RESEARCH PROGRAM INVESTIGATOR

FIRST NAME

INVESTIGATOR
LAST NAME

PROJECT TITLE AND

DESCRIPTION

METHOD(S) OF APPLICATION

Cell Biology

Julie

Brill

The student will conduct a genetic

screen to identify genes involved in
phosphatidylinositol lipid signaling
using Drosophila melanogaster as a
model system. In addition to fruit fly
genetics, the student will learn basic
cell and developmental biology.

Email: julie.brill@sickkids.ca

Cell Biology

John

Brummell

Student will examine bacterial

Email: john.brumell@sickkids.ca
infection of human cells. Experiments
will involve tissue culture,
DNA transfections, bacterial
infections, and immunofluorescence
microscopy.

Cell Biology

Sergio

Grinstein

Cells of the innate immune system

engulf and kill pathogenic bacteria.
This process is often disrupted by
certain pathogens that manage to
survive intracellularly.
The project will utilize molecular
biology and advanced microscopy
techniques to elucidate the basic
mechanisms of bacterial killing by
macrophages and the virulence

Email: rashna.irani@sickkids.ca

factors employed by pathogens to coopt the cellular machinery to their

advantage.
Cell Biology

Walter

Kahr

The student will conduct experiments Email: tania.viseu@sickkids.ca

designed to identify key proteins
involved in the formation of platelet
alpha-granules. To date we have
identified two proteins (VPS33B and
its binding partner) required for
granule biogenesis. The student will
utilize immunofluoresence
microscopy to localize VPS33B within
megakaryocytic cell lines and primary
human megaryocytes. To this end,
the student will isolate hematopoetic
stem cells (CD34+ cells) from human
whole blood and promote
megarkaryopoesis utilizing
recombinant thrombopoetin.
Subcellular localization studies will be
performed using antibodies specific
for various intracellular compartments
in concert with GFP-tagged VPS33B.

Cell Biology

Peter

Kim

Defects in Peroxisome biogenesis are Email: rashna.irani@sickkids.ca

the cause of numerous genetic
disorders involving peroxisomes. In

order to develop therapeutic

treatments for these disorders, the
mechanism of peroxisome biogenesis
needs to be understood. Using livecell imaging techniques in
combination with molecular biological
techniques the student will aid in the
development of assays to detect
peroxisome biogenesis in mammalian
cultured cells. This work will
compliment the ongoing work being
carried out in understanding
peroxisome biogenesis.
Cell Biology

Mathieu

Lemaire

Our lab has two main "arms". First,

Email: mathieu.lemaire@sickkids.ca
we have expertise in doing gene
discovery using whole exome
sequencing with a focus on patients
with rare pediatric kidney disease.
Second, we then perform functional
analyses in cell and animal models to
figure out how/why the novel genes
identified through our genomic
studies cause disease. Right now, our
efforts are channeled into delineating
the pathophysiological processes that
lead to the formation of blood clots in

small vessels of the kidneys of infants

that have mutations in a gene named
DGKE. This condition, atypical
hemolytic-uremic syndrome, is
serious for patients because most
develop renal failure. A better
understanding of the disease should
help identify potential treatments currently there are none.
Cell Biology

Christoph

Licht

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome Email: christoph.licht@sickkids.ca

(aHUS) is a devastating form of
thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA)
that can be both life and organ
threatening. Predisposing mutations
in several complement-associated
genes, primarily coding for humoural
and surface-bound regulators of the
complement alternative activation
pathway have been identified. The
association of complementassociated mutations with aHUS has
contributed to major advances in
diagnosis and treatment. Mutations
have been identified in about half of
aHUS patients tested so far, and the
remaining sources for gene variants

relevant to aHUS onset and

progression are likely other
thrombosis-associated systems (e.g.
coagulation and inflammation) and
the vascular endothelium.
The aim of this project is to identify
aHUS-specific endothelial cell
characteristics using blood outgrowth
endothelial cell (BOEC) cultures.
aHUS pathology involves
complement, blood coagulation,
infective/inflammatory triggers and
the vascular endothelium. We
hypothesize that laboratory models
can be used to simulate aspects of
aHUS pathology by bringing together
the humoral and cellular components
of the complement, coagulation,
inflammatory and endothelial
systems, and that these model
systems can be used to compare the
susceptibility of vascular endothelial
cells cultured from aHUS patients and
unaffected relatives carrying the same
complement mutations.
Cell Biology

