The academic smiled, pleased.
"Excellent. Then perhaps you can explain which portion of the methodology was independently developed—and which relied on shared data?"
Ashley's pulse thundered.
Catherine squeezed her arm... gently. Encouragingly.
"Take your time," Catherine said sweetly. "We're all here to learn. Do you know? Dr. Renfield is preparing a new paper on this topic. She's incredibly well-versed."
The circle around them tightened. Not hostile. Merely attentive.
"Dr. Ashley," the academic continued, "your paper proposes stabilizing synaptic signaling by targeting the early-stage amyloid cascade. Let's talk mechanism."
Ashley nodded smoothly. "Of course."
He adjusted his glasses. "You reference modulation of BACE1 activity in the preclinical phase. Can you explain which downstream interaction you're isolating—and why?"
Ashley didn't hesitate.
"BACE1 suppression reduces amyloid-beta accumulation, which improves synaptic response overall."
A few brows lifted.
