Faculty

Research Interests:

The principle research objective of Dr. Bamji’s laboratory is to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the formation, stability, and elimination of CNS synapses. The Bamji laboratory primarily utilizes cultured hippocampal neurons as a model system, and extend these studies to genetically modified mouse models when appropriate. Fundamental questions addressed in the lab include; 1) how does cell-cell contact result in the assembly of pre- and postsynaptic compartments, 2) what are the contributions of pre- and postsynaptic elements to the integrity of the synapse, 3) what are the trans-synaptic signals that regulate synaptic plasticity, and 4) is synapse elimination a stereotypical process and, if so, what is the sequence of molecular events underlying synapse disassembly? Answers to these questions will not only reveal mechanisms underlying developmental and neurodegenerative disorders, but will also provide insight into the molecular signals involved in synaptic strengthening, a process believed essential for learning and memory.

For more information about Dr. Bamji’s research, please visit Google Scholar.

Research Interests:

Dr. Cheung’s research interests include lab-on-a-chip systems for tissue engineering and high content drug screening, biosensors, inkjet printing for single cell dispensing, and implantable neural interfaces. One of the Cheung laboratory’s ongoing projects is the development of lab-on-a-chip platform that use a microfluidic system with integrated micro-fabricated sensors in order to culture, characterize, image, and screen cells and microscale tissue constructs within a single automated, portable platform. As a new paradigm for cell-based testing, this microscale platform promises to provide a simple, scalable tool to apply standardized protocols for use in cell culture systems that mimic the in vivo environment as closely as possible. Dr. Cheung’s other research projects include the development of nanophotonic biosensors and an organ-on-a-chip model of the small airway.

To learn more about Dr. Cheung’s research, please visit Google Scholar.

Research Interests:

Dr. Cripton’s research interests include injury prevention, spine and hip biomechanics, impact biomechanics, spinal cord injury, and spinal implant biomechanics. In addition to developing a helmet to prevent spinal cord injuries during head first impacts in sports called the Pro-Neck-Tor™ helmet, Dr. Cripton and colleagues perform research focused on preventing hip fractures. Other specific projects focus on preventing spinal injuries in the vulnerable geriatric and pediatric populations, developing improved mechanical surrogates for injury experiments (i.e. crash test dummy necks and physical models of the spinal cord), and using advanced MRI imaging techniques to better understand spinal cord injury.

For more information about Dr. Cripton’s research, please visit Google Scholar.

Research Interests:

Experiments in Dr. Eaves’ laboratory and elsewhere have established the existence in adults (both mouse and man) of primitive hematopoietic and breast stem cells capable of reconstituting these entire tissues. A major part of the work done by the Eaves laboratory continues to focus on the development, validation and use of quantitative assays that are specific for biologically distinct subsets of these stem cells using syngeneic (mouse-mouse) and xenogeneic (human-mouse) hosts, and the application of these technologies to understand the biological events that allow malignant clones to develop and progress.

For more information about Dr. Eaves research, please visit Google Scholar.

Research Interests:

Dr. Haas’ areas of research focus are autism, epilepsy, neuroplasticity and developmental neuroscience. In order to understand the neuron changes associated with these areas the Haas lab directly images neuron growth within the intact and awake embryonic brain. They image both rapid growth dynamics over seconds to minutes, and long term changes over days, to investigate mechanisms underlying normal and abnormal neuronal development.

For more information about Dr. Haas’ research, please visit Google Scholar.

Research Interests:

The primary focus of Dr. Hodgson’s work is on computer-assisted orthopaedic surgery; the main goal is to improve the accuracy of performing surgical tasks (such as placing implants or reducing fractures) while minimizing use of and exposure to radiation and decreasing operative time. We are currently working in three main areas: 1. Using ultrasound to accurately locate bone surfaces in trauma and spinal surgery, 2. smart C-arm technologies to operate more accurately, efficiently and with less radiation exposure, and 3. bone-mounted robots for unicompartmental knee replacement surgeries.

For more information about Dr. Hodgson’s research, please visit Google Scholar.

Research Interests:

Dr. Hoodless’ laboratory uses state of the art genomic technologies to shed new light on classical processes in developmental biology. They are exploring regulatory mechanisms in heart and gastrointestinal tract development in the mouse embryo using genome-wide analysis of gene expression at the tissue and single cell level, transcription factor binding, and histone modifications. Specifically, Dr. Hoodless explores the epigenetic controls of gene expression driving differentiation, with three main areas of focus: 1. liver differentiation, 2. heart valve formation, and 3. organogenesis in the definitive endoderm, including signaling and transcriptional regulation of the midgut.

For more information about Dr. Hoodless’ research, please visit Google Scholar.

