DÉSIR Halifax

Chloe Cyr is first-year medical student at Dalhousie University and conducts research  in the Physical Activity and Cancer (PAC) lab under the supervision of Dr. Melanie Keats at Dalhousie University. Her research works to tailor exercise oncology resources for advanced pancreatic cancer care. 

Dr. Lauren Westhaver (she/her) is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Surgery at Dalhousie University, under the supervision of Dr. Adrienne Weeks and Dr. Jeremy Roy. She completed her PhD at Dalhousie University (2024). Dr. Westhaver is a trainee of the BHCRI Cancer Research Training Program. Dr. Westhaver's research is primarily focused on differentiating patient outcomes in glioblastoma using immunological profiling.

Bella Pagotto is a second-year MSc student within the Physical Activity and Cancer (PAC) lab under the supervision of Dr. Melanie Kets at Dalhousie University. She is also a trainee in the BHCRI Cancer research training program.

Maridith Brown is a second-year medical student at Dalhousie University. Her research under the supervision of Dr. Osama Loubani looks to evaluate the accuracy of AI for real time speech to speech translation in the medical setting, with applicability in a wide array of clinical settings. She is passionate about oncology, patient autonomy and knowledge translation. Before medical school Maridith worked as a Registered Nurse in the QEII Operating Rooms, working directly with oncology patients undergoing surgery.

Erin Noftall is a second-year medical student at Dalhousie University. She graduated with a BSc from St. FX in 2023 and worked as a lab assistant in the Giacomantonio Immuno-Oncology lab. 

Aidan Nolan (he/him) is a member of the Physical Activity and Cancer Lab completing his MSc in Kinesiology at Dalhousie University, under the supervision of Dr. Melanie Keats. He completed his undergraduate degree in Honours Kinesiology at the University of Waterloo (2023). Aidan is a trainee of the BHCRI Cancer Research Training Program and a trainee with the Maritime SPOR Support Unit (MSSU). Aidan’s research is focused on exercise prescription, maintenance programming, and patient-education for individuals living with and beyond cancer.

Dr. Stacey Lee (she/her) is a research assistant in the Department of Microbiology and immunology at Dalhousie University, under the supervision of Dr. Jeanette Boudreau. She completed her PhD at Dalhousie University (2025). Dr. Lee's research is primarily focused on understanding the impact of the pancreatic tumour ligand profile impacts the responsiveness of natural killer cells.