BTCTRL Members

The Biomedical Technology and Cell Therapy Research Laboratory members consist of professors, visiting scientists and scholars, postgraduate and undergraduate students, research technicians, research associates, postdoctoral fellows and summer students. The members come from various disciplines such as medicine, biomedical engineering, microbiology, biochemistry, material sciences, chemical engineering, experimental medicine and surgery. In addition, we have collaborative members globally.

The BTCTRL always welcomes collaboration and promotes interdisciplinary and targeted research endeavors.

Current Members

Jacqueline Boyajian

PhD Student (2021-present)

Project: Targeting the microbiome with novel biotherapeutics

jacqueline.boyajian [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Jacqueline)

Ahmed Abosalha

PhD Student (2021-present)

Project: Novel nanoparticulate drug delivery systems for efficient design of vaccines

ahmed.abosalha [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Ahmed)

Paromita Islam

PhD Student (2020-present)

Project: Next generation nanoparticle-mediated drug eluting stent

paromita.islam [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Paromita)

Amal Kassab

PhD Student (2019-present)

Project: Stem cell bioengineering for kidney rejuvenation

amal.kassab [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Amal)

Sabrina Schaly

PhD Student (2020-present)

Project: Investigating gene delivery and gene eluting stents to combat coronary artery disease

sabrina.schaly [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Sabrina)

Cedrique Shum-Tim

PhD Student (2023-present)

Project: Bioinformatics in clinical applications

cedrique.shumtim [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Cedrique)

Karan Arora

Master's Student (2021-present)

Project: Probiotics for Alzheimer's Disease: Testing single strain dynamics on Drosophila lipid metabolism

karan.arora [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Karan)

Madison Santos

Master's Student (2023-present)

Project: Localized gene therapy for multimodal wound healing

madison.santos [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Madison)

Rahul Thareja

Master's Student (2021-present)

Project: Investigating the effects of bioactive compounds for Alzheimer's Disease

rahul.thareja [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Rahul)

Rahul Andharia

Master's (Non-Thesis) Intern (2023-present)

Project: Nano drug delivery system for atherosclerosis

rahul.andharia [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Rahul)

Amshaja Menon

Master's (Non-Thesis) Intern (2023-present)

Project: Gene therapy for tissue regeneration

amshaja.menon [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Amshaja)

Jasmine Chen

Undergraduate Intern (2023-present)

Project: Testing novel biotherapeutics for microbiome-associated diseases

chia-yu.chen [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Jasmine)

Alumni

Suzanne Samarani

Postdoctoral Fellow (2018-present)

Project: CD Targeted Nanoparticles and Microbiome

suzanne.samarani [at] hotmail.com (Email Suzanne)

Jianhui Su

Visiting Fellow (2020-present)

Project: Prebiotic diabetic microbiome

Nadia Naghavi

Visiting Fellow (2020-present)

Project: Implantable miniature pump sirna cancer therapy

Gerson R. Aguirre

Post Doctoral Fellow (2014-2015)

Project: Novel Microchip in in-vitro GI model

Adrian Moor

Research Associate (2011-2012)

Project: FAE active formulation: liver diseases

Erminia Di Pietro

Post Doctoral Fellow (2011-2012)

Project: FAE active probiotic formulation: metabolic syndrome

Pavan M.V. Raja

Post Doctoral Fellow (2011-2012)

Project: Carbon Nanotube bacterial interactions

rajvamv [at] yahoo.com (Email Pavan)

Hani Saleh Fadhl Al-Salami

Post Doctoral Fellow (2010-2011)

Project: Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies for type-2 diabetes probiotic formulations

hani.al-salami [at] mcgill.ca (Email Hani)

Alain Labbé

NSERC IRD Fellow (2009-2010)

Project: Microcapsule probiotic formulation

Christopher Danni

NSERC IRD Fellow (2011-2012)

Project: Cholesterol lowering probiotic formulation: mechanism

Christopher John Martoni

NSERC IRD Fellow (2011-2012)

Project: Microcapsule formulation for cholesterol lowering: formulation optimization

Dr. Misara Hamoudeh

Post Doctoral Fellow (2008-2009)

