Kingston

Sydney Shepherd is a PhD student in the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine at Queen’s University, developing a blood test for the improved detection and monitoring of ovarian cancer. Passionate about improving outcomes for patients, she is committed to working to advance precision oncology through accessible, minimally invasive testing. Through RIOT, she aims to help the community learn about and engage with the cancer research being conducted in Kingston and beyond.

Marco Buttigieg is an MD/PhD student at Queen’s University studying how aging changes the immune response to cancer. As a physician-scientist in training, Marco’s goal is to bridge the gap between the latest scientific breakthroughs and the cancer wards, bringing safer, more effective treatments to people with cancer across Canada. Through the RIOT program in Kingston, he hopes to draw on his clinical and scientific knowledge to make cancer research more accessible and help people become more involved in cancer advocacy in their community.

Cole Sandler is a first year MSc student studying biochemistry and cell biology in the Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences at Queen's University. His research is focused on the influence of mast cells on tumour microenvironmental factors which effect lung cancer immunotherapy response.

Ben Snider is a second year MSc student studying biochemistry and cell biology in the Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences at Queen's University. He is currently investigating the role of Y chromosome loss on the progression and metastasis of cancer.

Izzy Wahab is finishing up her Master's in the Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences at Queen's University. She is interested in seeing how a specific type of estrogen affects women with triple-negative breast cancer using a new pathway that employs G-protein coupled receptors.

Matt Martin is a research associate at Queen’s University in the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, working to classify variants of unknown significance in BRCA1. Matt enjoys planning various club socials and hosts a weekly trivia night in Kingston. 

Dani Harper is a PhD Candidate in Pathology and Molecular Medicine at Queen's University, studying the effects of genetic calpain disruption on triple-negative breast cancer metastasis.

Natalie Anderson is a fourth year Life Sciences Undergraduate student at Queen's University, completing a project looking at the effects of hyperthermia and focused ultrasound-stimulated microbubbles on radiotherapy for glioblastoma treatment.

Hannah Plummer is a PhD student in the Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences at Queen's University. She is currently studying how changes in the epigenetic landscape promote the progression of dedifferentiated endometrial carcinoma.

Natasha Iaboni is a PhD Candidate in Pathology and Molecular Medicine at Queen's University, studying the lipid changes in pre-invasive to invasive breast cancer

Victoria Lewtas is a first year MSc student in Pathology and Molecular Medicine at Queen's University, studying the effects of transient Calpain inhibition on triple negetive breast cancer metastasis.

Gabriella Torretto is a research associate with the Queen's Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, where she studies the genetic factors involved in hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.

Mondther Hussein is a PhD student in the Centre for Neuroscience Studies investigating the origin and treatment of medulloblastoma.

Simona Damiani is an MSc student studying microRNA and protein biomarkers of lung neuroendocrine neoplasms. When not in the lab, I enjoy going on walks and skating.

Tynan Kelly is currently pursuing his PhD in Pathology and Molecular Medicine at Queen’s University. His research focuses on understanding Gasdermin D and its newly established role in mammary tumourigenesis, as well as exploring innovative drug discovery approaches to target Gasdermin D for breast cancer therapy.