Lisa

Robinson

The student will investigate how

Email: bernard.singh@sickkids.ca

proteins which regulate development

of the central nervous system also
regulate trafficking of cells of the
immune system, a key feature of
many inflammatory diseases
including atherosclerosis, arthritis,
asthma, and rejection of transplanted
organs. The student will utilize cell
culture, gene transfer, and
microscopy to study how these
proteins, neuronal guidance cues,
regulate migration of human white
blood cells in inflammation. The
student will be involved in
experimental design, data collection,
record keeping, and data analysis.
Cell Biology

William

Trimble

The student will learn a variety of

Email: rashna.irani@sickkids.ca
research laboratory techniques
including cell culture and protein
purification and would be required to
use these purified proteins in
experiments aimed at understanding
how proteins bind to each other to
regulate cell division. The student will
be expected to also attend laboratory
meetings where lab progress is

presented, to keep neat and orderly

notes on his experiments, and to
attend weekly seminars on various
areas of cutting edge Cell Biology
research.
Cell Biology

Rae

Yeung

Our lab has identified among

Email: tania.viseu@sickkids.ca
Kawasaki disease patients, a genetic
polymorphisms in regulators of
intracellular calcium flux which result
in increased levels of inflammatory
cytokines IL1_ and IL18, and more
importantly, increased resistance to
the treatment in children with these
specific genetic polymorphisms.
Our summer student project will focus
on functional testing of EBVtransformed cell lines that harbor
polymorphisms at candidate calcium
regulator genes. The summer student
will be involved in the examination of
the effect of specific polymorphisms
on IL1_ and IL18 production, and its
association with IVIG
unresponsiveness. Flow cytometry
will be used to study calcium flux. The
expression of IL1_ and IL18 will be

examined at both the genetic and

protein levels by qRT-PCR and
ELISA, respectively.
Child Health Evaluative
Sciences

Zulfiqar

Bhutta

Students will join a team of

researchers at the SickKids Centre
for Global Child Health that is
currently working on a series of
systematic review projects within our
knowledge synthesis platform. Over
the course of their placements,
students will have opportunities to: 1)
develop and execute comprehensive
literature search strategies; 2) screen
search results and assess potentially
relevant articles for review eligibility;
3) abstract study, population and
intervention effectiveness data from
eligible studies; 4) develop and
manage databases; 5) assess study
quality using standardized tools; and
6) conduct meta-analyses.
Additionally, students will be expected
and encouraged to participate in the
preparation of manuscripts for
publication, and to present study
findings at internal meetings and

Email:

danielle.dannunzio@sickkids.ca
In Person: Room 11.9805, 11th Floor,
PGCRL

other forums.
Child Health Evaluative
Sciences

Catherine

Birken

We are developing a multi-disciplinary Email: victoria.latimer@sickkids.ca

research network of collaborating
Fax: 416-813-5979 Address : 686 Bay
child health researchers and
St., Rm 10.9709, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4
practitioners including the Paediatric
Outcomes Research Team at
SickKids and primary care providers
from Toronto communities. Drs.
Catherine Birken, Patricia Parkin, and
Jonathon Maguire are the lead
investigators of TARGet Kids! (The
Applied Research Group for Kids).
TARGet Kids! represents the largest
cohort of healthy preschool-aged
children (from birth to 5 years)
recruited from primary care in
Canada. TARGet Kids! is collecting
longitudinal medical evidence on
common health problems affecting
urban Canadian children. Our cohort
also serves as a platform to conduct
RCTs to better inform practices in
primary care. There are critical gaps
in the data available on infants and
preschool children in Canada.
Despite clear significance of the first

1,000 days of life being associated

with long-term well being, very little is
known about the health of young
children. TARGet Kids! addresses
these issues and is the first network
of its kind in Canada. We propose the
project for a summer student which
includes data collection (e.g.,
nutritional status and markers of
obesity, such as waist circumference,
BMI) at a primary care centre in the
community, and/or assistance with
data entry. This student will also be
assigned a small project to describe
preliminary results in our study
population.
Child Health Evaluative
Sciences

Michael

Carcao

DDAVP vs exercise in patients with

Email: manuel.carcao@sickkids.ca
mild hemophilia A which is better
and do they work synergistically in
improving hemostasis?
The above study will be conducted in
the summer of 2015. Our group at
SickKids has in the last several years
been conducting exercise studies in
patients with hemophilia. Our group

has shown that exercising X15

minutes improves clotting ability
(increases levels of FVIII, VWF and
platelets) in persons with hemophilia.
We now want to assess and compare
how exercise compares to DDAVP in
improving clotting ability. DDAVP
(desmopressin) also increases FVIII
and VWF levels in persons with mild
hemophilia A.
We will do a randomized cross over
study comparing the effects of
DDAVP vs exercise is 40 males
(ages: 12-40) with mild hemophilia A.
20 will receive DDAVP first while 20
will undergo exercise first; patients
undergo blood work following the first
intervention and then will receive the
alternate intervention and then again
have their blood checked. Testing will
include thromboelastography (TEG)
and thrombin generation testing
(TGT). The student will have many
roles:
Assisting with organizing the time
tables for patient visits; with day to
day activities involved in the study:

taking samples to appropriate labs;

recording of vitals, times when
samples taken, etc and can also get
involved in the TEG, TGT and platelet
function assay studies (PFA) studies.
Child Health Evaluative
Sciences

