Kirk Haan graduated from high school, thinking he’d study pharmacy at the University of Saskatchewan, and walk out five years later.

After one summer at a pharmacy, Haan realized he was after a more ‘hands-on’ career in medicine.

“I’ve kind of worked with my hands my whole life, just between rummaging around on a farm and always kind of building things,” he said. “Now it’s using them to help people in a direct way.”

Then, Haan found his passion — inside the laboratory.

In 2018, Haan landed a summer position in Dr. Thomas Fisher’s lab, studying osmoregulation — the mechanisms that govern our bodies’ salt and fluid intake and output.

He never looked back.

By the time he entered medical school, Haan had completed two summer research projects, his honours degree, and his master’s thesis in osmoregulation, all under Dr. Fisher’s supervision.

“He was a really good role model,” Haan said, noting he returned to Fisher’s lab for up to 30 hours a week during his first and second year of medical school.

Haan is set to resume his work at medical school next summer, after he’s completed his PhD.

Until then, he and Fisher are unravelling mechanisms involved with Synaptotagmin-11, and later Endophilin-A1, proteins associated with keeping the body’s fluid-salt balance in check.

Changes in those complexes are often seen in patients with neurodegenerative conditions, such as Parkinson’s, ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and Alzheimer’s disease.

Dehydration and fluid imbalances also become more common as patients age.

Haan calls this “low-hanging fruit” when patients arrive at Emergency Departments, worried about pharmaceutical interactions.

“The more drugs you take, the more likely you are to have a drug interaction that causes a perturbation in this system,” said Haan.

He believes Synaptotagmin-11 and Endophilin-A1 may play “a massive role” in the long-term regulation of our body fluids.

Haan also credits his wife — who just entered medical school with her own PhD — and an “incredible community” of friends in Saskatoon for their support during his decades-long journey through two academic worlds.

Although they will likely have to leave Saskatchewan to pursue his residency as an ear, nose and throat surgeon, Haan said the plan is to return.

“With some of the things that I've learned and my passion for blending this basic science with clinical medicine, maybe somewhere down the line we find something that's really cool that can really help people,” he said.