Katalin Szaszi has been a scientist at the Keenan Research Center for Biomedical Science, St Michael’s Hospital and University of Toronto since 2005 and became a full professor in 2023. She has been the Keenan Professor for Translational Research at the St Michael's Hospital since 2024. She holds MD and PhD degrees from Semmelweis University, Budapest. After postdoctoral training in cell biology and inflammation in Toronto, she established her own research program focusing on epithelial biology in skin and kidney. Their studies explore molecular mechanisms whereby keratinocytes and tubular epithelial cells respond to inflammation with relevance to tissue repair, wound healing and fibrosis. Her group’s work has uncovered fundamental molecular mechanisms underpinning epithelial structural and functional changes during inflammation, including signalling mechanisms leading to Rho protein activation and cytoskeleton and intercellular junction remodelling. One of the lab’s more recent projects explores the role of Rho proteins and their regulators in keratinocyte inflammatory responses. She has authored more than 85 peer-reviewed, well-cited publications. Dr Szaszi is also passionate about research training and served as the co-director of the Research Training Center of the St Michael’s Hospital between 2017 and 2024.