Contributors: Spring 2024

Meet the IMS Magazine Spring 2024 Team

Graphic design by Jayne Leggatt

Niki Akbarian is a second-year MSc student under the supervision of Dr. James Kennedy. Her research focuses on the genomic analyses of the relationship between neuroticism and Alzheimer’s Disease. Outside of academia, Niki enjoys photography, playing the piano, and watching sitcoms.

Kristen Ashworth is a second-year MSc student working under the supervision of Dr. Brian Ballios at the Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute and Krembil Research Institute. Her thesis work is focused on developing a human retinal organoid model in which to evaluate stem cell therapies for USH2A-associated inherited retinal disease. Kristen loves cross country running, reading a good book, going to Marshalls, and most importantly, doting on her two adorable golden retrievers.

Ilakkiah Chandran is a second-year MSc student at IMS supervised by Dr. Danielle Andrade at the Krembil Brain Institute. Her thesis aims to understand the phenotypic and genotypic presentation of pediatric-onset developmental and epileptic encephalopathies in adults. In her free time, she enjoys reading, going on impromptu adventures and tuning into some true-crime!

Bahar Golbon is a third-year MSc student investigating the surgical outcomes of primary hyperparathyroid patients in Ontario under the supervision of Dr. Jesse Pasternak. In her free time, you can find Bahar completing a puzzle and drinking a cup of coffee!
Twitter: @BaharGolbon

Instagram: @gol_99

Kiko Huang is a first-year MSc student studying glaucoma epidemiology and public health under the supervision of Dr. Yaping Jin. Her work aims to investigate various trends in ophthalmology and vision care to gain a better understanding of the health landscape and guide health policy. During her free time, she’s likely out exploring the city and trying new restaurants!

Instagram @k.huangs

Vanessa Ip is a first-year MSc student working with Dr. Vicky Stergiopulos in General Psychiatry and Health Systems Division at CAMH. She is investigating the characteristics of forensic patients designated ALC in the last 5 years, the housing needs and preferences of this population, and their challenges and barriers to accessing housing. Aside from research, Vanessa has a passion for dogs, photography, and espresso.

Instagram/Twitter: @vanessaaip

Alyona Ivanova is a first-year PhD student investigating the molecular signature of glioblastoma at the Hospital for Sick Children under supervision of Dr. Sunit Das. Alyona is a figure skater, equestrian rider and a model. She enjoys traveling, cooking and reading.

Nikou Kelardashti is a second-year MSc student under the supervision of Dr. Karen Davis. Her research focuses on the relationship between neural oscillations and pain-attention interaction. Outside of academia, Nikou enjoys reading poetry and classic literature, watching old movies, and going for long walks.

Janet Z. Li is a second-year MSc student studying the brain-behavior relationships between conditioned pain modulation capability and functional connectivity of key pathways within the dynamic pain connectome, namely the descending antinociceptive pathway. She is supervised by Dr. Karen Davis at the Krembil Brain Institute in Toronto Western Hospital. Outside of research, she can be found practicing piano, figure skating, creating fashion content, and café hopping.

Instagram: @jan.et.li

Eileen (Xiao Yu) Liu is currently supervised by Dr. Sunit Das and Dr. Vitor Pereira at St. Michael’s Hospital. Her research project focuses on the use of endovascular radiosurgery as a way to treat brain tumors. Outside of academia, Eileen enjoys running, bouldering, playing badminton, exploring new activities and trying new food.

Twitter: @EileenLiuXY

Jennifer Ma is a second-year MSc student investigating the functional neural networks involved in suicide, and their relation to pain perception as a potential biomarker of suicide risk. She is under the supervision of Dr. Sakina Rizvi at the Arthur Sommer Rotenberg Suicide and Depression Studies Program at St. Michael’s Hospital. Outside of the lab, she enjoys crochet, painting and acting in local theatrical productions.

Twitter: @_jenniferma_

Samantha Ricardo is a first-year MSc student studying mechanisms of Alport Syndrome under the supervision of Dr. Moumita Barua at PMCRT. Outside of the lab, you can catch her biking around the city, trying new cuisines, or attempting to play chess.

Twitter: @SamanthaRicard6

Denise Sabac is a second-year MSc student working with Dr. Felsky in the Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics at CAMH. Her work aims to subtype mental illnesses in treatment-seeking youth using Similarity Network Fusion analysis of the Toronto Adolescent & Youth CAMH Cohort Study data. Aside from research, Denise enjoys playing sports, walking along sandy beaches, and drinking lots of coffee.

Sara Shariati is a second-year MSc student, investigating gene expression changes in mesothelioma patients post-radiotherapy under the supervision of Dr. Marc de Perrot at Toronto General Hospital. Outside of research, she enjoys swimming, cafe hopping, writing, and reading about sociology.

Instagram and Twitter: @sarashariati_

Soha Usmani is a second-year MSc student researching the ability of mitochondrial genomes to act as DNA barcodes for cryptic and understudied malaria vector species, under the supervision of Dr. Doug Norris at the Bloomberg School of Public Health. Outside labwork, she enjoys science and history podcasts, going through her “To-Watch” list of movies, and museums.

Twitter: @UofT_alum2021

Rachel Yang is a first-year MSc student studying the capability of a nanoparticle for precise tumor magnetic resonance imaging and its potential to reduce hypoxia to complement radiotherapy. She is conducting her research under the supervision of Dr. Michael Milosevic at the Princess Margaret Cancer Research Tower. In her spare time, she takes pleasure in taking walks, running outdoors, playing songs on the piano, and trying out new restaurants.

SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM

Elizabeth Karvasarski (Lead) is a PhD IMS at Mount Sinai Catheterization Laboratory under the supervision of Dr. Susanna Mak. Her research involves investigating right ventricular and pulmonary arterial interactions in patients with pulmonary hypertension and heart failure. Outside of research, Elizabeth practices martial arts and is a 4th degree black belt.

Lizabeth Teshler is a second year MSc student supervised by Dr. Brian Feldman at The Hospital for Sick Children. Her research investigates musculoskeletal health assessment in people with Hemophilia. Outside of research, Lizabeth loves biking, spending time outdoors and exploring new cities.

Mahbod Ebrahimi is a second-year MSc student investigating the association between immune gene expression and schizophrenia subphenotypes under the supervison of Dr. James Kennedy. Outside of research, Mahbod enjoys a good book, playing chess, and listening to Jazz music. Mahbod is also a member of our social media team.

Twitter: @mahbooli99