meet
Our Lab Team
a group of amazing scientists
our team
ELIZABETH FIDALGO DA SILVA, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professor/Research Associate | 2007 – Present
My research project focuses on the mechanisms of cell cycle regulation by the tumor suppressor protein Tuberin. Disturbance of the cell cycle regulation occurs in many proliferative diseases, as cancers and the Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, you can check the details of this research here. My experience in enzymatic reactions and DNA replication obtained during my Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral studies has provided me with a strong background to carry on a research line in the molecular biology field at the Porter Lab.
Before joining the Porter Lab, I held an Associate Professor position at the University Federal of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for 4 years, but for personal reasons I had to come back to Canada. During this time at the University of Windsor, I have been awarded a Seeds4Hope grant from the Windsor Cancer Research Center to study the role of tuberin in the development and progression of pediatric brain tumors. I have been co-supervisor in many graduate and undergraduate theses, as well as a sessional instructor for microbiology and medical microbiology undergraduate courses at the University of Windsor. My interest in Imaging techniques, as microscopy and flow cytometry, has increased over the years and now I am the manager of the University of Windsor Imaging Facility, you can know more about this facility here. Up to now, the most awarding path of my career as a scientist has been teaching students how to do research and follow their development and accomplishments obtained during and after their time in our lab. Many of my alumni students were accepted into medical/dental/pharmacology/optometry schools or are following their careers as scientists. My research group holds an NSERC grant and right now we have two graduate and several undergraduate students in our group.
DOROTA LUBANSKA, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professor/Research Associate | 2013 – Present
I graduated from the Pharmacy program at the Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Sciences in Poznan, Poland with M.Sc. in Pharmaceutical Biochemistry in 2006. I came to Canada and started my Ph.D. program in 2007 here at the University of Windsor in Dr. Porter’s lab where I took on a project studying the role of Spy1 in neurogenesis and glioma biology. I graduated in May, 2013. I published my work in Cancer Cell in January 2014. I stayed on to work as a Research Associate. My research right now focuses on Spy1, stem cell biology within the central nervous system during development, brain tumourigenesis and neurological malignancies.
BRE-ANNE FIFIELD, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professor/Research Associate | 2014 – Present
I began my Ph.D. in Dr. Porter’s lab in 2009 studying the role of Spy1 in normal and abnormal development of the mammary gland. I completed my degree in December 2014, and have stayed on as a research associate in the lab. Our research in the breast program is focused on elucidating the role Spy1 plays in regulating normal development of the mammary gland as well as how aberrant expression of Spy1 can contribute to tumourigenesis. A key focus of my work is on the development and characterization of new in vivo model systems to use as tools within the lab for all of our systems of study.
JANICE TUBMAN, Ph.D.
Research Assistant | 2019 – present
I started my journey in the Porter lab in 2009 completing an undergraduate thesis which has eventually led to the completion of my doctorate in December 2019. My research is focused on inflammatory processes associated with breast cancer treatment and metastasis. In collaboration with a local company, we have developed in house zebrafish models to test toxicity of drugs and natural health products, predict metastatic potential of cells, and determine drug efficacy all in high throughput in vivo models. Now that the models are developed, we are beginning to incorporate transgenic zebrafish models into our research and establish our aquatic facility as a multidisciplinary research core.
ELIZABETH FIDALGO DA SILVA, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professor/Research Associate | 2007 – Present
K. Frank Stringer, MD
Ph.D. Candidate | 2013 – Present
I am a Ph.D. student with interests in cancer and stem cell biology that include assessing diseased tissues and models of disease using modern microscopic techniques such as multicolour immunofluorescence and tissue microarrays.
Isabelle Hinch
Ph.D. Candidate | 2020 – Present
Recipient of 2020 NSERC Graduate Scholarship for Masters Program (CGS-M)
Recipient of 2023 Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)
Young women face more aggressive breast cancers, entailing increased metastasis, increased disease recurrence, and decreased survival; suggesting that breast cancers in young women have uncharacterized unique biology. Parity has emerged as a variable in breast cancers in young women, potentially due to involution: the biological event in which the mammary gland reverts to non-lactating tissue. I study the role of Spy1 in normal mammary development particularly during this period of involution and how it may be implicated in tumorigenesis.