Research Interests:

The focus of Dr. Kieffer’s research is the development of novel gene and cell therapies for diabetes.  Research in the laboratory spans molecular to cellular to whole organism, using model cell lines, differentiated stem cells, zebrafish and genetically engineered rodents. They utilize tissue-specific knockdown or reintroduction of genes, cell transplant and surgical manipulations to address the role of hormone actions in a site-specific manner. Members of the Kieffer laboratory access advanced equipment for high-throughput analyses of cellular function and pathways, for animal imaging, and for metabolic phenotyping.  Through strong networks of collaborators including basic scientists and clinicians, they have assembled and led multidisciplinary teams and effectively engaged researchers across Canada and around the world to support their research.  The Kieffer laboratory also actively collaborates with industry, including small biotech and large pharmaceutical companies, as they strive to translate their findings to the clinical setting.

For more information about Dr. Keiffer’s research, please visit Google Scholar.

Gabrielle Lam received her MASc (2011-13) and PhD (2014-18) in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto, Canada. As an instructor jointly appointed by the Department of Materials Engineering and School of Biomedical Engineering, Gabrielle is involved in developing and delivering undergraduate engineering courses, with a focus on enhancing knowledge integration and application. Gabrielle is particularly excited to be developing the first-year Biomedical Engineering Lab curriculum (BMEG 102), to be delivered to its first cohort of students in January 2019.

Research Interests:

Research in Dr. Leving’s laboratory is focused on a subset of CD4+ T cells, termed T regulatory (Treg) cells, which control immune homeostasis. Current work in the Leving laboratory is focused on determining how Treg cells differ from normal CD4+ T cells at both the biochemical and molecular levels, and elucidating their role in transplantation tolerance and autoimmunity. Their long-term goal is to develop methods to generate Treg cells in vitro for use as a cellular therapy to replace standard immunosuppression in the context of organ transplantation or to restore tolerance in the context of autoimmunity.

To learn more about Dr. Levings’ research, please visit Google Scholar.

Research Interests:

Dr. Lynn’s research interest is in understanding the mechanisms that regulate the formation of islet β-cells (insulin producing cells) from pancreatic stem or progenitor cells during solid organ formation in order to ameliorate and eventually cure diabetes. The Lynn laboratory focuses on the gene regulatory networks at play in the progenitor cells and how these networks change during differentiation to mature endocrine cells and in the long-term maintenance of the β-cell. A greater understanding of these genetic mechanisms and pathways will refine cell-based approaches for preventing and reversing the β-cell deterioration and loss that occurs with diabetes.

For more information on Dr. Lynn’s research, please visit Google Scholar.

Research Interests:

The overarching goal of Dr. Ma’s research is the development of new technologies for medical research and treatment. The laboratory works to advance fabrication, measurement, and computation across a wide range of domains and length scales. The laboratory’s core capabilities include microfabrication, microfluidics, instrumentation, product development, as well as data analytics and visualization. Current research areas include the development of new technologies for cell sorting, cell deformability, chemotaxis, single cell sequencing, and image cytometry; as well as the application of these technologies to evaluate blood quality, test immune cell function, personalize cancer therapies, and expedite antimalarial drug development.

For more information about Dr. Ma’s research, please visit Google Scholar.

Research Interests:

Dr. McNagny’s research areas include signaling networks, innate immune response, kidney function and cell based therapy. Specifically, Dr. McNagny’s laboratory is interested in two aspects of hematopoietic stem cell biology: 1) the networks that regulate the commitment of multipotent progenitors to a specific lineage, and 2) the surface receptors expressed by hematopoietic precursor cells that regulate their interactions with their microenvironment and by mature cells that regulate their trafficking in disease.

For more information about Dr. McNagny’s research, please visit Google Scholar.

Research Interests:

Work in the Nabi lab focuses on the cell biology of cancer. Research projects include: 1) the localization of the caveolae coat protein caveolin-1 to non-caveolar scaffold domains and their role in cancer cell migration and focal adhesion tension; and 2) the role of the cancer-associated ubiquitin ligase Gp78 in the regulation of endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria contacts and mitophagy. We are actively involved in applying and developing super-resolution microscopy to both projects.

To learn more about Dr. Nabi’s research, please visit Google Scholar.

Research Interests:

Dr. Roskelley laboratory is focused on understanding the genes and their products involved in regulating tissue architecture in breast and ovarian carcinoma progression. They have developed specialized, 3-dimensional models that allow for the recapitulation of normal epithelial tissue architecture outside the body in a tissue culture dish. They are now modulating the expression and function of cell adhesion molecules in these cultures to determine how architectural disruption allows epithelial cells to break away from the original tumor and begin invading surrounding tissues. The Roskelley group is also determining the specific molecules that are involved in regulating this migratory switch in breast and ovarian tumor cells.

