Education
Northeastern University, Boston, USA
Bachelor
Bio
My research is focused on development of three-dimensional artificial thymic niche.
Despite the great potential of T cells therapeutics in immunotherapy, there are no currently available platforms for scalable generation of the cells. To address this problem, I am designing an artificial thymic niche for efficient, robust and scalable T cells production and their transplantation into patients. Currently, I work on synthesis and testing of thymus mimicking injectable biomaterial containing key cell signaling molecules that support differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) into therapeutic T cells. I aspire that my research will expand our knowledge about T cells differentiation and result in engineering a system that overcomes the challenges of T cell therapeutics production.
Outside of the lab, I enjoy teaching Zumba classes, playing squash, traveling and spending time with my family and friends.
Education
Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
Master of Science, Microbiology and Immunology
Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
Bachelor of Science, Microbiology and Immunology
Bio
Once upon a time, Beth lived in a distant eastern land, Halifornia. There her first love was viruses, an evasive love, but infectious nonetheless. Alas, as life goes, she continued her journey west and a new love stemmed. While this new romance felt cell-fish, Beth dove right in to exploring the early stages of development of blood and immune cells. Now, she is trying to understand how the spatial context of developing cells can tune what type of cell they become. It’s bloody exciting. In her new life in BC, Beth likes to run, cook, go up and then back down mountains (through a variety of methods) and make lots of bad puns.
Education
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Masters, Immunology
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bachelors of Science, Immunology
Bio
Cellular engineering is a crucial area in developing personalized medicine. Synthetic biology takes advantage of advancements in DNA synthesis, molecular and computational biology to design and engineer customized synthetic signaling pathways that allows for “smart” forward programming of the cell based on their transcriptomic state.
Charles focuses on using synthetic biology to influence cell development and cell fate of pluripotent stem cells with the goal of generating specific cell types for regenerative immunotherapy.
Always down for a drink. If you want to get me drunk, one drink is all it takes. Interesting include archery, guitar, video games and distracting people from their work.
Education
Karolinska Institute, Solna, Sweden
Masters, Biomedical Sciences
Karolinska Institute, Solna, Sweden
Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Sciences
Bio
I use computational and experimental approaches to better understand how stem cell fate acquisition is impacted by the environment. Outside my academic work, I enjoy playing ice hockey, eating and making food, being in nature, and figuring out how I can maximize the time I spend inside vim.
Education
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Masters, Biomedical Engineering
University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
Bachelor of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering
Bio
I enjoy cooking food, fermenting food, and eating food. In a former life I worked in fabrication and I enjoy designing and building things that are of practical use (that’s why I’m an engineer). My dream job is to travel the pacific northwest coast in a tug boat searching for logs that fall off barges (ie.
The Beachcombers).
Education
Queen’s University, Kinsgton, Canada
Bachelors of Applied Science, Chemical Engineering
Bio
The cells of our immune system, such as T cells, play a crucial role in detecting both pathogens and cancerous tissue, and then mounting a powerful, highly specific immune response to maintain the balance of our health. These cellular properties underline the potential for T cells to be employed as therapeutics for immunodeficiency, cancer treatment, and targeted immunotherapies. In my research I use high-dimensional spatial imaging to study the development of T cells in the human thymus, the organ where T cells are trained. I believe that by improving our understanding of the native spatiotemporal signals directing T cell development, we can identify unique developmental niches within the thymus, and translate this knowledge to drive the advancement of culture systems to produce mature T cells for use in emerging cell therapies.
In my spare time you can find me seeking sunlight and adventure. I love to play soccer, hike, row, and catch as many sunrises and sunsets as possible (preferably on top of a mountain or on the ocean)!
Education
Bio
Marina completed her bachelor’s degree at McMaster University while concurrently focusing on medical device research in the Department of Engineering Physics and Degroote School of Medicine. In the Zandstra Lab, she will be developing mechanical platforms implemented chemically that will be used to provide a controllable cellular environment of human embryonic gastroloids. This will allow a robust and quantifiable 3D model to study the underlying mechanisms of symmetry breaking during gastrulation.
Education
Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
Masters, Biophysics
Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
Bachelor of Science, Theoretical Physics
Bio
Tiam Heydari is a Ph.D. student in the school of biomedical engineering. Tiam obtained his undergraduate and masters degree from Sharif University of Technology (SUT) in theoretical physics where he worked on developing the Virtual Cell Model as his thesis. In Zandstra lab he is focusing on studying collective behavior and emergence in multicellular systems by employing tools from non-equilibrium statistical physics, systems biology, and bioinformatics.