Contributors: Fall 2024

Meet the IMS Magazine Fall 2024 Team

Graphic design by Jayne Leggatt

Beatrice Acheson is a first-year MSc student working under the supervision of Dr. Peter St George Hyslop at the Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease (CRND), where she investigates the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying microglial dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease. When she is not in the lab, Beatrice is likely reading a book, attending a yoga class, or playing beach volleyball.

Instagram: @bea.acheson

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.

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

Kevan Clifford is a PhD candidate in the IMS program, with a cross-appointment at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Working under the supervision of Dr. Yuliya Nikolova, his research combines bioinformatics and neuroimaging to characterize mechanisms of brain aging at the genetic level, and outcomes on brain structure and function. Outside of the lab, Kevan enjoys trail running, photography, and a good book.

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

Sipan Haikazian is a second-year MSc student researching the efficacy and safety of maintenance ketamine infusions for relapse prevention in patients with treatment-resistant bipolar depression, under the supervision of Dr. Joshua Rosenblat. Outside of research, Sipan enjoys playing the piano, exercising, and being around good company.

Twitter: @sipan_haikazian

Kiko Huang is a second-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 all the food that the city has to offer!

Instagram @k.huangs

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

Instagram: @_alyonaivanova_

Samuel Lasinski is a second-year MASc student supervised by Professor Axel Guenther in the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto. His research focuses on the scalable formation of ultra-thin aligned collagen sheets for tissue engineering applications. Outside of the lab, he enjoys dancing tango, cooking, and swimming.

Karan Patel is a second-year MSc student under the supervision of Dr. Michael Fehlings at the Krembil Research Institute. He is investigating the synaptic integration of neural progenitor cells into the lesioned corticospinal tract to restore forelimb function following cervical spinal cord injury. Outside of research, he enjoys playing basketball, traveling to new countries, and spending time with family and friends.

Twitter: karan_patel01

Nayaab Punjani is a fifth-year PhD student at the Krembil Research Institute in Dr. Michael Fehlings’ Lab. She is studying a neuroprotective peptide drug therapy to treat cervical traumatic spinal cord injury. In her free time she enjoys digital art and nature photography, as well as watching mystery, action, and sci-fi TV shows and movies.

Twitter: @nayaab_punjani

Hania Siddiqui is a second-year MSc student working under the supervision of Dr. Steve Lin and Dr. Rohit Mohindra at St. Michael’s Hospital. Her thesis work focuses on the identification of opioid-induced cardiac arrest. Outside of her research, Hania enjoys running, discovering new cafes, and spending time with family and friends.

Kowsar Teymouri is a third-year PhD student working under the supervision of Dr. James Kennedy at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Kowsar is investigating the role of the immune system genes in schizophrenia and how they are associated with different subgroups of schizophrenia. If not at CAMH, you can find Kowsar running along the lakeshore, creating content for her travel blog, hiking in new trails or painting.

TwitterL @kowsar_teymouri

SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM

Elizabeth Karvasarski (Outgoing Lead) is a PhD candidate at the 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.

Twitter: @ekarvasarski

Lizabeth Teshler (Incoming Lead) is a PhD student supervised by Dr. Brian Feldman at The Hospital for Sick Children. Her research investigates how to improve the clinical examination of musculoskeletal health for people with Hemophilia. Outside of research, Lizabeth loves biking, spending time outdoors and exploring new cities.