Alvin completed a BMSc and MSc at Western University. He is currently an MD-PhD Candidate at the University of Ottawa in his final year of medical school.
For his PhD, Alvin is evaluating the therapeutic efficacy and biodistribution of extracellular vesicles derived from mesenchymal stromal cells to treat acute and chronic lung diseases. His project combines clinical research methodology with basic science techniques. With the Blueprint Translational Research Team, he is leading systematic reviews to investigate the protective potential of extracellular vesicles in a variety of preclinical disease models. In the lab, he is developing a novel, more accessible mouse model of COVID-19 to investigate the pathophysiology and new interventions to combat this devastating illness.
Funding
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, Canadian Vascular Network Scholar Award