Brian

Feldman

When patients and their parent(s)

Email: ingrid.goh@sickkids.ca
come to the SickKids rheumatology
clinic they receive a standard
package of questionnaires which they
complete by hand. The division will be
implementing new electronic versions
of these forms (e-form). The primary
objective of the project will examine
the reliability and validity of the eform. The secondary objective of the
project will examine the patients' and
their parent(s)' comfort level with the
use of an e-form. The student would
be actively involved in recruiting
participants for the study, overseeing
the administration of the e-form, and
data analysis.

Child Health Evaluative

Sciences

Gail

McVey

Dr. McVeys eating disorder

Mail: 555 University Ave, Toronto, Ont
research and knowledge translation M5G 1X8
activities involve integrating universal,
selective, and

indicated (targeted) prevention

services and coordinating
programming and training in
prevention with other clinical services,
including assessment and treatment
of eating disorders. A pilot research
study is underway designed to 1) to
evaluate the feasibility of
implementing and conducting
research on a mental health
promotion program being delivered by
local public health nurses female
students in secondary school; and 2)
to assess its preliminary efficacy in
improving perceived stress, coping
skills, peer and school
connectedness, assertiveness, and
self-worth. The research is also
evaluating what is the ease of
participating in each component of
the project for each of the
stakeholders, including the prevention
program group facilitators, the
students, and the professionals
involved in the advisory/planning
group for this initiative. Professional
development research is underway

also in the area of weight bias

awareness, mental health promotion
and ways to integrate the prevention
of eating disorders with other weight
related issues.
Child Health Evaluative
Sciences

Shaun

Morris

Development of research program to Email: shaun.morris@sickkids.ca

study health of children traveling to
tropical/low income destinations at
the SickKids Family Travel Medical
Clinic. Topics include compliance with
travel recommendations and
prophylaxis, follow up surveys for
illness and health service usage while
overseas, and assessment of risk
behaviours/activities. Project will
involve development of research
questions, surveys, ethics board
application(s), and in person and
telephone interviews.

Child Health Evaluative

Sciences

Martin

Offringa

The Enrich team will be compiling a Email: lauren.kelly@sickkids.ca

database of pediatric clinical trial
protocols and reports. We seek to
employ up to four summer students to
select and screen protocols for
inclusion into this database. This
database will be used as a primary

source of empirical data for a variety

of different research objectives. We
are looking for students who are
interested in pediatric clinical trials
that show great attention to detail.
Experience with database
management / computer
programming is an asset. Students
will gain insight into the methods of
modern pediatric clinical trials.
Child Health Evaluative
Sciences

Bonnie

Stevens

We are developing a knowledge

Email: 06.9718@sickkids.ca
translation tool to facilitate the
improvement of pain assessment and
management practices and reduce
pain for hospitalized infants and
children. The tool will include a
repository of ready-to-use educational
materials on the use of evidencebased practices for healthcare
professionals, patients and parents.
You will be involved in developing
educational materials for improving
pain assessment and management
practices in hospitalized infants and
children, including:
1. Preparing story boards for short

how-to videos of select pain

practices (e.g., scripting, planning
materials and setting).
2. Creating short animated
instructional clips for select pain
practices.
3. illustrating instructions for select
pain practices.
Developmental and Stem Gabrielle
Cell Biology

Boulianne

The Boulianne lab utilizes Drosophila Email: Iris.biberstein@sickkids.ca

as a model to study brain
development and function and to
develop models of human aging,
neurodegeneration and obesity.

Developmental and Stem Norman

Cell Biology

Rosenblum

The mammalian kidney is formed via Email:

a sequence of cell commitment,
norman.rosenblum@sickkids.ca
differentiation and complex
morphologic events, mediated in large
part by signaling pathways. Our lab is
focused on how Hedgehog signaling
controls specific types of kidney cells
that communicate with other types of
resident kidney cells and, in so doing,
control the number of nephrons
formed and the formation of the renal
collecting system. In this project, the
student will investigate how renal

stromal cells control cells that are

destined to become nephrons at the
molecular level using ex vivo kidney
cultures, techniques to modulate
activity of factors controlled by
stromal cells and assays of nephron
formation.
Genetics and Genome
Biology