Project: Preparation of a new vascular stent using nanoparticles based on biocompatible polymers incorporating recombinant baculoviruses

misara.hamoudeh [at] mcgill.ca (Email Dr. Hamoudeh)

Dr. Xiaohong Zhou

Post Doctoral Fellow (2006)

Project: Novel artificial cell microcapsule formulation for bacterial cell stabilization

Dominique Anehme

Post Doctoral Fellow (2004-2005)

Project: Microcapsule for targeted DNA delivery

Dr. Wei Ouyang

Post Doctoral Fellow (2002-2006)

Project: Novel artificial cell microcapsule formulation: design, preparation and characterization for kidney failure therapy

wei.ouyang [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Dr. Ouyang)

Nikita Lomis

Ph.D Student Experimental Medicine (2015-2019)

Project: A novel nanoparticle formulation for targeted drug delivery in cardiovascular disease

nikita.lomis [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Nikita)

Susan Westfall

Ph. D Biomedical Engineering (2014-2018)

Project: Design of synbiotic to promote resilience to chronic stress-induced psychiatry disorders

Currently a postdoctoral fellow at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

susan.westfall [at] mail.mcgillca (Email Susan)

Imen Kahouli

Ph. D Experimental Medicine (2009-2017)

Project: Novel microencapsulated probiotic formulation for use in colon cancer

imen.kahouli [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Imen)

Virtica Tomar

Ph. D Chemistry (2013-2017)

Project: Noscapine: a promising therapeutic agent for cancer

Wei Shao

Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering (2010-2015)

Project: Carbon nanotube based targeted drug delivery systems for breast cancer and other drug delivery applications

wei.shao2 [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Wei)

Shyamali Saha

Ph.D. Dentistry (2011-2014)

Project: A new probiotic approach for the prevention and/or treatment of dental caries, oral candidiasis and periodontal diseases

shyamali.saha [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Shyamali)

Catherine Tomaro-Duchesneau

Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering (2009-2014)

Project: Microencapsulated ferulic acid esterase active Lactobacillus fermentum for the reduction of inflammation and cholesterol in metabolic syndrome

catherine.tomaro-duchesneau [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Catherine)

Laetitia Rodes

Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering (2009-2014)

Project: A new approach of gut microbiota modulation by probiotic bacterial cells: formulation for use in metabolic endotoxemia

laetitia.rodes [at] mail.mcgillca (Email Laetitia)

Arghya Paul

Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering (2008-2011)

Project: Novel biotherapeutic devices: studies with stem cells, nanohybrid viral vectors and microcapsules for cardiovascular applications

arghya.paul [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Arghya)

Meenakshi Malhotra

Ph.D Biomedical Engineering (2008-2014)

Project: A multifunctional nanoparticle formulation for siRNA delivery targeting neurodegenerative diseases and cancer

Arun Kulamarva

Ph.D Biomedical Engineering (2005-2009)

Project: DNA nanotube microcapsule design

arun.kulamarva [at] mcgill.ca (Email Arun)

Mitchell Laurence Jones

Ph.D Biomedical Engineering (2007-2011)

Project: DNA nanotube microcapsule design

Jasmine Bhathena

Ph.D Biomedical Engineering (2004-2009)

Project: A novel oral polymeric membrane lactobacillus formulation for amelioration of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and associated disorders

Email Jasmine

Christopher Martoni

Ph. D Biomedical Engineering (2004-2009)

Project: Microencapsulated bile salt hydrolyzing probiotic lactic acid bacteria for use in hypercholesteremia and associated cardiovascular diseases

Aleksandra Malgorzata Urbanska

Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering (2006-2009)

Project: A novel microencapsulated probiotic yoghurt formulation for oral delivery in the suppression of intestinal tumor genesis in APC/Min mice

aleksandra.urbanska [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Aleksandra)

Fatemeh Afkhamizarreh (In collaboration with BRI, Montreal)

Ph.D Biomedical Engineering (2004-2009)

Project: Delivery of IFN-7 and VEGF165b by microencapsulated cells: preparation and in vitro analysis

fatemeh.afkhamizarreh [at] mcgill.ca (Email Fatemeh)

