Vancouver RIOT

Ailsa is a Registered Nurse, PhD student at the University of British Columbia, and member of the Aging, Cancer Care, and Support (ACCESS) Research Lab. Ailsa's research focuses on healthy aging, quality of life, and frailty among older adults living with and beyond cancer, and she is passionate about partnering in research with people with lived experience. 

Jamie is an PhD student in the Prisman Lab and Garnis Lab at the University of British Columbia. Her research focuses on the clinical applications of technology in head and neck cancer. She is passionate about scientific outreach and hopes to engage with diverse audiences to increase awareness of cancer and cancer research, and share current advances in the research community.

Karan Parekh is a PhD student in the Wyatt Lab at the University of British Columbia and a recipient of the Canadian Cancer Society’s PhD Research Training Award. His research focuses on prostate cancer, with a particular emphasis on circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), a minimally invasive, blood-based biomarker that enables early detection, disease monitoring, and evaluation of treatment response. Beyond the lab, Karan is a medical illustrator and the founder of Parekh BioSketch. He also serves as the lead graphic designer for RIOT, where he combines scientific expertise with visual storytelling to make complex biomedical concepts clear and engaging. Through his illustrations, Karan bridges science and art, enhancing research communication and helping diverse audiences better understand science.

Mikayla Mbogga is an undergraduate Health Science student. Mikayla previously volunteered with a disability advocacy company and with the Canadian Blood Services. She hopes to become a radiation therapist and contribute to advancing cancer treatment and research!

Rachel is a Knowledge Translation and Outreach Coordinator for the QuitNow program at BC Lung Foundation. She is passionate about advancing health equity and bridging the gap between science and action. With her background in health promotion, she is excited to support RIOT Vancouver in raising awareness of cancer research. 

Khushi Khandelwal is a public health graduate with a strong interest in community health promotion, disease prevention, and knowledge translation. She has experience supporting research and outreach initiatives that improve population well-being through evidence-based approaches. She is passionate about translating complex health information into accessible messages and contributing to cancer awareness initiatives that empower individuals and communities to make informed health decisions.