Nicholas Philbin
Ph.D. Candidate | 2020 – Present
Recipient of 2020 CIHR Graduate Scholarship for Masters Program (CGS-M)
Recipient of 2021 Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)
Recipient of 2023 Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)
My project focuses on Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC). A rare subtype that occurs in 10-15% of diagnoses and tends to affect those of younger age or African American and Hispanic descent. Of importance, this subtype has a greater proportion of cells known as breast cancer stem cells (BCSC) compared to other subtypes. These are known to be resistant in the face of conventional therapy methods and are able to recapitulate tumours leading to secondary disease formation (relapse) down the road. . My project will focus on investigating the cell cycle dynamics of the stem cell population following treatment with various drug combinations and the indications it may have on the relapse process.
Mahsa Rahimi
Ph.D. Candidate | 2021 – Present
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with a 5-year survival rate of only 20%. Many factors can contribute to the development of HCC such as viral infection, alcoholism, metabolic disorders and obesity. Advanced stages of HCC have no effective treatments available. This project hinges on an unexpected discovery in our lab that elevated levels of the atypical cell cycle protein Spy1 promotes the development of non-cirrhotic HCC. My project will focus on determining how this protein changes the cell biology that leads to the formation of cancer in the liver using in vivo and in vitro methods.
Hema Priya Mahendran
Ph.D. Candidate | 2021 – Present
Glioblastoma (GBM) is an extremely lethal brain tumour in adults, associated with a dismal survival rate. GBM is practically incurable as these tumours evade all intricate attempts of therapy due to high-level intratumoural heterogeneity and the lack of effective therapeutics. Brain tumour initiating cells (BTICs) aid in the progression of heterogeneous mass and therapy resistance and are driven by an atypical cell cycle protein, SPY1. My research project focuses on how targeting SPY1 can contribute to better control over the growth and progression of GBM by eliminating BTIC populations. I will address this question using a PDX zebrafish platform. I will study Spy1 mediated expansion of BTICs in vivo, the role of microenvironment in regulation of BTIC cell cycle and growth followed by therapy response using a high throughput model approach.
Alireza Salimi Chirani
Ph.D. Candidate | 2021 – Present
Combination chemotherapy and targeting diverse regulatory mechanisms that slow down tumor cell proliferation is the current standard of care. Cyclin Dependent Kinase Inhibitors (CKIs), as a member of protective proteins lost or blocked by aggressive cancers. Basic pharmaceutical investigations have led to synthetic CKIs, which have met with variable success in the clinic. However, the existence of Ringo A/Speedy (Spy1), as an overriding CKI activity, rendering synthetic and natural CKIs less effective. Over my PhD project, using in vitro and in vivo methods, I am looking for effective targeting Spy1 for sensitizing some of the most aggressive cancer cells to treatment with limited side-effects.
ALI NADI
M.Sc Candidate | 2023 – Present
- NSERC USRA 2021, 2022
- NSERC CGS-M 2024
- OGS 2023, 2024
My research focuses on dissecting the molecular biology behind intricate cellular mechanisms like growth and division through the study of the Tuberin protein (gene – TSC2) – a critical tumour suppressor that, when mutated, commonly manifests as the Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) disease. TSC is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by multisystem pathologies such as cancers and benign hamartomas in the brain, kidney, lungs, and skin. Besides dermatologic, renal, and pulmonary manifestations, TSC can also cause serious neurological conditions, such as epilepsy, brain cortical tubers and autism. Using a plethora of techniques like flow cytometry, CRISPR/Cas9 genomic editing, proteomics and optogenetics, I study the role of Tuberin at regulating the entry of cells into mitosis and how specific mutations disrupt this process. This project aims to elucidate critical mechanisms in cell cycle control helping us to better understand proliferative diseases like TSC and cancers.
AMY LLANCARI
M.Sc Candidate | 2023 – Present
Recipient of 2023 Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)
Recipient of 2023 NSERC USRA
Recipient of 2023 NSERC Graduate Scholarship for Master’s Program (CGS-M)
My project will focus on investigating these sex-specific morphological and cell expression pattern differences. This will provide insight on potential protective mechanisms found in female mice inhibiting liver injury, in addition to potential diagnostic markers and molecular treatment targets during NAFLD progression.
