractions. Although I am listening, I am also paying attention to my own thoughts. Engaging actively in discussions and capturing ideas on paper can lead to valuable insights and inspire creativity.

As a mother of two small children, how do you balance research and parenthood?

Balancing work and family life is very challenging. I rely on lists to stay organized, as there's too much to remember, and on my partner, who always has my back. With both our families far away, local support is limited. Fortunately, having a flexible job helps me manage time effectively. Coordinating our children's schedules can be tricky. They need to be picked up at specific times, or they might attend after-school clubs, which sometimes lead to late meals and fatigue, ultimately affecting their education. We are still figuring out the best approach, but flexibility and mutual support are essential. My partner and I support each other, especially during busy periods like grant deadlines, encouraging each other to work – even on weekends – without rigid schedules. Our love and teamwork, helps us navigate these challenges, and the privilege of spending time with our children makes trading some hours of sleep worthwhile.

What do you think is needed to help more women and underrepresented researchers take up leadership positions in science?

Navigating motherhood while advancing a career is uniquely challenging. Many are unaware of the physical and emotional demands mothers face, especially in pursuing leadership roles. Societal and behavioural cues, often set early, can subtly deter women, complicating their progress. Childcare costs are a major barrier; for families with two children, managing expenses during school breaks can be overwhelming, often forcing parents to take time off work and limiting leadership opportunities. Salary supplements for parents during critical career phases – such as grant writing or interview preparation – could be transformative. Allowing researchers to budget for childcare in grants would also be invaluable. Organizations like EMBO and BSCB already offer childcare awards for conference attendance, providing crucial support. In addition, flexibility is often limited, as interviews and deadlines frequently coincide with school breaks, such as a typical grant deadline period right after Easter. Children are the future of society, and it's essential to address the systemic barriers hindering parents, especially women, from achieving professional goals. Investing in childcare is truly an investment in the future workforce, as today's children will one day contribute to society.

Finally, could you tell us an interesting fact about yourself that people wouldn't know by looking at your CV?

Years ago, I played guitar and sang. I performed with a group of teenagers on Argentine state TV, and we even had a contract for several gigs. However, during our first performance, we sang a song that had been banned during the dictatorship. Although we were in a democracy at the time, the authorities disapproved of our choice and fired us, effectively ending my music career. I write poetry and short stories, although I haven't published them yet. I plan to spend this Christmas organizing my creative work. I have pieces in English, Spanish and Catalan. I also enjoy photography. Creativity has always been a part of my life, perhaps drawing on that ‘50% of the brain’ often associated with artistic expression.

Barbara Tanos was interviewed by Sara Morais da Silva, Reviews Editor for Journal of Cell Science. This piece has been edited and condensed with approval from the interviewee.