Maryam Mirzaei

Ph.D Biomedical Engineering(2004-2009)

Project: Production of human Interleukin-7 in insect cells and fabrication of microfluidic systems for high throughput cell screening

maryam.mirzaei [at] mcgill.ca (Email Maryam)

Hongmei Chen

Ph.D. (2002-2006)

Project: A novel microencapsulation system: preparation and characterization of genipin cross linked alginate chitosan microcapsule for live cell oral delivery and other applications.

hongmei.chen [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Hongmei)

Merry Ghebretatios

Master's Student (2020-present)

Project: Investigating the impact of food nanoparticles on the gut microbiome and developing a probiotic formulation to treat nanoparticle-induced damage

merry.ghebretatios [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Merry)

Alicia Reyes

M.Eng Biomedical Engineering (2017-2019)

Project: Novel cell therapy for voval card

Ryan Bytes

M.Eng Experimental Surgery (2017-2018)

Project: Novel delivery devices

Umar Iqbal

M.Eng Biomedical Engineering (2015-2018)

Project: Role of multiple probiotics in metabolic syndrome

umar.iqball [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Umar)

Imran Sulemankhil

M.Eng Biomedical Engineering (2011-2013)

Project: Isolation, in vivo characterization, and safety validation of nitrate reductase active Lactobacillus fermentum NCIMB 702342 and its implications in addressing metabolic disease

Yaw Amoako-Tuffour

M.Eng Biomedical Engineering (2011-2013)

Project: GI sampling device development

Christopher Jackson

M.Eng Biomedical Engineering (2010-2012)

Project: Development and in-vitro evaluation of a novel sorbent material for dialysis

Raja Chemali

Masters Student (2010-2012)

Project: In vitro evaluation of single walled carbon nanotubes as targeted drug delivery systems

raja.chemali [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Raja)

Sapna Srivastava

M.Sc Cardiac Surgery (2009-2010)

Michael Coussa-Charley

M. Eng Biomedical Engineering (2009-2011)

Project: A novel in vitro mucosal gut bacterial adhesion model

michael.coussa-charley [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Michael)

Marc Fakhoury

Masters Student (2009-2011)

Project: Development of novel artificial cell microcapsule for targeted delivery of thalidomide

marc.fakhoury [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Marc)

Sana Abbasi

M.Eng Biomedical Engineering (2009-2011)

Project: Preparation and in vitro characterization of modified bio-degradable albumin-based nanoparticles for the efficient delivery of therapeutic drugs and genes in breast cancer applications.

sana.abbasi [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Sana)

Afshan Khan

M.Eng Biomedical Engineering (2010-2012)

Project: Novel method for delivery of stem cell derived growth factors for heart therapy applications: in-vitro and in-vivo analysis.

Daniel Marinescu

M.Eng Biomedical Engineering (2010-2012)

Project: Bile Salt Hydrolyzing Lactobacillus reuteri (NCIMB 30242) for the reduction of markers of metabolic disease.

daniel.marinescu [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Daniel)

Shyamali Saha

M.Sc Dentistry, Transfer to PhD for her excellent performance (2010-2011)

Project: Probiotic formulation for use in oral health

Razek Coussa

M.Eng. Biomedical Engineering (2007-2009)

Project: Artificial cell live yeast microcapsule formulation for use in renal failure uremia

razek.coussa [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Razek)

Catherine Tomaro-Duchesneau

M.Eng Biomedical Engineering, Transfer to PhD for her excellent performance (2009-2010)

Project: FAE active probiotics for diabetes

Dr. Hani Sinno

M.Eng Biomedical Engineering (2007-2009)

Project: Role of collagen, complement C3/5 on cutaneous wound healing tropical formulation, preparation and in-vivo evaluation in experimental rats.

hani.sinno [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Dr. Sinno)

Safaa Sebak

M.Eng Biomedical Engineering (2007-2009)

Project: Novel nanoparticles for breast cancer targeted delivery: preparation and in-vitro characterization.

safaa.sebak [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Safaa)