ALAN CIESLUKOWSKI
M.Sc Candidate | 2023 – Present
Recipient of 2023 Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)
Recipient of 2023 NSERC USRA
Recipient of 2023 CIHR Graduate Scholarship for Master’s Program (CGS-M)
Efficient targeting of multiple components of a tumour might be a successful strategy in aggressive types of cancer such as glioblastoma (GBM), which remains the most common and malignant primary brain tumour with an extremely poor patient survival of less than 15 months. The significant therapeutic challenge posed by GBM stems from its genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity fueled by characteristics such as aggressive and treatment-resistant populations of Tumour Initiating Cells (TICs) and high levels of angiogenesis contributing to tumour evolution. TICs, which are responsible for GBM patient relapse, thrive in niches close to blood vessels where they interact with endothelial cells (ECs), exit the cell cycle, and evade therapies. Targeted antiangiogenic drugs, preventing GBM cells from recruiting new blood vessels are only temporarily effective in 50% of patients, resulting in acquired secondary resistance by the tumour. This project explores the TIC-EC interplay and its role in propagating tumour aggressiveness and therapy resistance. This project investigates the impact of ECs on the aggressive characteristics of individual, specific populations of TICs using GBM patient-derived systems, including 3D organoid models and zebrafish patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). Considering that NOTCH1 signaling regulates both TIC and EC populations in GBM, this project dissects the role of NOTCH pathway in TIC-EC interaction. Elucidating the details of cell cycle signaling and specific populations of aggressive TICs with dependence on the EC component will contribute to the identification of new and better therapeutic targets and personalized approaches to treatment of patients with GBM in the future.
Stephanie Dinescu
M.Sc Candidate | 2024 – Present
NSERC USRA (2023, 2024)
Going Above and Beyond in Research Award (2024)
Outstanding Scholars (2020-2024)
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most frequent and aggressive primary malignant brain tumour. Despite rigorous therapeutic efforts, the prognosis of GBM remains extremely low, with a median survival of approximately 14 months. A major obstacle in the treatment of GBM is the ability of a subset of tumour cells to enter a state of prolonged cell cycle arrest known as cellular senescence. Long-term senescent cells secrete growth factors and proliferative signals that can contribute to tumour progression and recurrence. My project aims to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying role of senescence in GBM, focusing on the elevated cyclin-like protein Spy1 which has been shown to override senescent barriers. Using in vitro and in vivo models, I will characterize Spy1’s role in senescence of GBM and evaluate whether targeting Spy1 and senescent cells with senolytic therapies can improve treatment outcomes, potentially leading to more effective personalized therapies for GBM patients.
Jeffery Martin
M.Sc Candidate | 2024 – Present
Adenocarcinoma prostate cancer (AdPC) affects one in seven men, making it the second most common cancer among men worldwide. Following standardized treatment consisting of ligand inhibitors, AdPC has the ability to evolve into a castrate-resistant phenotype. Standard treatment for castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) involves androgen receptor inhibition therapy. Although effective in most cases, androgen deprivation can pressure cells to differentiate further and take on a neuroendocrine phenotype, leading to neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC). Treatment options are very limited for NEPC, emphasizing the importance of better understanding the differentiation process that leads to NEPC. Through the use of both in vivo, and in vitro models, my project will aim to better understand the molecular mechanisms of this differentiation process, investigate the effectiveness of Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors in treating NEPC, and observe the role that the atypical cell cycle protein, Spy1, plays in the differentiation process.
Samavia Ahmad
Translational Health Sciences, M.Sc Candidate | 2024 – Present
Gold LEAD Scholar, President’s Scholarship
My project focuses on establishing a biomarker discovery platform for tracking the progression to treatment-resistant neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC). The project aims to validate circulating tumor RNA (ctRNA) as a diagnostic tool for early detection of NEPC, using whole transcriptome sequencing (WTS) to compare RNA profiles from tissue biopsies and blood samples in both human patient cases and patient derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models, enabling a comparative analysis of ctRNA with biopsy RNA to track tumor evolution. I manage and organize clinical and molecular data collected in partnership with Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH) using the REDCap platform and collaborate closely with senior researchers in the project to comprise biomarkers for NEPC.
Christian Kassa
2023 – Present
2024 NSERC USRA student
BIO 4904 Thesis Student
Group – Tuberin
Hannah Ferasol
2022 – Present
Outstanding Scholar
BIOL 4904 Thesis Student
Group – Tuberin
Jalyn Laliberte
2022 – Present
Ignite 2022-present
BIO 4904 Thesis Student
Group – Breast
Christopher Jaworski
2022 – Present
Outstanding Scholar
BIOL 4904 Thesis Student
Group – Brain
Vanessa Riolo
2022 – Present
Outstanding Scholar
BIO 4904 Thesis Student
Group – Brain
Jagdeep Singh
2022 – Present
Kiara Roncone
2023 – Present
BIO 4904 Thesis Student
Group – Breast
Milan Lobana
2022 – Present
BIO 4909 Thesis Student
Group –
Lauren Oschanney
2023 – Present
BIO 4909 Thesis Student
Group –
Armaan Saini
2021 – Present
Outstanding Scholar
BIO 4904 Thesis Student
Group – Tuberin
our past members
JIAMILA MAIMAITI, M.Sc.
