Mr. Ryan Chan
MSc (Sept 2022)
Supervisor: Brian Kwon
My name is Ryan Chan, and under the supervision of Dr. Brian Kwon, I am investigating the histopathology of spinal cord injury in a porcine model. Joining the UBC BCIT Biotech program in 2017, I received my Diploma in Laboratory Sciences from BCIT in 2019, and later my Bachelor of Science Honours in Biotechnology from UBC 2021. My time in the program was filled with plenty of practical lab experience, both in a number of laboratory courses and in exciting co-op terms at the Finlay Lab in Michael Smith Laboratories, and at the Kwon Lab in ICORD. Having completed my BSc at UBC, I learned firsthand why UBC is one of Canada’s leading universities for research, and could think of no better place to continue my studies with. By being a part of this Masters program, I hope to gain the experience and knowledge required to excel in pathology as a career in medicine, as I have a passion for interpretive medicine and analysis. This extends to puzzles in general; I’m a fan of crosswords, psychological thrillers, and alternate reality games. I also run TTRPGs and create digital art in my spare time!
Ms. Taylor Da Silva
MSc (Sept 2022)
Supervisor: Dana Devine
My research in the Devine lab involves studying protein expression in platelet concentrates throughout storage in order to identify potential biomarkers of platelet transfusion outcomes. In May of 2022, I graduated from the UBC Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science program. I am passionate about healthcare and I hope to pursue a career in medicine. When I’m not studying, I enjoy doing photography and spending time in nature, especially with my dog. I chose to continue my studies at UBC because of its excellence as a research university. In addition, joining this program at UBC has allowed me to pursue blood research in an innovative facility such as the Centre for Blood Research.
Ms. Lauren Deneault
MSc (Sept 2022)
Supervisor: Marianne Sadar
Hi there! My name is Lauren Deneault, and I will be joining Dr. Marianne Sadar’s lab as a first year Master student in the Pathology program. I was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario and did my undergraduate degree at uOttawa in Health Sciences in the French Immersion stream. After taking Pathology 101 in undergrad, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in Pathology, more specifically cancer research. This led me to attend the Michener Institute for Diagnostic Cytology, where I studied diagnosing numerous types of cancers. I am very grateful to be a part of the Sadar lab as they include a brilliant team of researchers and staff, and incorporate communication, hard work, and precision into every experiment. Between the University’s outstanding reputation in research and the diversity of its professors and students, UBC was the perfect choice for my graduate studies. I look forward to working towards my Masters, continuing my cancer research journey, and seeing what beautiful Vancouver has to offer!
Mr. Yuchen Ding
MSc (Sept 2022)
Supervisor: David Huntsman
I’m Yuchen Ding, a MSc student in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. I obtained my BSc in Chemistry at UBC this year, and I decided to stay at UBC. When I was doing my undergraduate study, I did research in synthetic biology, enzymology, and molecular oncology in many different labs, as a volunteer, a direct study student, and a co-op student. Eventually, I determined to study molecular oncology with the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, since “pathology is the staircase to higher quality medicine”, studying pathology can help us to diagnose, stage, and find a better way to cure cancers. Meanwhile, UBC provided us with a respectful, inclusive, and creative environment, and everyone around is super helpful. I really enjoy working and studying at UBC. In the future, I want to make diagnoses of cancers earlier and more accurate, and treatments more effective throughout my research.
Ms. Yaoyue (Yolanda) Feng
PhD (Jul 2022)
Supervisor: Zu-hua Gao/Helene Cote
Hi everyone, my name is Yolanda Feng and I'm a PhD student in Dr. Zu-hua Gao's lab. I studied biological science at Sichuan University in China for my undergraduate degree and cancer biology at Imperial College London in the UK for my master's degree. During my undergraduate and my master's study, I did cancer biology research on several cancer types such as ovarian cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, etc. Currently, I’m working at BC Cancer Research Center on a project related to pancreatic cancer. As for my personal interests, I love classical music and I can play a little bit of piano and guitar. I love sports and I'm going to learn to snowboard this snow season. The reason I chose UBC is that UBC has a great program. The pathology and laboratory medicine program is recognized as a national and international leader in both basic and clinical research. On the other side, Vancouver is one of the most livable cities in the world.
