Eneda Toska at the helm of cancer cure research at Johns Hopkins University

 Eneda Toska  at the laboratory at John Hopkins University

 This is the story of Dr. Eneda Toska, a scientist from Vlora who has been living and working in the USA for almost 20 years as an assistant professor of oncology at Johns Hopkins University, the largest medical school where she is also a researcher and has her own laboratory. Recently, Dr. Eneda was honored with an award for her extraordinary contributions as a young scientific researcher in the fight against cancer.

Dr. Eneda shares with journalist Rudina Xhunga on the "Shqip" program on DritareTv, her journey from Vlora to New York to become a scientist. Although she did not want to leave Vlora, because as a teenager she had built her life in the city of her heart, it seems that the journey towards America opened new doors in the field where she found herself, that of science, for the study of breast cancer biology and genetics.

"I am an assistant professor of oncology at Johns Hopkins University, the medical school where I am a researcher and investigator in my laboratory, where I train a group of scientists studying breast cancer biology and genetics to discover new treatments that can improve and extend the lives of patients with this tumor.

I graduated with a bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry from Nazareth College of Rochester cum laude, and a master's degree magna cum laude from the University at Buffalo in New York, and completed my PhD in cancer genetics and biology at the same university. I continued my postdoctoral training in the latest breast cancer treatments at the world's oldest cancer institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where I trained under my mentor and world-renowned scientist for breast cancer treatments, Jose Baselga.

There, I climbed the ranks to senior scientist, and in 2021, I opened my own laboratory as an independent scientist at Johns Hopkins University. I have received many honors and awards, including the Next Generation Star Award 2021 from the American Association for Cancer Research, the Breast Cancer Alliance Young Investigator Award, and several prestigious grants from the Federal Health Institute in the USA.

Recently, I received an award for my extraordinary contribution to the fight against cancer. It was a great honor that I did not expect. It was a great recognition for young scientists for the work they do at the international level," said Dr. Eneda.