Ronald

Cohn

The summer research student will be Email: ronald.cohn@sickkids.ca

involved in studying molecular
mechanisms of muscle regeneration
in transgenic animal models that
mimic congenital human muscle
diseases such as DMD and Laminin1
deficiency. She or he will also assist
in analysis of regeneration pathways
in acquired models of muscle
disease, mainly denervation and
immobilization. This process will
involve tissue acquisition,
cryopreservation, sectioning, and
visualization, protein isolation and
immunoblotting, as well as nucleic
acid analysis such as RT PCR.
Additional project will be assisting
postdoctoral fellows in repair of
genetic material in congenital

muscular dystrophies. This will

involve molecular cloning,
transfections, electroporation, and
immune fluorescence.. Other duties
will include media preparation, tissue
culture, data logging as well as
general laboratory upkeep and
maintenance.
Genetics and Genome
Biology

Yigal

Dror

Our lab focuses on the discovery of Email: yigal.dror@sickkids.ca

genetic causes and understanding
the pathogenesis of bone marrow
failure. There are 2 projects that
students may be assigned to 1) In the
first project a student will use exome
sequencing data to rank candidate
causative genes and validate the
alterations, or perform functional
assays to prove causal relationship
between mutations and disease 2) In
the second project, a student will
study the aberrations in
hematopoietic differentiation
programs in induced pluripotent stem
cell disease models of hematopoietic
failure.

Genetics and Genome

Anna

Goldenberg

This project is meant for students with Email: anna.goldenberg@utoronto.ca

experience and interest in

anna.goldenberg@sickkids.ca
computational work as applied to
computational biology or
computational medicine. The goal of
the project is to build a model that
would be able to predict gene
expression and DNA methylation
profiles in a tissue of interest given
profiles in another tissue (for a given
set of patients) and public repositories
such as GTEX. This resource will be
extremely valuable for tissues that are
not easy to sample and for patients
where only expression in blood is
available.

Biology

Genetics and Genome

Biology

Elise

Heon

Analysis and Molecular Validation of Email: diana.quon@sickkids.ca

Whole Exome Sequence (WES) SNV.
This project would involve the
bioinformatic assessment of WES
data and the subsequent validation of
candidate SNV by PCR, Sanger
Sequence, Restriction enzyme digest,
family segregation. Candidates
should have academics in genetics,
some experience with public
databases

(eg. NCBI,OMIM,UCSC Genome

Browser), experience with primer
design and PCR.
Genetics and Genome
Biology

Stephen

Scherer

Autism is a genetic disorder with over Email: rwintle@sickkids.ca

100 susceptibility genes now
identified. Working as a part of a team
scientists, the successful candidate
will perform laboratory and computerbased experiments studying the role
of these genes in clinical and
functional research studies.

Genetics and Genome

Biology

Uri

Tabori

The most common childhood brain

Email: uri.tabori@sickkids.ca
tumor is termed low grade glioma
(LGG). LGG behave erratically, where
some cancers progress regardless of
therapy while others even stop
growing spontaneously. We currently
use the same treatment to all LGG
due to lack of ability to differentiate
between subgroups.
As a result many of these children
survive to adulthood but have
significant long term side effects of
overtreatment while others die due to
tumors which were not diagnosed as
potentially lethal. Overall LGG

account for 42% of brain cancers

seen in children and more than half of
long term survivors. The impact of
these issues on cancer survivors is
therefore enormous.
In recent years new discoveries were
made making it possible to find
genetic mutations in all LGG leading
to LGG formation. Unfortunately, the
clinical effects of these findings and
how to treat these children differently
is still unknown.
Several years ago, we formed the
LGG task force. This include several
centres in Ontario and the Pediatric
Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO).
Together we built the largest clinical
biological database in the world of
children with LGG. We already used
this data to show several important
clinical points such as the toxic long
term effect of radiotherapy, how some
patients can be treated with less toxic
chemotherapy with excellent outcome
and defined rare groups of tumors in

this large group of children.

In a pilot study, we showed that we
can use molecular tests to define
good risk tumors which do not require
aggressive therapy and a subgroup of
LGG which carry mutations exposing
these children to risk of tumor
transformation and death even 15-20
years after initial diagnosis.
In this study we plan to screen 500
LGG which could not be resected and
therefore may recur to all known
genetic mutations described. We will
use a clinically proven technique
which could be used in most
laboratories worldwide. We will then
correlate these data with 30 years of
follow up available to us through
POGO. We plan to use this unique
information to see which of these
tumors will stop progressing and
therefore may not require therapy and
which will progress and cause
patients death. As a part of this
study, Dr Bouffet is leading clinical
trials which involve specific drugs

targeting most of these mutations and

will enable us to treat these patients
with rational therapy in real time.
This study, the first of its kind, will
enable us to perform patient specific
management and prevent tumor
progression in an era of individualized
medicine.
Genetics and Genome
Biology

