Current Members

Dilan is a PhD candidate in Experimental Medicine at McGill University, and a Visiting Scholar at the University of Ottawa. She obtained her BSc in Neuroscience and Mental Health with a Minor in Psychology at Carleton University in 2019. Her current research is focused on neural stem cells in embryonic brain development and the pathogenesis of rare forms of intellectual disability. When Dilan is not dissecting mouse brains in the lab, her hobbies include Taekwon-do, paddle-boaring, and soccer. 

Elham received her BSc and MSc in Iran in Cellular and Molecular Biology where she studied novel biomarkers of Multiple Sclerosis. She started her PhD journey at UBC in 2020 where she received The Dean of Education Scholarship in her first year. She is currently studying immunologic and pharmacologic aspects of glioblastoma at UOttawa, specifically working with patient-derived brain tumour stem cells. In her free time, Elham enjoys being out in nature, biking, and yoga. 

Laura is a MSc candidate in the department of Experimental Medicine at McGill University.  She obtained her bachelor’s degree at Concordia University in 2019 where she was member of the Institute for Co-operative Education and was invited to be a member of the Golden Key International Honours Society, Concordia chapter. Her current research is focused on the expanding role of OSMR in glioblastoma tumorigenesis. Specifically, she is interested identifying novel OSMR binding partners that may be modulating BTSC maintenance when in complex with OSMR.  

Alyanna is a 4th year undergraduate student in Translational and Molecular Medicine and is starting her accelerated Masters in Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Ottawa. She was a recipient of the President's and Chancellor's finalists scholarships and the WiBR at UOttawa. Her current research focuses on regulating protein interactions that cause increased tumorigenesis and glioblastoma in brain tumor stem cells. In her spare time, Alyanna loves to play basketball, soccer, piano and saxophone.

Dr. Lotfipour obtained her PharmD from the Faculty of Pharmacy, TUMS, Iran. She continued her research and enrolled in a PhD program in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Faculty of Pharmacy, TUMS. Dr. Lotfipour then fulfilled a one-year program at the Ottawa Health Research Institute (2004-2005). She started her carrier as a faculty member at the department of pharmaceutical quality control, TUMS in 2006 until 2021. Currently, she is a visiting researcher at the University of Ottawa.