PhD, Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa
Research Summary
I’m a translational systems biologist with a focus on breast and ovarian cancer biology. My lab is guided by a lens of cancer prevention, integrating functional and computational approaches to drive progress in precision prevention and precision treatment across the clinical spectrum.
I received my PhD in Cellular and Molecular Medicine from the University of Ottawa, studying the use of metformin for ovarian cancer prevention, generating model systems to test new therapies, and collaborating on a now patented antibody-based immunotherapy. A major research contribution began with a conundrum; ovulation is the main non-hereditary risk for ovarian cancer, yet the median age of ovarian cancer development is 63 years old, over a decade after ovulations have stopped. This led to identifying that age-related ovarian fibrosis (or scar tissue) can occur in human ovaries, forming a tumor-permissive ovarian soil for cancer development and underscoring that taking a holistic approach to the study of cancer risk factors can drive new insights. Before establishing my research program in 2025, I was a Banting Postdoctoral Fellow in Dr. Rama Khokha’s lab at the Princess Margaret Cancer Center, where my research identified a spatially and metabolically distinct epithelial progenitor cell as a potential target for cancer risk reduction in high-risk BRCA1 mutation carriers.
My current research employs high-throughput single-cell OMICs and imaging technologies to realize the promise of precision medicine, holding patient journeys central to project design.
We are currently recruiting at all levels! Please send a CV and brief description of your research interests.