Rosanna

Weksberg

Intellectual disability (ID)

Email: rweksb@sickkids.ca
encompasses a diverse group of
genetically heterogeneous cognitive
disorders affecting 2% of the
population. The development of next
generation sequencing (NGS) has
dramatically increased the speed at
which new gene mutations causing ID
can be identified. Our research
focuses on identifying mutations in
genes that encode modifiers of
chromatin structure (epigenes). We
have selected for exome sequencing
children with ID in addition to growth
abnormalities. We will prioritize for
downstream analysis sporadic de
novo epigene variants in our S-ID

cohort using the Disease Annotated

Chromatin Epigenetics Resource
(DAnCER). Our understanding of the
role of genetic dysregulation in ID will
pave the way for better molecular
tools for earlier diagnosis, more
definitive prognosis and improved
treatment of patients with ID.
The summer student will work closely
with a senior PhD student in the lab to
identify and validate de novo genomic
variants in epigenes that cause ID.
Molecular and Structure Julie
Function

Forman-Kay

CFTR is the protein mutated in cystic Email:forman@sickkids.ca

fibrosis (CF). We are interested in
probing the interaction between the
two nucleotide binding domains of
CFTR that drive its chloride channel
function and are important for folding,
both impaired by various CF-causing
mutations. To date, there is no in vitro
assay for this interaction, which would
be helpful from a mechanistic
perspective as well as for screening
compounds for potential therapeutic
purposes. Both fluorescence and
NMR assays are currently under

development in the lab and by

summer the student should be in a
position to test various diseasecausing mutations and compounds.
Molecular and Structure Julien
Function

Jean-Philippe

Surface glycoproteins on immune

Email: jeancells often play critical roles that
philippe.julien@sickkids.ca
dictate responses to invading
pathogens. A better understanding of
their atomic structure and the threedimensional molecular complexes
they form allows us to gain insight into
their specific functions. Dr. Juliens
laboratory focuses on the
characterization of these B cell
receptors by using a combination of
biochemical, biophysical,
immunological and structural
techniques. The study of their
interactions with cognate molecules,
therapeutics and pathogens is also an
active area of research in the
laboratory. This molecular
understanding provides roadmaps for
us to design improved vaccines, and
treatments in cancer and autoimmune
diseases.

Molecular and Structure John

Function

Parkinson

Innovations in high-throughput
Email: jparkin@sickkids.ca
sequencing have profoundly
transformed our understanding of the
relationships between microbial
communities (microbiomes) and their
environments. In the context of
human health, it is becoming
increasingly evident that the gut
microbiome plays a significant role in
the development of inflammatory
diseases such as type 1 diabetes
(T1D), celiac disease and
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
(1,2). Disturbingly, inflammatory
disease incidence has dramatically
increased with, for example, the
frequency of T1D in Canada rising by
50% in the last decade alone (3). In a
series of clinical trials, biologic agents
such as probiotics, which have the
potential to compensate for dysbiotic
gut communities, have emerged as
potential therapeutic candidates (4).
However, further development of
probiotic applications are limited by a
lack of detailed, systematic studies
that focus on understanding the

mechanisms by which probiotic

bacteria confer protection.
Consequently it is not clear which
strains might offer the most effective
therapeutic agents for which specific
condition. Here the applicant will gain
skills in comparative genomics,
metabolic modeling and systems
biology and perform a systematic
comparison of the metabolic
capabilities of probiotic bacteria to
yield insights into their potential
impact on host metabolism.
Molecular and Structure Rgis
Function

Poms

The Poms lab specialises in the Email: regis.pomes@sickkids.ca

development of computer simulation
techniques and their application to the
study of biomolecular systems
(computational biophysics). Basic
knowledge of protein structure and/or
statistical mechanics, together with
some programming experience, is a
plus. Research projects available
include a study of elastin, the
extracellular matrix protein
responsible for the extensibility and
elastic recoil of tissues such as skin,

lungs, and major arteries; and the

study of membrane protein CFTR, an
ion channel linked to cystic fibrosis.
Molecular and Structure Olivia
Function

Rissland

The success of every organism rests Email: olivia.rissland@sickkids.ca

upon proper control of gene
expression, and each step in the life
cycle of an mRNA provides
opportunities for regulation. Rather
than existing as naked transcripts,
mRNAs are dressed with a variety of
protein factors, and these mRNAprotein complexes (mRNPs)
represent an important regulatory
node for controlling gene expression.
Indeed, core mRNP factors are
regulated during development and are
often dysregulated during cancer
progression or viral infection.
However, understanding the
relationship between biological
processes and mRNP regulation has
proven to be challenging, both
because different genes are subject
to different post-transcriptional
pathways and because, for any
specific gene, mRNPs are diverse,

transient and dynamic.