Liang (Caroline) Chun Ying Fustier

M.Eng Biomedical Engineering, Transfer to another supervisor (2005-2006)

Project: Yeast cell microcapsules

Madhan Selvaraj

M.Sc Applied Biotechnology (2005-2006)

Project: High titer recombinant baculovirus for enhanced expression of SEAP in CHO/ HEK cell lines

Arghya Paul

M.Sc Applied Biotechnology (2005-2006)

Project: Expression of angiogenic growth factors using baculovirus expression system

Trisnawati Halim Lim

M.Eng. (2004-2006)

Project: Development of microcapsules for adjunct therapy in kidney failure

trisnawati.halim [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Trisnawati)

Alexandra Malgorzata Urbanska

M.Eng Biomedical Engineering (2004-2006)

Project: A novel microencapsulated probiotic yoghurt formulation for oral delivery in the suppression of intestinal tumor genesis in APC/Min mice.

Bisi Lawuyi

M.Eng Biomedical Engineering (2004-2006)

Project: Development of a microcapsule system for the sustained delivery of therapeutic proteins to the gastrointestinal tract using live cells.

bisi.lawuyi [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Bisi)

Tasima Haque

M.Eng Biomedical Engineering (2003-2005)

Project: Microcapsules combining alginate, chitosan, Poly-l-lysine and polyethylene glycol for liver cell transplant and cell therapy applications

tasima.haque [at] mcgill.ca (Email Tasima)

Tong Tin Nguyen

M.Eng Mechanical Engineering (2003-2005)

Project: Micro particles blood substitute characterizations

Terrence Metz

M.Eng Biomedical Enginering (2002-2004)

Project: Polymer microcapsules for targeted thalidomide drug delivery in Crohn's Disease

terrence.metz [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Terrence)

Christopher Martoni

M.Eng Biomedical Engineering, transfer to Ph.D (2003-2005)

Project: Cholesterol lowering mechanism of microencapsulated bile salt hydrolytic lactic acid bacteria

Mitchell Jones

M.Eng Biomedical Engineering (2001-2003)

Project: Microencapsulated genetically engineered Lactobacillus Plantarum 80(pCBH1) for bile acid deconjugation and its implication in lowering cholesterol

mitchell.jones [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Mitchell)

Nadia Naghavi

Sabbatical research Associate Professor, Ferdowsi University (2019-2020)

Project: Novel implantable miniature pump cancer drug delivery device

Ana Luisa Martínez-López

PhD. Becas de inversión en el conocimiento, Mexico (2014-2015)

Project: Inoculation and stabilization period to allow the microbial community to differentiate in each reactor compartment In vitro fermentation of AX microspheres in SHIME

Ranna Imani

PhD. (Pharmacy) Amirkabir University of Technology, Irana (2014)

Project: Novel drug delivery formulation graphene

Julien Ber

M.Sc. (Biochemistry) University Henri Poincare, Nancy, France (2009)

Project: Microcapsule design: kidney

Sylvain Charpenier

M.Sc. (Biochemistry) University Henri Poincare, Nancy, France (2009)

Project: Probiotic FA production: in-vitro studies

Waqar Ahmad

Visiting Fellow (2020-present)

Project: Probiotic polysaccharide and the gut microbiome

waqar.ahmad2 [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Waqar)

Dr. Xin Li

Visiting Fellow, Associate Professor (2007-2008)

Project: Microcapsule for targeted drug delivery using image analysis

Sarita Singh

PhD Medicinal Chemistry, Banaras Hindu University, India (2008)

Project: Targeted capsule design for barbarine delivery

Pavan M.V. Raja

PhD Chemical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2004)

Project: Carbon nanotube microcapsule design

Dr. Xin Li

Visiting Fellow, Union Hospital Tongi Medical University (2003-2004)

Project: Microcapsule for targeted drug delivery

Dr. Lu Yao

Visiting Fellow, Univeersity of Tokyo (2003)

Project: Microcapsule for targeted drug delivery

Mohoma Rababani

MD (2010-2016)

Project: Reinfusion of polymerized human placenta hemoglobin SOD, Catalase carbonic anhydrase creates a cardiac protective effect during ischemia

