Current Members
Maryam EchaibiResearch Technician
• Responsible for managing and maintaining transgenic mouse lines
• Managing the Ottawa Ovarian Cancer Tissue Bank, which involves collecting and processing ovarian tumours and maintaining corresponding records
• Helping to determine the role of SLPI in ovarian cancer
• Fun fact: Likes to contribute to the community by volunteering with non-profit organizations as well as enjoying nature in all seasons.
Sarah Nersesian
Postdoctoral associate
• Exploring the interactions between epithelial ovarian cancer cell subsets, antigen presentation and the immune system
• Identifying novel immunotherapeutic targets with single cell and spatial transcriptomics and testing them with multi-cellular models
Sara Asif
PhD candidate
• Role of group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) in the inflammatory response during mammalian ovulation
• The contribution of androgen-responsive ILC2s in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
Yalun Zhu
PhD candidate
• Determining the role of the Hippo signalling pathway in ovarian cancer
• Computational analysis of high-throughput sequencing data
• Fun fact: Allergic to UV and luckily a scientist who is protected from UV most of the time.
Alyssa Murray
MD-PhD candidate
• Investigating the effects of BRCA1/2 mutations in human ovarian fibrosis as a risk factor for ovarian cancer
• Determining whether metformin can be used as a preventative treatment for ovarian fibrosis in women at high risk for ovarian cancer
• Fun fact: I was a former competitive figure skater and I can’t wait to enjoy the Rideau Canal in the wintertime!
Dalia IbrahimMD-PhD candidate
• Investigating the therapeutic efficacy of combination checkpoint inhibitors in ovarian cancer
• Elucidating the underlying mechanisms driving the response to combination checkpoint inhibitor therapy
• Fun fact: I’ve visited the pyramids!
Olivia Piccolo
PhD candidate
• Investigating the relationship between BRCA1 mutations and the accelerated onset of ovarian cancer
• Determining whether BRCA1 mutations are implicated in age-associated ovarian fibrosis
• Fun fact: Cows are my favourite animal.
Erin Fletcher
PhD candidate
• Studying how MHC Class I downregulation plays a role in ovarian cancer
• Determining if lost MHC Class I gene expression can be recovered using vaccinia virus expressing NLRC5
Helene Orfali
MSc candidate
• Investigating the impact of SLPI (Secretory Leukocyte Protease Inhibitor) on resistance to standard ovarian cancer chemotherapeutic drugs
• Elucidating the pathway that regulates SLPI expression in cancer cells
• Fun Fact: In my free time, I enjoy doing gymnastics and rock climbing!
Youssef Nasr
MD-PhD candidate
• Developing and testing strategies to measure ovarian fibrosis in vivo
• Fun fact: I love cats and have fostered over 25 cats so far.
Kailyn MacKinnon
Honors student
• Exploring metformin receptors in mouse ovaries and fibroblasts
• Investigating the therapeutic potential of metformin in age-associated ovarian fibrosis.
• Fun fact: I love hockey and snowboarding!
Jasnoor Gill
Honour’s student
Investigating the role of the tumor suppressors LATS1 and 2, key components of the Hippo signaling pathway, in mediating chemoresistance to platinum and taxane drugs in ovarian cancer cells.