The goal of this project is to help
answer a fundamental, unanswered
questionnamely, how are events
at the 3' end of a transcript, where
regulatory proteins commonly bind,
transmitted to the its 5' end, where
translation initiates and decapping
occurs? This project requires a multifaceted strategy to tease apart the
large diversity of mRNPs, and,
accordingly, we will use a powerful
combination of classical molecular
biology techniques and highthroughput approaches.
Molecular and Structure John
Function

Rubinstein

Our biophysics/biochemistry
Email: jlr@sickkids.ca
laboratory uses electron
cryomicroscopy to investigate the
structures of large macromolecular
assemblies. Several assemblies that
are of interest in the laboratory are
the V-ATPase that controls the pH in
various intracellular compartments
and ATP synthases that create the
cell's supple of ATP. Summer projects
are geared to the strengths and

interests of the applicant.

Molecular and Structure Simon
Function

Sharpe

Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a 104

Email: ssharpe@sickkids.ca
amino acid apolipoprotein normally
associated with high density
lipoproteins (HDL). In response to
acute inflammation, SAA serum
concentrations increase up to 1000x
for 24-48 hours. The precise function
of SAA in the inflammatory response
is currently unclear, although it is
highly conserved in vertebrates, and
likely plays roles related to both innate
immune response and in cholesterol
metabolism near sites of vascular
injury. In cases of chronic
inflammation due to diseases such as
rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic fever
(any that cause inflammatory
responses), it has been shown that
SAA deposits as amyloid plaques in
the kidneys, liver and heart. The
resulting secondary systemic
amyloidosis can result in organ failure
and death, and significantly
complicates the treatment of the
underlying disease. No structural

details of HDL-bound SAA, or of SAA

misfolding and assembly into
pathological amyloid fibrils, have been
reported. We are using an NMRbased approach to determine the
structures of SAA bound to HDL
particles and in amyloid fibrils. This
will provide new details regarding the
normal biological functions of SAA in
the inflammatory response, and will
suggest ways of controlling/inhibiting
the aberrant misfolding and
aggregation that lead to systemic
amyloidosis.
Neurosciences and
Mental Health

Julie

Lefebvre

In the developing brain, an

Email: jlefebvrelab@gmail.com
astounding number and assortment
of neurons are precisely assembled
into neural circuits. Formation of
accurate connections is imperative for
proper wiring and functioning of the
nervous system. And it is important to
understand how abnormalities in
these events underlie brain and
neurodevelopmental disorders. The
student will join a new research team
studying the molecular and cellular

rules that shape neurons and their

connections in the developing
nervous system. Neurons display a
remarkable diversity of shapes and
their processes dendrites and
axons extend to specific targets.
To uncover these rules, my lab
studies molecules present at the cell
surface that serve as recognition
codes and govern the interactions
of developing neural processes. In
this project, the student will
investigate the role of a large family of
recognition molecules called
protocadherins in mouse retina and
brain. The student will receive
considerable attention and training in
molecular biology, neuroanatomy and
microscopy techniques.
Neurosciences and
Mental Health

Donald

Mabbott

Our lab is particularly interested in

Email:
understanding the links between
colleen.dockstader@sickkids.ca
white matter injury, neuronal function
and neurocognitive impairment
following cranial radiation. We do this
by integrating several neuroimaging
techniques such as

Magnetoencephalography (MEG),
MRI approaches such as Diffusion
Tensor Imaging (DTI) that measure
functional (MEG) and structural (DTI
and MTI) changes in children treated
for brain tumours. We are looking for
summer students to help in database
management, image preprocessing,
and analysis of our MRI and MEG
studies. A background in practical
experience with MRI, MEG and/or
EEG, related softwares (Analyze,
FSL, Matlab), statistical packages
(SPSS, SAS), and the Linux
operating system is strongly
preferred.
Neurosciences and
Mental Health

Steven

Miller

Identification of risk factors predictive Email: emma.duerden@sickkids.ca

of neurodevelopmental outcome in
neonates who are critically ill. We use
advanced brain imaging and detailed
long-term follow-up to better
understanding brain injury and
development in the newborns who are
born early or with conditions that put
them at risk of neurological and
developmental deficits.