Jonathan Kanesvsky

MD (2010-2011)

Project: Novel scar healing device

Justyn Lutfy-Lapierre

MD (2008)

Project: Novel polymeric wound healing formulation

Mitchell Laurence Jones

MD (2004-2006)

Project: Microencapsulation of engineered Lactobacillus Plantarum-80

Philippe Magown

MD (2002-2003)

Project: IgG microcapsule preparation

Mirenda Green

Neuroscience Undergraduate Student (2019-present)

Project: Microbiome and Alzheimer's Disease

Romina Filippelli

Honors Physiology Undergraduate (2019-present)

Project: Bacterial versus commercial ferulic acid as a potential therapeutic for the metabolic disorders

Sarah Ford

Undergraduate Project Student (2020)

sarah.ford [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Sarah)

Francis Grafton

Project Student (2016)

francis.grafton [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Francis)

Andrea Mendoza

Research Intern (2016)

andrea.grafton [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Andrea)

Leila Farahdel

Chemical Engineering B. Eng (2015)

Project: Graphene delivery methods targeting antibiotic resistant bacteria

Sara Sorrini

Summer CEGEP student (2015)

Project: Targeted probiotic delivery

Mariam Syssoeva

Summer CEGEP student (2015)

Project: Cloning of a GFP insertion element into Lactobacillus plantarum

Cedrique Shum-Tim

Summer Undergraduate (2015)

Project: Targeted probiotic delivery

Umar Iqbal

Chemical Engineering B. Eng (2015)

Project: Cloning of a GFP insertion element into Lactobacillus plantarum transfer

Mariam Syssoeva

Undergraduate (2015)

Project: Cloning of a GFP insertion element into Lactobacillus plantarum

Mohamad Majdoub

Physiology B. Sc (2013)

Project: Targeted probiotic delivery

Arielle Cantor

Physiology B. Sc (2009-2010)

Project: Microcapsule stem cell delivery

Tahilia Rebello

Physiology B. Sc (2004-2006)

Project: Oral microcapsule bacteria kidney substitute

Divya Shah

High School Summer Student (2013)

Project: Lipid probiotic delivery

Rahul Nalamasu

High School Summer Student (2012)

Project: CMC bacterial film characterization

Divya Shah

High School Summer Student (2012)

Project: CMC bacterial film characterization

Ciaran Lane

Biology B.Sc (2009)

Project: Targeted delivery of novel chemotherapeutic drugs via carbon nanotubes transporter

ciaran.lane [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Ciaran)

Ranvir Chaudhuri

Biology B. Sc (2009)

Project: Conjugation of anticancer drugs to carbon nano tubes

ranvir.chaudhri [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Ranvir)

Sapna Sah

High School Student (2008-2009)

Project: Yeast cell kidney microcapsule

Catherine Tomaro-Duchesneau

Microbiology B. Sc (2008)

Project: Bacterial cell lyophilization

Danhee Kim

Undergraduate (2005)

Project: Ginipin artificial cell preparation

Maria Hanna

Undergraduate (2005)

Project: Artificial cell yoghurt characterization

maria_hanna [at] hotmail.com (Email Maria)

Mehrnoush Shafiei

Bachelors Student (2005-2006)

Project: APA microcapsule preparation and characterization

mshafiei84 [at] hotmail.com (Email Mehrnoush)

Hahn Soe-Lin

Physiology B.Sc (2003)

Project: Microcapsule for kidney failure

Rebeca Cohen

Physiology B.Sc (2003)

Project: Oral microcapsule bacteria kidney substitute

Leonard Bienenstock

Physiology B.Sc (2002-2004)

Project: Carbon nanotube microcapsule characterizations

leonard.bienenstock [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Leonard)

Nidhi Kantawala

Physiology B.Sc (2004)

Project: Kidney substitute microcapsule characterizations

Maliha Kazmi

Bachelors Student, McGill University

maliha.kazmi [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email Maliha)

Yin Ge

Pre-Med Student, McGill University

yin_ge [at] hotmail.com (Email Yin)

Justin Philip

Bachelors Student, McGill University

jphilip3 [at] gmail.com (Email Justin)