Lab Manager | 2007 – 2015
Currently : Lab Manager at Acenzia – Windsor, ON – Canada
ROSA MARIA FERRAIUOLO, Ph.D.
Research Associate | 2015 – 2018
Ph.D. Candidate | 2009 – 2015
Currently: Postdoctoral Research Associate – Wayne State University, USA; Editor in Chief – Journal of Life Sciences, a postdoc community initiative
Samira Bashiri, Veterinarian
Research Assistant | 2019 – 2020
I am graduated from a “Doctor of Veterinary Medicine” program at University of Tehran. I obtained my DVM degree in 2013 and I was always enthusiastic about molecular biology. I joined Porter lab in May 2019 and my work mainly focuses on using Zebrafish as an animal model for studying cancer cell metastasis and behavior in vivo using a 3D model. My research primarily focuses on how Spy1 regulations can affect TNBC drug responses to chemotherapy drugs.”
Samira was on board of the flight PS752 that was shot down on Jan 8, 2020. Her passion for science and animals has inspired all of us in the Porter Lab. She will be forever in our thoughts.
ANTONIO ROYE-AZAR
Research Assistant | 2021
Porter Lab, Biomedical Research Assistant and Lab Technician at the University of Windsor
Currently: Research Assistant – Wayne State University – USA
Philip Habashy
Research Assistant | 2019 – 2022
Porter Lab, Biomedical Research Assistant and Lab Technician at the University of Windsor
Currently: M.Sc. – Porter Lab
JIAMILA MAIMAITI, M.Sc.
Lab Manager | 2007 – 2015
ROSA MARIA FERRAIUOLO, Ph.D.
Research Associate | 2015 – 2018
Ph.D. Candidate | 2009 – 2015
Samira Bashiri, Veterinarian
Research Assistant | 2019 – 2020
Samira was on board of the flight PS752 that was shot down on Jan 8, 2020. Her passion for science and animals has inspired all of us in the Porter Lab. She will be forever in our thoughts.
ANTONIO ROYE-AZAR
Research Assistant | 2021
Chris Drouillard
Bioinformatics Research Assistant | 2022 – 2024
My work consists of using expression databases and processing pipelines to understand the effects of gene expression on neuroendocrine differentiation of prostate cancer and DNA damage.
PHILIP HABASHY (M.SC.)
M.Sc Candidate 2022 – 2024
Currently – Research Assistant at the Animal Facility – University of Windsor
adam pillon (PH.D.)
MSc | 2017-1019
Ph.D. Candidate | 2017 – 2024
Currently – Postdoctoral fellow in Chemistry & Biochemistry – University of Windsor – CA
Samaneh Mehri
M.Sc Candidate
2019 – 2021
Currently – Ph.D. Student in Biochemistry and Structural Biology Theme – University of Alabama at Birmingham – USA
Jackie Fong (M.Sc.)
M.Sc Candidate
2018 – 2021
Currently – Research Study Manager for the COVID Screening Platform – University of Windsor – Ontario – Canada
Janice Tubman (Ph.D.)
Ph.D. Candidate
2008 – 2019
Currently – Research Associate – Porter Lab – University of Windsor – Ontario – Canada
Martin Khosravi Bakht (Ph.D.)
Ph.D. Candidate
2016 – 2019
Currently – Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Harvard University – USA
Carleigh Ross
M.Sc Candidate
2018 – 2019
Currently – Registered Nurse – Erie Shores HealthCare – Leamington – Ontario – Canada
Ingrid Qemo (Ph.D.)
Ph.D. Candidate
2012 – 2018
Currently – Health Research Coordinator at the Office of Research & Innovation Services – University of Windsor – Ontario – Canada
Iulian Derecichei (M.Sc.)
M.Sc Candidate
2016 – 2018
Currently – Ph.D. Student at Western University – London – Ontario – Canada
Ellen Laurie (M.Sc.)
M.Sc Candidate
2015 – 2018
Currently – Clinical Research Assistant at Biospective (CRO for analysis of CNS diseases) – Montreal – Canada
Jessica Dare-Shih (M.Sc.)
M.Sc Candidate
2013 – 2016
Currently – Doctor of Pharmacy Student – Wayne State University – Detroit – USA
Adam Pillon
MSc | 2017-1019
Ph.D. Candidate | 2017 – Present
My research project focuses on the protein tuberin, which is a protein in the mTOR pathway that when mutated causes tuberous sclerosis. Specifically, I am interested in the binding pattern between tuberin and the mitotic cyclin, cyclin B1, and their interaction to act as a novel cell-cycle check at the G2/M phase. In addition, I am exploring the effects of the interaction between tuberin and the ERK pathway to better understand its role in tuberous sclerosis. I currently use in vitro methods and fly models to explore both of these aspects of tuberin interactions.