Mr. Mohammad Ghodsi
MSc (Sept 2022)
Supervisor: Cheryl Wellington
I have been living in Vancouver for almost 12 years, and attended UBC for my undergraduate education, where I earned my Bachelor of Science with a Major in Biology and a Minor in Biochemistry. I absolutely loved UBC’s campus and community, and I was fortunate enough to find a job as a Laboratory Technician in Dr. Wellington’s Laboratory in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. Through my job, I became familiarized with the intriguing world of neurological fluid biomarkers, and their immense potential as diagnostic and prognostic tools for studying various neurological disorders. After a year of working in this field, I came to the realization that this was the field I wanted to pursue academically and professionally. The Wellington Laboratory and UBC provide an ideal environment to achieve my goals by way of excellent peer support, cutting-edge technology, and a collaborative environment, and I feel very fortunate to be here right now. My specific project examines the utility of neurological fluid biomarkers as a diagnostic and prognostic tool for the study of traumatic brain injury and dementia in victims of intimate partner violence.
Mr. Cyril Helbling
PhD (Sept 2022)
Supervisor: Mari DeMarco
I recently joined the DeMarco Lab which works on the development of new biofluid tests for proteinopathies suitable for implementation in patient care. The goal of my project is to develop a highly optimized diagnostic method for detecting synucleinopathies—such Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia. My Bachelor's and Master's degrees were earned at the Swiss Institute of Technology in Lausanne, Switzerland. I studied chemistry with a specialization in analytical and biochemistry. For my final master’s project, I decided to leave Switzerland to experience research abroad with a dynamic, international team. With my background in chemistry, I immediately felt that joining the DeMarco Lab was a great fit as the work is dedicated to patient application, adding a new perspective to my knowledge. UBC's reputation and ranking were important factors in my decision to start a PhD. In addition, this program gives me the unique opportunity to directly apply chemistry to a clinical setting which had an important influence on my choice. Finally, I knew Vancouver would be a great fit since it offers a wide range of outdoor activities, including skiing, which is my favourite sport.
Ms. Rebecca Ho
MSc (Sept 2022)
Supervisor: David Huntsman
I am interested in understanding the dual loss of SMARCA4 and SMARCA2, two ATPases of the SWI/SNF complex, in ovarian tumour development, specifically concerning cell metabolism to identify novel drug targets. Throughout my undergraduate career, I looked for opportunities to translate what I had learned in lectures and lab into real-life applications. This led to my work in a cancer research lab, which fostered my interest in academic research and provided me with direction on what to do post-graduation. Not only did I gain valuable technical and soft skills, but I also saw how one research question could be approached from multiple perspectives and go in many different directions. This prospect excited me, especially as the research can help many people, and I knew I had to continue this research through graduate studies. I want to learn more about the progression of different diseases, particularly cancer, and apply this knowledge to clinical or hospital settings in the form of early detection programs or drug discovery. At UBC, I saw the opportunity to collaborate and learn from a diverse community of well-rounded researchers at institutions like the BC Cancer Agency and Vancouver General Hospital to further improve the health of patients.
Ms. Emma (Dayoung) Kang
MSc (Sept 2022)
Supervisor: Dana Devine
My research area is focussed on harnessing platelet biology to create a more efficient transfusable package that may lead to many other clinical applications. I will be working under Dr. Devine and her excellent team at the Life Sciences Institute! I grew up in Edmonton, Alberta and came to Vancouver to complete my BSc in Biology at UBC and am excited to carry on my journey here. When I am not as busy in school, I like to play golf, some tennis, and go hiking. I really enjoy being in nature! And lastly, I chose UBC for my Masters in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine because I can’t imagine living anywhere else, and Vancouver is such a beautiful city.
Mr. Michael Lane
MSc (Sept 2022)
Supervisor: David Granville
My name is Michael, and this fall I am excited to be starting my Master of Science in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at UBC and completing my thesis project in the Granville lab. For my project, I am investigating the presence of the protease Granzyme B in the autoimmune disease known as Steven Johnson Syndrome/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis and how it might contribute to the cleavage of dermal/epidermal junctional proteins. This year, I graduated from UBC and received my Bachelor of Science Honours in Biotechnology. While in my undergrad, I completed my honours thesis on the presence of granzyme B in an alopecia areata mouse model and the cleavage of its various substrates. I have a strong interest in personalized medicine and the pathogenesis of various skin diseases. One of the main reasons I chose to continue my education at UBC is because of the beautiful campus and the abundance of good places to eat!
