Toronto RIOT

Megan George is an incoming PhD candidate at the University of Toronto’s Institute of Medical Science and the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Megan’s research focuses on the implementation of CALM (Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully), particularly its feasibility in improving psychological distress for patients with advanced ovarian cancer. After seeing family members battle late-stage cancer, Megan found her calling in advocacy work. Today, she leads as Co-Chair of the Canadian Cancer Society's Research Information Outreach Team in Toronto, where she channels her personal motivation into community service. With a keen interest in both clinical and cultural dimensions of psychological care, she is committed to advancing the understanding and standardization of psychological interventions to improve outcomes for patients with advanced cancer.

Brandon Dickson is a medical student at the University of Toronto and acting Co-Chair of the Research Information Outreach Team in Toronto. Previously, Brandon was a coordinator for Toronto RIOT’s Community Talks initiative, where he had delivered scientific outreach programs to libraries and schools across the GTA. Brandon’s research background was strongly focused on the immune system, which is becoming increasingly understood as a major player in the clearance of tumours from the body. This led him to pursue a brief role in the biotech industry, where he was a part of an operations team that manufactured next-generation therapies designed to engage the immune system. Now in medical school, Brandon plans to draw on his research experience, industry knowledge, and medical training to help the public better understand cancer treatment and care. His goal is to make cancer-related information more accessible for patients and caregivers as they navigate the complexities of the healthcare system. 

Nicole Rapallo is a recent graduate from the Biology and Pharmacology Co-op program at McMaster University, with nearly two years’ experience working in cancer research. Her involvements have contributed to advancing knowledge of metabolic adaptation in resistance of both pancreatic cancer and acute myeloid leukemia. Academically, Nicole’s interests include radiation biology and immunotherapy. Outside of academics, Nicole enjoys reading, creative writing, and playing soccer. She hopes to pursue pharmacy school and supplement her research experience by working on the clinical side of cancer treatment.

Helena Nunes is a volunteer at RIOT’s Toronto Chapter. With a passion for science and science communication, she completed her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of British Columbia, followed by a Master of Science in the same area. Her research focused on developing more sustainable alternatives for the production of plant-based cancer treatments. Now she works at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research supporting research and translating innovations with the goal of improving patients’ lives. On her free time, she volunteers with RIOT to spread awareness and teach accurate and reliable science to the public. 

Cassie Elises is a Master of Public Health candidate at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health, specializing in Occupational and Environmental Health. Her research interests emerged from profound personal experience—watching close family members navigate cancer both as healthcare providers and as patients themselves. Cassie brings frontline experience from healthcare settings during the COVID-19 pandemic and from long-term care facilities.

Udani De Silva holds a MSc in Public Health Sciences and an MPH from the Universities of Waterloo and Edinburgh, respectively. She has vast experience in epidemiology and systematic review methodology primarily in infectious diseases, having produced evidence reviews for stakeholders such as the World Health Organization, Scottish Government and the UK Health Security Agency. 

Amanda Dy is a 2025 Vanier Scholar and PhD candidate in Computer Engineering at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), supervised by Dr. April Khademi, Canada Research Chair (CRC) in AI for Medical Imaging. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering.

Amanda's research centres on developing robust and generalizable AI tools for computational pathology. Her work spans the full AI product development life cycle from algorithm design to clinical translation. She contributes to regulatory science through the Pathology Innovation Collaborative Community (PIcc) Alliance, a cross-sector initiative that includes participation by the U.S. FDA to advance the validation of AI as a medical device.

In the lab, Amanda leads key operations, including managing research funding, overseeing academic/industry collaborations, and designing interoperable pipelines that support data reproducibility. At TMU, Amanda is the student lead on the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) team and actively improves accessible STEM education. Through her academic and community roles, she aims to improve knowledge dissemination of emerging AI technologies and the diverse communities they are meant to serve.

Erica Carvalho is the Community Talks Co-Coordinator for the Canadian Cancer Society’s Research Information Outreach Team (RIOT) in Toronto. She is dedicated to making cancer research more accessible and understandable to the public. A passionate and community driven health advocate, Erica holds a degree in Psychology from Toronto Metropolitan University and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Health Science and Biology at York University. Motivated by her family’s personal experiences with cancer, she also volunteers as a Run Director for both the CIBC Run for the Cure and Relay For Life, and serves as an ACT Lead with the Voices for Change advocacy program. In these roles, she leads community outreach efforts, organizes volunteer teams, and manages event logistics to support awareness and fundraising for cancer research. Erica’s work is rooted in a strong foundation in healthcare and driven by a commitment to empowering communities with clear, evidence based information and fostering greater understanding around cancer. 

Tala Alrashid completed her Bachelor of Science in Forensic Biology at the University of Toronto, where she researched NPS drug surveillance tools and its implications for public health harm reduction strategies and forensic toxicology cases. She is currently pursuing her MHSc in Translational Research at the University of Toronto and actively contributes to patient care through her role as a Medical Assistant. She is dedicated to advancing healthcare by bridging gaps in access and quality of care for underserved communities. Her interests focus on patient care and medicine, and she aims to become involved with humanitarian aid organizations. She joined RIOT in 2025 as a co-coordinator of the high school talks. 

Nathan Symss is a Master of Science candidate at the University of Toronto in the Department of Medical Biophysics. He studies a rare but aggressive form of soft tissue  sarcoma called undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma using genetically engineered mouse models, where his primary research focus is on understanding how low oxygen levels in these tumors make them prone to metastasize (spread) to the lungs. Outside of research, he enjoys playing and coaching soccer, reading, and finding the best espresso in the city.

Bryn Livingston is a Ph.D. candidate studying the molecular drivers of childhood brain cancer at the SickKids Research Institute. Shas a strong interest in accurate and accessible science communication and through volunteering with RIOT she has written and presented talks on the basics of cancer biology to diverse audiences including community members impacted by cancer, as well as high school students. She has also written pieces for the RIOT blog and social media, introducing lay audiences to cancer biology topics in accessible language. Bryn also has experience communicating about science for policy, as former Co-President of the Toronto Science Policy Network, and as an executive council member of the grassroots advocacy organization Support Our Science.