And also our
dearest friends below
Agnes Malaysia (M.Sc.)
Azadeh Golipour (M.Sc.)
Bashaer Abu Khatir (M.Sc.)
Dorothy Myers (M.Sc.)
Evangelia Kirou (M.Sc.)
Gordon Omar Davis (M.Sc.)
Hao Zhang (M.Sc.)
Jenna Richie (M.Sc.)
Kaitlyn Matthews (M.Sc.)
Nicole LeAnne Lyons (M.Sc.)
BreAnne Fifield (Ph.D.)
Dorota Lubanska (Ph.D.)
Espanta Jalili (Ph.D.)
Martin Crozier (Ph.D.)
Mohammad Al Sorkhy (Ph.D.)
Rosa-Maria Ferraiuolo (Ph.D.)
Maria Badalova
2022 – 2024
Outstanding Scholar
BIO 4909 Thesis Student
Group – Tuberin
Currently – M.Sc at University of Windsor
Ria Patel
2021 – 2024
Outstanding Scholar
BIO 4909 Thesis Student
Group – Tuberin
Currently –
Eddie Grimmett
2023 – 2024
Outstanding Scholar
BIO 4909 Thesis Student
Group – Liver
Currently – Medical School
Jeffery Martin
2023 – 2024
President’s Scholarship
BIO 4909 Thesis Student
Group – Tuberin
Currently – M.Sc – Porter Lab at University of Windsor
Kole Polkinghorne
2023 – 2024
BIO 4909 Thesis Student
Group – Tuberin
Currently –
Elie Mouawad
2023 – 2024
BTFC Intern
BIOL 4904 Thesis Student
Group – Brain
Currently –
Hasan Ghafoor
2021 – 2024
Outstanding Scholar
BIOL 4904 Thesis Student
Group – Brain
Currently –
Stephanie Dinescu
2020 – 2024
Outstanding Scholar
2023 NSERC USRA
BIO 4909 Thesis Student
Group – Brain
Currently – M.Sc – Porter Lab at University of Windsor
Amy Llancari
2019 – 2023
Outstanding Scholar
2023 NSERC USRA Award
BIOL 4904 Thesis Student
Group – Liver
Currently – M.Sc – Porter Lab at University of Windsor
Alan Cieslukowski
2019 – 2023
Outstanding Scholar
2021 / 2023 NSERC USRA Award
BIOL 4904 Thesis Student
Group – Brain
Currently – M.Sc – Porter Lab at University of Windsor
Emmanuel Boujeke
2020 – 2023
Outstanding Scholar
2023 NSERC USRA
Group – Brain
Currently – Medical Student
Lia Oschanney
2020 – 2023
BIO 4909 Thesis Student
Group – Breast
Marissa Ho
2020 – 2023
Outstanding Scholar
Group – Tuberin
DEPEN SHARMA
2021 – 2023
BIOL 4904 Thesis Student
Group – Tuberin
Currently-
vanessa vuong
2020 – 2023
BIO 4909 Thesis Student
Group – Tuberin
Currently – M.Sc Student – University of Toronto
ali nadi
2019 – 2022
Outstanding Scholar
2021 – 2022 NSERC USRA Award
BIOL 4904 Thesis Student
Group – Tuberin
Currently – M.Sc Student – Porter Lab at University of Windsor
MILICA PAUNIC
2021 – 2022
Outstanding Scholar
BIOL 4904 Thesis Student
Group – Breast
Currently-
Almas Khan
2021 – 2022
Group – Breast
Currently –
tiana visconti
2021 – 2022
Group – Breast
Currently – M.Sc Student – Porter Lab at University of Windsor
Allison Baker
2020 – 2022
Outstanding Scholar
Group – Breast
Currently- Medical School at the University of Ottawa
Sahar Mouawad
2019 – 2022
BIOL 4904 Thesis Student
Group – Brain
Currently –
Aiden Mitrevski
2019 – 2022
BIOL 4904 Thesis Student
Group – Tuberin
Currently – Medical School at the University of British Columbia
Adam Renaud
2019 – 2022
Outstanding Scholar
2020 NSERC USRA Award
BIOL 4904 Thesis Student
Group – Brain
Currently- Medical School at the University of Ottawa
Maliha Baseet
2019 – 2022
BIOL 4904 Thesis Student
Group – Liver
Currently –
Alexandra Sorge
2019 – 2022
BIOL 4904 Thesis Student
Group – Brain
Currently – M.Sc Student – Porter Lab at the University of Windsor
Kadila Adili
2019 – 2022
BIOL 4904 Thesis Student
Group – Tuberin
Currently- Indiana School of Optometry – USA
Sami Alrashed
2018 – 2022
Outstanding Scholar
2020 NSERC USRA Award
2021 NSERC USRA Award
BIOL 4904 Thesis Student
Group – Brain
Currently – University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Medicine class of 2025
Antonio Roye-Azar
Project: Evaluation of Cell Cycle Regulation in Tuberin and Hamartin Knockout Cell Lines
2019 – 2021
BIOL 4904 Thesis Student
Group – Tuberin
Currently – Research assistant at Wayne University – USA
Kim Nguyen
Project:
2019 – 2021
BIOL 4904 Thesis Student
Group – Tuberin
Currently – Schulich Medicine
Jared Miller
Project:
2019 – 2021
BIOL 4904 Thesis Student
Group – Breast
Currently-
Christopher Drouillard
2018 – Present
2019 NSERC-USRA Award
Group – Tuberin
Currently –
Katie Zuccato
Project:
2019 – 2021
BIOL 4904 Thesis Student
Group – Breast
Currently – University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry and Vision Science class of 2025
Elise Bull
2019 – 2020
Outstanding Scholar
2020 NSERC USRA Award
Group – Tuberin
Currently –
Jacob Frank
2017 – 2020
Outstanding Scholar
2020 NSERC USRA Award
Currently –
Justin Senecal
2019 – 2020
2019 SWORP Award
Currently – Medical School at Western University
Emily Mailloux
2018 – 2020
Project: Treatment Timing of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Group: Breast
Outstanding Scholar
BIOL 4904 Thesis Student
Currently – Master’s student – Porter Lab – University of Windsor
Benita Rangira
2018 – 2020
Project: Identifying Molecular Markers of Progression to Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer
Group: Bladder
BIOL 4904 Thesis Studen
Currently – Master of Public Health student – Wayne State University
Maheen Arshad
2017 – 2020
Project: Exploring the Characteristics of Spy1 Overexpression in Glioblastoma Multiforme
Group: Brain
BIOL 4904 Thesis Student
Currently – Genetic Counselling Graduate Program at Wayne State University School of Medicine
Fatima Nadeem
2017 – 2020
Project: The role of the microenvironmental landscape in GBM progression and therapy resistance (2018 – 2019)
Project: Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles: A Novel Strategy to Combat Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) (2019 – 2020)
Group: Brain
BIOL 4904 Thesis Studen
Currently – Medical school candidate
Isabelle Hinch
2017 – 2020
Project: The Role of Spy1 During Mammary Gland Involution
Group: Breast
Outstanding Scholar
BIOL 4904 Thesis Student
Currently – Ph.D. student – Porter Lab – University of Windsor
Nicholas Philbin
2017 – 2020
Project: Spy1: A Potential Driving Force of the Breast Cancer Stem Cell Population in Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Group: Liver
BIOL 4904 Thesis Student
Currently – Master’s student – Porter Lab – University of Windsor
Alex Rodzinka
2016 – 2019
Project: Novel Approach in Resolving the Mechanism Behind Brain Tumour Progression and Therapy Testing
Group: Brain
Brain Tumour Foundation Scholarship
BIOL 4904 Thesis Student
Currently – Faculty of Medicine class of 2025, at the University of Toronto.
Anne Semaan
2016 – 2019
Project: Validating Drosophila melanogaster as a tool to study tuberin cell cycle regulation
Group: Tuberin
Outstanding Scholar
BIOL 4904 Thesis Student
Currently – Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine in the class of 2023
Catalin Gramisteanu
2016 – 2019
Project: Determining the essentiality of Spy1 as a novel regulator of mammary cell development using CRISPR/Cas9
Group: Breast
Outstanding Scholar
BIOL 4904 Thesis Student
Currently – Western University’s Schulich School of Dentistry in the class of 2023
Madison Curtis
2016 – 2019
Project: The role of Spy1 in the cell cycle and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma
Group: Liver
BIOL 4904 Thesis Student
Currently – Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine in the class of 2025
Jackie Fong
2015 – 2018
Canadian Summer Jobs Program Scholarship – 2016
420 Thesis Student
Currently – Research Study Manager for the COVID Screening Platform – University of Windsor – Ontario – Canada
Gillian Denomme
2015 – 2018
420 Thesis Student
Currently – University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry in the class of 2023
John Talia
2015 – 2018
420 Thesis Student
Currently – Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine in the class of 2022
Amy Basilious
2015 – 2018
420 Thesis Student
Currently – Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine in the class of 2022
Philip Habashy
2017 – 2018
420 Thesis student in collaboration with Dr. Huiming Zhang
Currently – Research assistant at Porter Lab – University of Windsor
Jonathan O’Beid
2015 – 2018
420 Thesis Student
Graduation – Master’s of Science in Business Analytics at Western’s Ivey business school
Currently – Decision Support Analyst with Windsor Regional Hospital.
