Contributors: Spring 2025

Meet the IMS Magazine Spring 2025 Team

Graphic design by Nichole Zhou

Aria Afsharian is a first-year MSc student at St. Michael’s Hospital under Dr. Andras Kapus. His research focuses on cell biology, specifically the role of signalling proteins in the antiviral immune response. Apart from the lab, Aria enjoys drawing, reading and working out.

Jasmine Amini is a first-year MSc working under the supervision of Dr.Daphne Korczak at the Hospital for Sick Children. Her research interests lie in social media use and family functioning among youth with an acute self-harm or suicide-related concern. Outside of academia, Jasmine enjoys reading, volunteering, and exploring Toronto.

Twitter: Jasmine_amini9

Tiffany Chien is a PhD student in the Department of Medical Biophysics working at the Mouse Imaging Centre. Under the supervision of Dr. John Sled & Dr. Jason Lerch, her research aims to investigate how maternal autoantibodies affect offspring brain and behavior development. She is also a science writer for RawTalk Podcast. In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking, playing board games & building LEGO, and being outdoors with her husband and dog.

Instagram: @tiffanycblum

Kevan Clifford is a PhD student 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 (preferably while curled up with his cat, Rauru).

Sara Corvinelli is a first-year PhD student supervised by Dr. Jacques Lee at the Schwartz/Reisman Emergency Medicine Institute. Her thesis is exploring innovative ways to improve delirium recognition for older people who seek emergency care. When she’s not researching, Sara enjoys ballet, listening to film scores, nature walks, volunteering and time with loved ones.

Mia Feldman is a first-year MSc student working under the supervision of Dr. Isabella Caniggia at the Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute. They are studying the molecular origins of preeclampsia (high blood pressure in pregnancy) with emphasis on maternal-placental crosstalk in the disease. In their free time, Mia enjoys reading and exploring different neighborhoods in Toronto!

Sreemoyee Ghosh is a PhD student working under the supervision of Dr Vinod Chandran at the Krembil Research Institute. Her research focuses on identifying novel markers and pathways for psoriatic disease using multi-omics integration. In her free time, she loves painting, exploring different cuisines and places in Toronto with friends, watching TV shows and reading a good book.

Grace Gibson is a first-year MSc student in the Biomedical Communications program studying to become a medical illustrator. She aims to work in patient-facing media and outreach focused on the LGBTQ community. In her free time, Grace enjoys reading books and painting.

Katherine Guo is a first-year MSc student working under the supervision of Dr. Shannon Lange at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Her work focuses on patterns of alcohol consumption and its related harms, aiming to better-understand the association between alcohol consumption and suicide mortality. Outside of her academics, Katherine spends her time working on various graphic design projects, taking photos, and exploring the wildlife in and outside of the city. Katherine is also a part of our photography team!

Kiko Huang is a second-year MSc student, currently studying glaucoma through an epidemiological lens 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 policy. During her free time, she’s likely out exploring all the food that the city has to offer (recommendations appreciated)!

Instagram @kikohuangs

Alyona Ivanova is a PhD student investigating the molecular signature of glioblastoma using spatial -omics technologies at the Hospital for Sick Children under the supervision of Dr. Sunit Das. Alyona is a professional figure skater and a model. Alyona is a creative content manager of Panoramics – A Vision. She enjoys traveling, cooking and reading.

Instagram: @_alyonaivanova_

Nancy Kim is a first-year MSc student under the supervision of Dr. Amanda Boyle at the Center of Addiction and Mental Health. Her research focuses on neuroinflammation in different brain tumours originating from glial cells. She uses PET neuroimaging and histology studies to quantify neuroinflammation for early diagnosis and staging of these tumours. Outside of her research, she enjoys playing volleyball, exploring restaurants (mostly ramen places) and cafes (especially for matcha) near campus. Nancy is also a member of our photography team!

Rachel Lebovic is a first-year PhD student at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre under the supervision of Dr. Mark Sinyor. She is studying suicide prevention through popular media as a tool to teach mental health literacy to youth. She also has an interest in public mental health and the experience of transitional-aged youth in the mental health care system. Outside of research, Rachel enjoys cooking, going for walks, and building Lego.

Instagram: @rachel.lebovic

Josephine Machado is a first-year MSc student working under the supervision of Dr. Andrea Knight at The Hospital for Sick Children. Her research is focused on examining the neuropsychiatric impacts of childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) through the study of brain-aging in children with the condition. Outside of research, Josephine enjoys reading, playing the piano, nature walks, and volunteering.

Anna Mouzenian is a first-year MSc student working under the supervision of Dr. Victor Tang and Dr. Daniel Felsky at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Anna is investigating the use of wearable devices to predict outcomes for substance use disorders. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, hiking and pilates.

Instagram: @anna.violet

Nayaab Punjani is a PhD student working under the supervision of Dr. Michael Fehlings at the Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network. Her research is examining a neuroprotective drug therapy for cervical-level traumatic spinal cord injury. Beyond lab work, she works as a TA and residence don, and she enjoys digital art and nature photography in her free time.

Twitter: @nayaab_punjani

Lielle Ronen is a first-year MSc student in Dr. Andrew Sage’s Lab at the Latner Thoracic Surgery Research Labs in PMCRT. Her research investigates smoking damage in donor lungs to improve post-transplant outcomes using Ex-Vivo Lung Perfusion (EVLP). Aside from research, she loves painting, baking, running and trying local restaurants in Toronto. Lielle is also a member of our social media team!

Steven Shen is a first-year MSc student working under the supervision of Dr. Sun-Ho Lee and Dr. James Conner at Mount Sinai Hospital. Currently, Steven is working to investigate the microscopic and microbial predictors of Crohn’s disease recurrence after surgery. In his free time, he enjoys spending time on the badminton courts or trying out new food spots around the downtown core.

Instagram: @_stevensshen

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.

Twitter: @kowsar_teymouri

Priya van Oosterhout is a first-year MSc student working under the supervision of Dr. Yuliya Nikolova at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Priya is investigating how substance use disorders affect the way in which the brain ages, as measured by MRI data. In her free time, she enjoys trying new food, watching movies, or going on hikes.

Instagram: @priya.vo

Emily Wiljer is a first-year MSc student working under the supervision of Dr. Daniel Felsky at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Emily is investigating a biopsychosocial approach to cognitive resilience, as well as genetic and epigenetic factors in longevity. In her free time she enjoys reading, going to the gym, and trying new restaurants.

Instagram @emily.wiljer

Abigail Wolfensohn is a first-year MSc student in Dr. Mojgan Hodaie’s lab at Toronto Western Hospital. She is researching how the brain’s waste-clearance system functions in people with trigeminal neuralgia, a chronic facial pain condition. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities, puzzles, trying new restaurants, and playing the piano. Abigail is also a member of our social media team!

Instagram: @abbywolfen

SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM

Lizabeth Teshler (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.