Neurosciences and
Mental Health

Steve

Prescott

Neurons encode information using

Email: steve.prescott@sickkids.ca
action potentials, or spikes. How
neurons generate spikes influences
the way in which neural networks
transmit and process information. We
aim to decipher exactly how neuronal
properties and microcircuit structure
impact whether information is
encoded through spike rate or
through precise spike-timing
correlations (synchrony).
Understanding this relationship will
help explain how network function
becomes pathologically disrupted in
certain disease states. The student
will undertake computer simulations
and mathematical analysis of data.
Experience with MatLab is a major
asset. Student must have completed
at least 2 years of undergraduate
training by the start of summer to be
considered for a position.

Physiology and
Experimental Medicine

Christopher

Caldarone

Using flowcytometry to determine the Email: chris.caldarone@sickkids.ca

relative contribution of endothelial-tomesenchymal transition in the
pathogenesis of pulmonary vein

stenosis.
Physiology and
Experimental Medicine

Andrea

Doria

The overall survival of children with

Mail:The Hospital for Sick Children,
high-grade or metastatic soft tissue Diagnostic Imaging, 555 University Ave
sarcomas (STS) remains dismal.
Toronto, ON M5G 1X8
Surgical resection with pre-operative
neoadjuvant chemo- and radiotherapy
remains the main choice of treatment
for these patients. Increased tumor
hypoxia (representing decreased local
vascularity) may lead to
resistance to therapy which is
associated with decreased survival
and increased metastatic potential in
STS. The little progress in the survival
of most patients with high-grade STS
in recent decades highlights the
urgent need for improved hypoxiatargeted diagnostic methods to
determine response to therapy
prior to surgery of tumors, and for
development of targeted therapeutic
agents.
We propose to test the feasibility of
using novel/existing imaging
technologies focused on hypoxia

measurements to determine
response to therapy in
pediatric STS. Specifically, we will
compare the sensitivity of Blood
Oxygen Level Dependent [BOLD] and
DiffusionWeighted [DW] MRI with
that of conventional MRI to detect
measurement changes between the
start and completion of pre-operative
neoadjuvant therapy (response to
therapy) in children and
adolescents (7-18 years) with
resectable biopsy-proven tumors.
These patients will undergo MRI prior
to and after chemo- and/or
radiotherapy. We will also evaluate
associations between postneoadjuvant therapy measurements
obtained with BOLD, DW and 18FFAZA PET-CT and immediately
obtained surgical / histochemistry
outcomes in the residual tumor in the
study population. Increased (>95%
tumor area) necrosis and decreased
(<6% tumor area) hypoxia should
represent a favourable response to
neoadjuvant therapy.

This project has a tremendous

potential for short- and mid-term
clinical translation in pediatric cancer
health care and for future research.
Clinicians and scientists may use
results of the proposed hypoxiaimaging surrogate markers to
adjust/modify therapeutic schemes to
patients on a personalized basis, to
consider these techniques for
incorporation into correlative imaging
studies in the next generation of
therapeutic trials, and to guide future
development of hypoxia-targeted
cancer drugs.
Physiology and
Experimental Medicine

Tanja

Gonska

Our research focus in Cystic Fibrosis Email: tanja.gonska@sickkids.ca

and studying the physiology of
epithelial function, mainly human
airway and intestine, but also sweat
glands. As medication that target the
basic defect of CF become available,
it will be increasingly important to
discriminate between patient-topatient differences in disease severity

as well as to identify changes in

CFTR function following use of these
novel drugs. My lab is developing new
in vivo and ex vivo assays to measure
CFTR function.
Physiology and
Experimental Medicine

Robert

Hamilton

The Hamilton laboratory investigates Email: robert.hamilton@sickkids.ca

hereditary high-risk heart rhythm
disorders with an emphasis on
arrhythmogenic right ventricular
cardiomyopathy, and autoimmune
cardiac rhythm disorders with an
emphasis on congenital heart block.
Techniques include exome
sequencing, cell culture and
transfection, mouse models,
immunofluorescence and EM
microscopy. Recent publications in
each area are in PLOS One journals
for 2013 and 2014.

Physiology and
Experimental Medicine

Farid

Mahmud

Celiac disease (CD) is an

Fax: 416.813.6304
autoimmune condition causing
Mail: 555 University Ave, Room 5114,
significant damage to the
Ontario, M5G 1X8
gastrointestinal tract. The introduction
of serologic testing has facilitated
screening of at-risk populations for
CD, including patients with conditions

such as T1D [1, 2]. Among currently

widely available screening tests,
transglutaminase (TTG) IgA and
endomysial (EMA) IgA are the most
sensitive and specific [3]. Novel
serologic tests are also available to
assess inflammation directly as
potentially useful measures in the
early stages of intestinal
inflammation. In patients with
suspected CD, clinicians are
challenged by the fact that while
current screening tests are safe and
effective, follow-up of positive
serologic screens requires access to
gastroenterologic consultation with
invasive testing, as biopsy
confirmation of intestinal damage
remains the diagnostic gold standard.
We propose to a) To analyze the
performance of serologic testing
(various serologic assays including
TTG IgA) for CD in patients with T1D
and b) analyze the cost effectiveness
of serologic testing (various serologic
assays including TTG IgA, for CD in
patients with T1D. Data will be

evaluated from the Celiac Disease

and Diabetes: Dietary Intervention
and Evaluation Trial (CD-DIET)
screening data .This comprehensive
serologic evaluation will be
undertaken in a large number of T1D
subjects who have not been
previously studied
Physiology and
Experimental Medicine