Mr. Eric (Yi Fei) Liu
MSc (Sept 2022)
Supervisor: Sam Aparicio
My name is Eric, and I am an incoming student in the Aparicio Lab of the Molecular Oncology Department of the BC Cancer Research Institute. My B.Sc. in pharmacology was completed here at the University of British Columbia, during which I developed an interest in translation research and drug development while studying under professors such as Dr. M.J.A. Walker. I hope to leverage our understanding of clonal cancer evolution to identify novel therapeutic targets and treatment strategies, especially for personalized medicine approaches. In the light, I am excited to work with models such as patient-derived xenografts to study how inter-patient heterogeneity contributes to treatment response. It is the world-class faculty and facilities in cancer research that attracted me to pursue graduate studies at UBC. The Molecular Oncology Department is a highly interdisciplinary environment consisting of both traditional biologists and computational biologists; this will expose me to the various facets the field and expand the breadth of my skills. Originally, my family immigrated to Canada from Shengdong, China and now call Ottawa, Ontario home.
Mr. Peyman Malek
PhD (Jan 2022)
Supervisor: Jay Kizhakkedathu
I am a PhD student at Dr. Kizhakkedathu’s group, and my research is going to be focused on bladder-cell surface engineering and immunomodulation. My journey to reach UBC has been a real adventure. I received my bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering at Sharif University of Technology in Iran. Next, I did a joint master’s in Material Science at Technische Universität Darmstadt in Germany and Université catholique de Louvain in Belgium. This wonderful experience allowed me to explore material science and Europe at the same time, preparing me for my last stop, here at UBC. During my academic experience, I always wanted to do research on the frontiers of science, especially health technology, in an innovative environment. That is why when I came across this position at Dr. Kizhakkedathu’s group at UBC, I knew that this could be my chance to experience cutting-edge research with an excellent mentor and outstanding resources in an innovative environment, while also having a close relationship with health technology industry. On a more personal level, I love learning new languages, I love reading books on social and political affairs, and I am always ready to play a match of table tennis.
Mr. John Perrier
MSc (Sept 2022)
Supervisor: Ed Pryzdial
In the Pryzdial Lab, my research will focus on characterizing the interaction between HIV and Tissue Factor, an integral membrane protein. I will investigate the role this host-encoded protein has on facilitating infection. My interest in studying the pathogenesis of viral diseases arose at the University of Guelph where I completed a Bachelor of Science Honours in Bio-Medical Science with a minor in Microbiology. This experience sparked my interest in the molecular mechanisms employed by viruses and understanding how these relate to clinical outcomes. I am very motivated to conduct impactful and significant research in the field of Pathology. My hope is that elucidating Tissue Factor’s role in HIV infection may serve to inform future therapeutics. I chose to pursue graduate studies at UBC in the department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine because it provides me with excellent support, interdisciplinary perspectives, and outstanding facilities found within the Centre for Blood Research. In my free time I can be found jogging on golf courses and doing a couple laps around the track. I also enjoy camping, biking, ice cream, and earl grey tea.
Mr. Tali Romero
MSc (Sept 2022)
Supervisor: Cheryl Wellington/Thalia Field
I will be starting my Masters in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in September 2022 under the supervision of Dr. Thalia Field and Dr. Cheryl Wellington. The project I will be working on looks at the 3-year incidence of stroke and cognitive decline in adults with congenital heart disease. My role in this project is to look at blood-based biomarkers of neurodegeneration and neuronal injury, and examine how the concentration of these biomarkers differs from the healthy population. I completed my undergraduate studies at UBC Okanagan obtaining my BSc in Microbiology. My long-term career goals are to gain entrance into medical school and after having attained my MD to continue working in the field of research as a clinician/researcher. I chose to undertake my graduate studies at UBC because the opportunity to work on this project with Dr. Wellington and Dr. Field is so unique that it would have been impossible to turn down. Along with the outstanding mentorship that I will be receiving during my master’s degree, UBC also offers me the privilege to work with state-of-the-art equipment on a beautiful and innovative campus.
Ms. Josie Setiawan
MSc (Sept 2022)
Supervisor: Marianne Sadar
Hi! My name is Josie and I am an incoming MSc student in the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine program. I recently completed my BSc Honours in Biotechnology, where I spent half my degree at the University of British Columbia and the other half at the BC Institute of Technology. During my undergrad, I worked for a year at a biotech company called Zymeworks, and it is there where I developed an interest in drug discovery and cancer therapeutics. I have seen this disease impact many of my friends and family members, which is why I decided to study prostate cancer under the supervision of Dr. Marianne Sadar at the BC Cancer Research Centre. I will be focusing on the molecular mechanisms of the androgen receptor and investigating novel therapeutic agents. Aside from getting excited (or frustrated, let’s be real) about science experiments, I love going on crazy adventures, staying active, and exploring new places. When I’m not in the lab, you’ll likely find me at a climbing gym, on a badminton court, or outdoors hiking up mountains and scaling rock faces. Vancouver is such a wonderful city and I am excited to continue my education at UBC this fall!