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Zeta

Zeta Mui, MPhil

Research Volunteer

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Tony

Tony Sun

Undergraduate Student

Tony is an undergraduate student working on a project modulating PAMP/DAMP-activated immune responses. His research explores repurposing transcriptional modulators in pulmonary in vitro models to uncover insights into developing novel anti-inflammatory treatments and potential therapies for ARDS or any virus-induced hyperinflammatory lung disorder. In his free time, he loves to stay active and experience new things! Whether hiking a new trail or trying new foods, he is always looking for a new adventure. Fun fact— he is the captain of the University of Toronto Table Tennis team!

Jacquie

Jacqueline Pavelick, BSc

MSc Candidate

Jacqueline is working on a lung-on-a-chip device to rapidly screen treatments for ARDS induced by SARS-CoV-2. In her free time, she enjoys running, biking, swimming and going on walks with her dog. A fun fact about her is she is working towards completing all 7 Abbott World Marathon Majors.

Michael

Michael Wang, BHSc

MSc Candidate

Michael is a master’s student working on the role of Jarid2 in the heart. Specifically, whether its deletion could be beneficial in patients with sepsis induced cardiac dysfunction. In his free time, he mostly plays the guitar and sings. He also likes to play basketball and travel the world. Some interesting facts about Michael are that he's been to the inside of the great pyramids, collected shark teeth by diving to the bottom of the ocean, never broken a bone in his body and can make a three leaf clover with his tongue.

Greaton

Greaton Tan, BHSc

PhD Candidate

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Sabrina

Sabrina Batah, MSc

Visiting PhD Candidate

Sabrina is currently a PhD Research Visitor from Brazil, working in Claudia dos Santos' lab as part of her PhD research. She is investigating the transcriptomic profile of COVID-19 patients using bioinformatics and validating potential genes that could predict the development of Post-COVID Fibrosis. In her free time, she catches up on her favourite TV shows and enjoys exploring the city. An interesting fact about her is that she has two black cats with green eyes—one named Snape, from Harry Potter, and the other Salem, like the Sabrina – The Teenage Witch.

Maria

Maria Barbosa, PhD

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Maria Carolina, a Brazilian neuroscientist from Rio de Janeiro, holds a PhD in Neuroscience with a period of internship at Dr. dos Santos' lab. Her research explores neurological consequences of infectious diseases. such as sepsis and Influenza. Beyond the lab, she enjoys exploring coffee shops in Toronto, visiting museums and traveling to discover new places and cultures.

Chirag

Chirag Vaswani, PhD

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Chirag is a Post-Doctoral Fellow researching RNA-based therapies for lung injury and sepsis, specializing in pre-clinical models and molecular techniques. Passionate about teaching and sharing ideas, he considers coffee his favourite meal of the day. A self-proclaimed ‘frag head’, Chirag associates smells with colours and spends his free time playing the flute, watching movies, or enjoying the art of doing nothing—which, in his opinion, is doing a lot.

Amin

Amin Ektesabi, PhD

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Dr. Amin Ektesabi is a researcher and co-founder at a startup company based on his PhD work in drug development for sepsis. He specializes in pre-clinical development and wet lab research, focusing on creating novel anti-inflammatory therapeutics to treat sepsis. Amin leads pre-clinical studies and is actively involved in preparing for the company's first meeting with Health Canada, working towards filing a Clinical Trial Application (CTA). Passionate about translating bench-side discoveries into bedside treatments, Dr. Ektesabi is inspired by the potential to transform critical care and improve patient outcomes. He is dedicated to advancing the field of critical care medicine by bridging the gap between scientific research and clinical application.

Shehla

Shehla Izhar, MSc

Lab Technician

Shehla Izhar has been at St. Michael’s hospital since 2001 and at the LKSKI since 2010, She specializes in molecular biology assays, including RNA and DNA extraction, Western blotting (WB), quantitative PCR (qPCR), and ELISA. Her work contributes to advancing understanding in cardiac physiology and molecular mechanisms of disease. Outside the lab, Shehla has a passion for cooking and exploring global cuisines. A keen traveler, she recently returned from an exciting trip to Southeast Asia and Australia.

Jim

Jim Tsoporis, PhD

Research Associate

Dr. Jim Tsoporis is an accomplished molecular biologist with over 40 years of experience in cardiovascular research. His expertise spans in vivo animal models of cardiovascular disease, including advanced techniques in hemodynamic measurements and echocardiography, as well as in vitro assays utilizing cultured cardiomyocytes.

Throughout his career, Dr. Tsoporis has made significant contributions to the field, authoring more than 100 publications, including full-length papers and abstracts. His research is focused on unraveling the complexities of cardiovascular disease, driving innovation in diagnostics and therapeutic strategies.

Dr. Tsoporis is dedicated to advancing the understanding of cardiovascular biology and remains a leader in integrating cutting-edge methodologies to address critical challenges in the field.

The Dos Santos Lab 2024