Youshaa El-Abed
2015 – 2018
420 Thesis Student
Currently – Starting up his company called the Clinical Trial Network. It uses a patient-focused clinical trial referral software to match
Dalton Liwanpo
2015 – 2018
420 Thesis Student
Currently –
And also our
dearest friends below
Ahmed Guhad (VIP Project Student)
Alexandria Haslehurst (420′)
Amil Issa (420′)
Andreea Fratiloiu (420′)
Ara Cho (420′)
Bashaer Abu Khatir (420′)
Bashar Jameel (420′)
Bre-Anne Fifield (420′)
Brenna Market (420′ – Summer Undergrad Research Assistant)
Britney Hewitt (420′)
Carlee Stoyanavich (420′)
Carly Hunt (Outstanding Scholars)
Cassandra Humphreys (420′)
Catherine Cheng (Summer Undergrad Research Assistant)
Danjel Popaj (Volunteer)
David Shih (420′ – NSERC – Summer Undergrad Research Assistant)
Dina Maskoni (Outstanding Scholars)
Don Roberto (420′)
Ellen Laurie (420′)
Emilia Kolanska (Summer Undergrad Research Assistant)
Emmaly McCorkell (420′)
Eni Nano (420′)
Esther Okurapa (420′)
Evangelia Kirou (420′)
Farah Mohtadi (420′)
Hanna Vasilevski (VIP Project Student)
Heather Macdonald (420′)
Hugh Quinn (420′)
Hussein Hammoud (NSERC)
Ian Ho Yin Wang (Volunteer)
Jake Pfaff (420′)
Janice Tubman (420′ – Summer Undergrad Research Assistant)
Jasmyne Carnevale (420′- Summer Undergrad Research Assistant)
Jason Simmons (420′)
Jessica Dare-Shih (420′)
Jessica Vaisica (420′)
John Kelly (420′ – NSERC)
Juliana Tavera (Work Study)
Julie Caron (420′ – NSERC)
Kaitlin Martinello (420′)
Kaitlyn Mathews (420′ – Outstanding Scholars)
Karlaina Osmon (420′)
Maria Peraino (420′)
Mariam Safya Sameem (420′)
Marisa Horniacheck (Outstanding Scholars)
Marisa Horniachek (420′)
Marisa Market (420′ – NSERC.USRA )
Megan Bryne (420′ – NSERC))
Melanie Grondin (420′ – NSERC.USRA – Outstanding Scholars)
Michelle Nguyen (Volunteer)
Miranda Hanna (420′ – NSERC – Summer Undergrad Research Assistant)
Mitchell Elliott (NSERC.USRA)
Natasha Burzynski (Volunteer)
Neja Stare (420′)
Nicholas Paquette (420′ – NSERC)
Philip Habashy (420′ – Work Study)
Raghd Alolabi (Volunteer)
Roman Shapiro (Summer Undergrad Research Assistant)
Rutu Patel (420′)
Ryan Ard (420′ – Summer Undergrad Research Assistant)
Ryan Craig (420′ – Summer Undergrad Research Assistant)
Sabrina Botsford (420′ – NSERC)
Sakshi Jasra (Summer Undergrad Research Assistant)
Samantha Richardson (420′)
Samer Jassar (420′ – Brain Tumour Foundation scholarship)
Santo Spencer Briguglio (Brain Tumour Foundation scholarship)
Saski Jasra (420′)
Seemab Aslam (420′)
Sylvie Tremblay (420′)
Tony DiCarlo (420′)
Trinh Nguyen (420′)
Urvashi Katiyar (Outstanding Scholars)
Mohammad Al Sorkhy
Associate professor at Al Ain University in the UAE (Dubai), completed his Ph.D. Thesis in 2010 in the Porter Lab.
Jessica Sullivan (Vaisica)
is a Manager of Research Operations at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) where she manages the external funding portfolio of the MaRS-based researchers at the OICR (~$80M in active projects from the Tri-Council, Genome Canada, NIH, and others). Jessica also oversees the Institute’s Research Ethics & Responsible Conduct of Research activities. Jessica completed her undergraduate thesis in Porter Lab from September 2005 to April 2006 and later was awarded her PhD from the University of Toronto in 2012 for her dissertation Mms1 & Mms22 Mediate Genome Stability in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, under the supervision of Dr. Grant Brown.
Jenna Ritchie Spasojevic
a professor at Humber College, completed her Masters after her work in Porter Lab from September 2006 to December 2008. Today, Jenna teaches Math, Chemistry, Biology and Research Methods in the General Arts and Sciences program to nursing students
Sylvie Tremblay
is a Freelance Copywriter and Journalist who writes health, medical and lifestyle content for businesses and publications. Sylvie completed her undergraduate research project after her time in Porter Lab from September 2006 to May 2007, an experience she credits her ability to communicate and convey health research to her audience at www.sylvietremblay.com.
Farah Izbeki (Mohtadi)
is a Senior Clinical Research Associate at QuintilesIMS whose role is to monitor clinical studies ensuring they are being conducted in compliance with ICH GCP guidelines. Farah works closely with the pharmaceutical company and the clinical site. After graduating from the University of Windsor with a B.Sc. in Biology and Biotechnology, Farah completed a graduate certificate program in Clinical Research at Humber College. She later worked at Sanofi Pasteur as a Clinical Trial Manager in Vaccine Research. Currenly at QuintlesIMS, she has been involved in oncology research on assignment at Roche
Martin Crozier
a full-time lecturer at Wayne State University, completed his PhD in Porter Lab from September 2009 to June 2014. Martina now teaches full time for the Biological Sciences Department at Wayne State University in Detroit Michigan. His position is focused on teaching undergraduate Molecular Cell Biology, Anatomy and Physiology in addition to other graduate courses. Martin also teaches part-time for the Biology department at the University of Windsor.
Brenna Ann Market Velker
completed her undergraduate thesis in Porter Lab in June 2007 after working in the lab since September 2004. Currently, she is a Family Physician with the Kaizen Family Health Group and an Adjunct Professor for the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry where she performs clinical research and teaches. In addition to primary care, Brenna has special interests in dermatology, HIV, postpartum and infant care.
Ryan Craig
finished his undergraduate thesis in Porter Lab in January 2012 after starting as a volunteer in January 2010 and becoming an NSERC recipient. Now a Family Physician and Adjunct Professor for The Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry (Windsor Campus), Ryan practises in Essex with his colleagues where he is the lead physician of their recently opened Essex Family Health Organization.
Jason Simmons
volunteered as an undergraduate in Porter Lab from September 2006 to May 2007. Now currently enrolled as a Steamfitter and Instrumentation Technician Apprentice with the United Association Local 663, Jason’s work involves upgrading and maintaining the shops and refineries in the Chemical Valley region of the Sarnia area as he works to complete these 5 year apprenticeships of the Red Seal trades.
Kaitlin Martinello
worked as an undergraduate in Porter Lab from September 2009 to May 2011. Currently, Kaitlin is a Naturopathic Doctor who graduated from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. Kaitlin has been working with patients to achieve their health goals since 2015.
Mariam Sameem
Is currently a First Year Doctor of Pharmacy Student in the PharmD program at the University of British Columbia who aspires to enter the Clinical/Hospital Pharmacy Sector upon completion of here studies. Mariam started as an undergraduate research assistant in Porter Lab in February 2014 where completed her undergraduate thesis in August 2016
Marisa Market
Is an MD/PhD Student in her second year of study at the University of Ottawa. Marisa started as an undergraduate in Porter Lab in June 2012 where she completed her undergraduate thesis in July 2015.
Urvashi Katiyar
is was an undergraduate volunteer in porterlab from August 2014 to October 2016 and is now a Medical Student at Wayne State School of Medicine
Kaitlyn Matthews
Is a third year Medical Student at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry. Kaitlyn began as an undergraduate in Porter Lab in September 2007 where she was an outstanding scholar and completed both her undergraduate thesis in 2010 and was awarded her M.Sc. in 2012 following her work as a Research Assistant and Technician. Currently, in addition to her studies, Kaitlyn works as a Clinical Clerk at the London Health Sciences Centre.
Mitchell Elliot
worked in Porter Lab as an undergraduate from August 2013 to August 2015 and is currently a Medical Student at the University of Toronto and a Research Associate under Dr. Tak Mak at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.
Carlee Stoyanovich
is a MD Candidate currently in her first year of studies at the University of Toronto after working in Porter Lab as an undergraduate from May 2015 to May 2016.
Are you a Porter Lab Alumni? Want your story heard? Send an email to porterlab@uwindsor.ca – Subject: Testimonial.
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