Brian

Nieman

Chemotherapy and radiation

Email:
treatment in pediatric cancer patients nieman.SSURE@mouseimaging.ca
in successful in curing 80-90% of
children. However, these treatments
also affect subsequent brain
development and interfere with
survivor's success in school and then
later in the workplace. We are
developing and applying magnetic
resonance imaging tools in mice to
study brain development and
determine how it is altered and what
mechanisms are responsible. The
successful candidate will work closely
with the PI and a senior trainee to
further this work and have opportunity
to learn to work with mice, perform
magnetic resonance imaging

experiments and related analyses and

techniques.
Physiology and
Experimental Medicine

Nades

Palaniyar

The student will participate in a

Email: nades.palaniyar@sickkids.ca
project that determines the role of
innate immune proteins in regulating
neutrophil extracellular trap (NETs)
formation and NETs clearance. The
project will typically involve isolating
neutrophils from blood, inducing NET
formation (plate reader assays,
confocal microscopy, Western blots,
flow cytometry) and testing NETs
clearance by alveolar macrophages
(DNAse assays and endocytosis
assays). This project is suitable for
3rd or 4th year students with a strong
background in immunology and
microbiology.

Physiology and
Experimental Medicine

Agostino

Pierro

Are intestinal stem cells activated

Email: agostino.pierro@sickkids.ca
during necrotizing enterocolitis in
neonates?
Background: Necrotizing enterocolitis
(NEC), one of commonest cause of
mortality in premature babies, is
characterized by intestinal epithelium
damage and in severe cases by

extensive intestinal necrosis. Recent

studies have identified at the bottom
of crypts Lgr5+ stem cells which lead
to the formation of the other four
epithelial cell types. Lgr5+ stem cells
are involved in the initial crypt
formation during intestinal growth but
their role in the turnover of intestinal
epithelium following neonatal
intestinal injury has not been
investigated.
Hypothesis: Lgr5+ stem cells are
involved in the epithelium repair
following intestinal injury in the
neonatal period.
Methods: The student will evaluate
Lgr5 expression in the intestinal
epithelium of animal and human
neonates. In mice, ileum and colon
samples will be taken using our
established model of neonatal NEC
(gavage feeding + hypoxia). In
humans, ileum and colon samples will
be taken from surgically resected
specimens in (i) neonates operated
for NEC or (ii) control neonates that
underwent stoma formation in normal

intestine for non-inflammatory

intestinal conditions such as anorectal
malformations.
Significance: This investigation will
provide the scientific foundation for
further therapeutic interventions
aimed to enhance the epithelium
recovery after NEC in neonates.
Physiology and
Experimental Medicine

Padmaja

Subbarao

Students will assist in clinical

Email : may.brydges@sickkids.ca
research studies in healthy and
asthmatic children. One of the main
studies includes the CHILD study
(www.canadianchildstudy.ca).
Students will have the opportunity to
assist with administrative duties in
clinical research studies in addition to
assisting and performing some
respiratory function tests, data
analysis and literature searches.

Physiology and
Experimental Medicine

Hoon-Ki

Sung

Our lab is a new research group

studying adipose tissue and
metabolism at The Hospital for Sick
Children Research Institute. Our
group is investigating adipose tissue
biology - how does adipose tissue
grow (fat expansion) and what is the

Email: hoon-ki.sung@sickkids.ca

origin of adipocyte (adipocyte

precursor cell) by using multiple
transgenic mouse model system. In
previous study, we demonstrated that
adipose tissue derived Vascular
Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)
induces brown-like adipocyte
(beige cell) formation in white adipose
tissue, which provides metabolic
benefits in the mouse model. We
want to investigate the molecular
mechanism of VEGF-mediated beige
cells formation and the origin of beige
cells. Our study points to the
therapeutic potential of adiposeVEGF for the treatment and
prevention of obesity. SickKids
Summer Research (SSuRe)
student(s) will participate in this
exciting project during 2015 summer.

STEM CELL = YELLOW (Reference Letter 1)

DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY = GREEN (Reference Letter 2)
NO = RED