For more information about Dr. Roskelley’s research, please visit Google Scholar.

Research Interests:

Adult tissue specific stem cells play a critical role in replacing lost tissue, they do not act in isolation and multiple other cell types modulate their function. This ensures that the rebuilding of functional, stromal, vascular and other tissue components is coordinated and follows a temporal and spatial organization compatible with function. Our goal is to identify and characterize these “accessory” cells types as a starting point to understand how they regulate tissue specific stem cells as well as each other, and how such regulation goes awry in pathological situations. In particular, we have focused our attention on the role of innate immune cells and stromal progenitors. In this context our lab works on three research directions, cellular systems in muscle regeneration, microglia/macrophages in CNS pathology and epigenetic control of lineage choice/differentiation.

For more information about Dr. Rossi’s research, please visit Google Scholar.

Research Interests:

Dr. Tam’s research interests are centered on the application of computer vision and machine learning methods to the quantitative analysis of medical images. The Tam laboratory’s current primary research direction is the use of magnetic resonance images to improve the understanding of neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis. In general, the projects in the Tam laboratory relate to the following topics in medical imaging: in vivo imaging, imaging biomarkers, machine learning (big data analytics for medical images and personalized medicine), imaging artifacts and their impact on quantitative analysis, computational shape modelling & morphometrics, and medical informatics & distributed medical imaging systems.

Research Interests:

Dr. Underhill’s research interests involve understanding how changes at the molecular level influence cell fate decisions and the subsequent series of events that are involved in establishment of a skeleton. The initial focus of his research was on understanding the importance of retinoic acid receptor-mediated signaling in bone formation (chondrogenesis). This scope has now broadened to include analysis of numerous factors in skeletal development. These studies involve extensive use of microarray-based strategies coupled with functioning profiling to delineate the genetic programs underlying chondrogenesis. Similar strategies are also being employed to identify the transcriptional networks operating within the osteogenic program. Knowledge gained from these studies will determine the molecular basis of human congenital skeletal defects and potentially lead to novel therapeutic avenues to promote bone and cartilage formation for the treatment of skeletal diseases such as arthritis and osteoporosis.

For more information about Dr. Underhill’s research, please visit Google Scholar.

Research Interests:

Dr. Wang’s research interests are in the broad areas of statistical signal processing theory and applications, with focus on detection theory and applications to information security, biomedical signal processing and modeling, wireless communications and genomic signal processing and statistics. Example of biomedical signal processing, imaging and remodeling include: computed simultaneous imaging of multiple biomarkers, EEG/EMG network analysis to monitor recovery, inferring the interactions between brain regions using fMRI and potential non-invasive treatment in Parkinson’s disease with virtual environments. Genome signal processing & statistics projects include model-based genomic/proteomic signal processing for cancer classification & prediction, modeling of genetic regulatory networks by incorporating genomic data sources and identification of cell-cycle related genes.

For more information about Dr. Wang’s research interests, please visit Google Scholar.

Research Interests:

Dr. Wang’s research interests encompass 3 main areas within materials engineering: biomaterials, biomechanics and biomimetics. His biomaterials research is focused on the surface and interfacial issues common to most biomaterials systems, with the aim of developing novel surface designs and processing techniques for metal implants. Research on wear mechanisms and wear mechanics of biomaterials are also underway. Research activities in biomechanics are built around the deformation and fracture mechanisms of bone family materials (i.e. bone and teeth) and their nanocomposite nature. The goal is to generate a clear picture of how the structures, starting from nanometer scale, in such a natural biological material as bone are adapted to their complicated and dynamic mechanical functions. Biomimetics (also called bio-inspired materials design and processing) studies include the structure and formation processes of biologically formed materials focusing on the morphology, ultrastructure and mechanics of biological interfaces, based on which novel surface and interface design can be developed.

For more information about Dr. Wang’s research, please visit Google Scholar.

Research Interests:

Dr. Yadav’s research group – the BioFoundry – utilizes metabolic & enzyme engineering to investigate and customize novel biosynthetic enzymes that can convert biomass-derived feedstocks into better fuels, pharmaceuticals and value-added chemicals. They also extend these principles to the design and development of unique bioremediation strategies to rehabilitate the water quality in and around industrial zones. In addition to green engineering, the BioFoundry also pursues medical biotechnology research, and they are working extensively on infectious disease drug discovery, drug delivery and tissue engineering. Dr. Yadav’s group actively collaborates with local start-ups, industry, academic groups and medical research laboratories, and our work is fostering innovation in a strategic domain for Canada.

For more information about Dr. Yadav’s research, please visit Google Scholar.

Research Interests: