Former Lab Members

2021-09 - 2023-08

Mackenzie Hsu, MSc; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University.
Supervisor: KHAN, ZA
Co-supervisor: Dr. Christopher Howlett
Thesis title: Mechanisms underlying stem cell depletion in ageing.

2018-05 - 2023-04

Damir Rosic, MSc; Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Graduate Program, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University.
Supervisor: Dr. Christina McCord
Co-supervisor: KHAN, ZA
Thesis title: Characterizing human papillomavirus associated oral epithelial dysplasia.
Subsequent position: Continuation of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Program at Western University.

2015-09 - 2021-12

Jina J.Y. Kum, PhD; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Collaborative Program in Developmental Biology, Western University.
Supervisor: KHAN, ZA
Co-supervisor: Dr. Christopher Howlett
Thesis title: Alteration of bone marrow microenvironment and stem cell depletion in diabetes.
Subsequent position: Policy Analyst at the Ministry of Health, Toronto ON.

Benjamin Rogala, MSc; Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Graduate Program, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University.
Supervisor: Dr. Mark Darling
Co-supervisor: KHAN, ZA
Thesis title: Etiology of granular cell tumours.
Subsequent position: Continuation of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Program at Western University.

Yohan Kim, PhD; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University
Co-supervisor: Dr. Chandan Chakraborty (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University)
Thesis title: Discovery of novel mechanisms regulating cancer extravasation in the chorioallantoic membrane model

Lei Qi, MSc; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University
Thesis title: Lipopolysaccharide-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation in myeloid cell

Natalie Montwill, MSc; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.
Co-supervisor:  N/A
Thesis title: Potency and lineage trajectory of infantile hemangioma stem cells.

Zeynep Kahramanoglu, MSc; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Collaborative Program in Developmental Biology, Western University
Co-supervisor: Dr. Michele Weir (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University)
Thesis title: Mechanisms of vascular proliferation in ovarian cancer.

2014-09 – 2016-07

Niamh C. Richmond, MSc; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Collaborative Program in Developmental Biology, Western University
Thesis title: Mechanisms regulating differentiation competence in hemangioma stem cells
Subsequent position: PhD at the University of Oxford.

2014-01 - 2016-01

Matthew Morrison, MSc Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Graduate Program, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University
Thesis title: Kallikrein-related peptidases are dysregulated in pleomorphic adenoma: a case-control study
Joint supervisor: Dr. Mark Darling (Pathology, Western University)
Subsequent position: Continuation of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Program at Western University.

2013-09 - 2015-05

Meghan A. Piccinin, MSc; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University
Thesis title: Mechanisms of stem cell depletion in diabetes
Subsequent position: MD program at Michigan State University.

2013-09 - 2015-05

Jina J.Y. Kum, MSc; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University
Thesis title: Mechanism of action of current treatments for infantile hemangioma
Subsequent position: PhD program in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Western University.

2013-01 – 2015-05

Jacqueline Cox, MSc Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Graduate Program, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University
Thesis title: Expression of human tissue kallikreins in polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma
Joint-supervisor: Dr. Mark Darling (Pathology, Western University)
Subsequent position: Continuation of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Program at Western University.

2011-09 - 2013-05

Zachary Kerr, MSc Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Graduate Program, Department of Pathology, Western University
Thesis title: Expression of kallikrein-related peptidases in adenoid cystic carcinomas
Joint-supervisors: Drs. Tom Daley and Mark Darling (Pathology, Western University)
Subsequent position: Continuation of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Program at Western University.

2009-09 - 2013-08

Emily C. Keats, PhD; Department of Pathology, Western University
Thesis title: Vascular stem cells in diabetic complications
Subsequent position: Master of Public Health (MPH) at University of Toronto. 

2009-04 - 2010-05

Alexandra Kleiman, MSc; Department of Pathology, Western University
Thesis title: Insulin-like growth factor-2 in infantile hemangioma pathogenesis
Subsequent position: Nursing program (BScN) at University of Toronto.

2017-01 – 2018-04

Alyshia Phillips, MClSc; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University
Co-supervisor: Drs. Mark Darling (Pathology, Western University)

2016-04 – 2017-04

Ariel Harriman, MClSc; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University
Project title:  Development of novel diagnostic tools for oral dysplasia.
Joint supervisor: Dr. Kristina McCord (Pathology, Western University)

2016-04 – 2017-04

Terry Robbins, MClSc; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University
Project title:  Role of human papillomavirus in oral dysplasia.
Joint supervisor: Dr. Kristina McCord (Pathology, Western University) 

2015-03 – 2016-05

Steffi Stephenson, MClSc; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University
Project title:  Wnt signaling in hemangioma stem cell differentiation
Co-supervisor: Dr. Nancy G. Chan (Pathology, Western University)
Subsequent position: Pathologist’s Assistant at London Health Sciences Centre, London ON. 

2012-09 - 2013-05

Jacqueline Hunter, MSc (PA); Department of Pathology, Western University
Project title:  A comparative in vitro study of epithelial cells derived from normal mammary glands and breast adenocarcinoma
Co-supervisor: Dr. Nancy G. Chan (Pathology, Western University)
Subsequent position: Pathologist’s Assistant in Calgary, AB.

2012-09 - 2013-05

Kara McArthur, MSc (PA); Department of Pathology, Western University
Project title:  Characterization of salivary gland-derived epithelial cells
Co-supervisor: Dr. Mark Darling (Pathology, Western University)
Subsequent position: Pathologist’s Assistant at Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton ON. 

2012-09 - 2013-05

Kathryn Logan, MSc (PA); Department of Pathology, Western University
Project title:  Metabolic memory in vascular endothelial cells
Subsequent position: Pathologist’s Assistant in Kingston, ON. 

2011-09 - 2012-05

Emily Wilkins, MSc (PA); Department of Pathology, Western University
Project title: Selective upregulation of kallikreins in mucoepidermoid carcinoma
Co-supervisor: Dr. Mark Darling (Pathology, Western University)
Subsequent position: Pathologist’s Assistant at Grand River Hospital, Kitchener, ON. 

Maya Resendes Torrado, BMSc Honors Specialization in Pathology, Western University
Thesis title: Hyperglycemic memory of vascular endothelial cells.

Aparna Sreeram, BMSc Honors Specialization in Biochemistry and Pathology of Human Disease, Western University
Thesis title: Association between bone marrow neuropathy and adipogenesis in diabetes.

Natalia Dabrowski, BMSc Honors Program, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University
Thesis title: Differential expression of myeloid and lymphoid lineage-associated genes in bone marrows of aged mice.

Shirley Wang, BMSc Honors Program, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University
Thesis title: Unlocking cellular potency for regenerative therapies.

Narisa Dhupar, BMSc Honors Program, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University
Thesis title: CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling in target organ dysfunction in diabetes.
Subsequent position: MSc program at the University of Toronto. 

Iqra Rehman, BMSc Honors Program, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University
Thesis title: Expression of PPARG and PPARG-target genes in non-adipose tissues.

Ruo Hao Zhang, BMSc Honors Program, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University
Thesis title: Wnt signaling in ovarian cancer.
Subsequent position: MD program at the University of Toronto. 

Darya Abdolmaleki, BMSc Honors Program, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University
Thesis title: Identification of Carboplatin Resistant Cell Subpopulation in High Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma.
Subsequent position: MSc program at Western University. 

2017-09 – 2018-04

Seongryoung Han, BMSc Honors Program, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University
Thesis title: Elucidating carboplatin signaling mechanisms in ovarian cancer
Co-supervisor: Dr. Michele Weir (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine).
Subsequent position: Nursing program at Western University. 

2017-09 – 2018-04

Sahana Nirmaiyan, BMSc Honors Program, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University
Thesis title: Transforming growth factor-β signaling in mesenchymal progenitor cells. 

2016-10 - 2017-04

Meera Shah, BMSc Honors Program, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University
Thesis title: Histogenesis & immunohistochemical profile of granular cell tumour
Primary supervisor: Dr. Mark Darling (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)
Subsequent position: MD program at Western University. 

2016-10 – 2017-04

Jeyanth Inkaran, BMSc Honors Program, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University
Thesis title: In vitro modeling of salivary gland tumours
Co-supervisor: Dr. Mark Darling (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)
Subsequent position: MD program at McMaster University. 

2015-09 – 2016-04

Kristina Martinsons, BMSc Honors Program, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University
Thesis title: Kallikrien expression in mucoepidermoid carcinoma
Co-supervisor: Dr. Mark Darling (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)
Subsequent position: Dentistry program at University of Toronto. 

2013-09 - 2014-05

Sandra Mekhaiel, BMSc Honors Program; Department of Pathology, Western University
Thesis title: Role of vascular endothelial growth factor in ovarian cancer
Co-supervisor: Dr. Michele Weir (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)
Subsequent position: MD program at Western University. 

2012-09 - 2013-05

Sydney Todorovich, BMSc Honors Program; Department of Pathology, Western University
Thesis title: Role of developmentally-regulated transcription factors in hemangioma
Subsequent position: MPH program at Western University 2013-2014; MD program at Western University 2014. 

2012-09 - 2013-05

Jina J.Y. Kum, BMSc Honors Program; Department of Pathology, Western University
Thesis title: Mechanism of action of current treatments for infantile hemangioma
Subsequent position: MSc program in Pathology at Western University.  Accepted with scholarship to the MD program at St George’s University, Grenada, West Indies (deferred). 

2010-09 - 2011-05

Cassandra M. Welten, BMSc Honors Program; Department of Pathology, Western University
Thesis title: Characterization of stem cell phenotype in hemangioblastoma
Subsequent position: MD program at University of British Columbia. 

2008-09 - 2009-05

Angelica Ortiz, BMSc Honors Program; Department of Pathology, Western University
Thesis title: Hyperglycemia-induced alterations in endothelial progenitor cell function
Subsequent position: Biomedical Communications graduate program (MSc) at University of Toronto. 

2008-09 - 2009-05

James Yip, BMSc Honors Program; Department of Pathology, Western University
Thesis title: Identification of anti-adipogenic factors in hemangioma-derived stem cells
Subsequent position: MSc program in Pathology at Western University.  

2023-09 - 2024-04

Grace Eunbin Kim, Scholars’ Elective SE2200E, Western University
Project title: Niches in dishes.

2021-09 - 2022-04

Katharine Radcliffe, Scholars’ Elective SE2200E, Western University
Project title: TGFB dysregulation in short-term diabetes in mice.

2016-10 – 2017-04

Samina Nazarali, Scholars’ Elective SE3303E, Western University
Project title: Role of transforming growth factor signaling in marrow stem cell differentiation
Subsequent position: Continuation of Bachelor of Medical Science (BMSc).

2015-09 – 2016-04

Samina Nazarali, Scholars’ Elective SE2200E, Western University
Project title: Identification of neurogenic differentiation mechanisms in postnatal stem cells
Subsequent position: Continuation of Scholar’s Elective program. 

2011-09 - 2012-05

Andrew J. MacDonald, Scholars’ Elective SE3304E, Western University
Project title: Identification and characterization of breast cancer stem cells
Subsequent position: MD program at Queens University. 

2011-09 - 2012-05

Gaelle M. N. Groux, Scholar’s Elective SE1020Y, Western University
Project title: Diabetes-induced oxidative stress in vascular stem cells
Subsequent position: Continuation of Scholar’s Elective program at Western University. 

2010-09 - 2011-05

Andrew J. MacDonald, Scholars’ Elective SE3303E, Western University
Project title: Induced expression of blood-brain barrier markers in endothelial cells through astrocyte co-culturing
Subsequent position: Continuation of Scholar’s Elective program at Western University. 

2009-09 - 2010-05

Megan Brockman, Scholars’ Elective SE3303E, Western University
Project title: Role of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) in infantile hemangioma pathogenesis
Subsequent position: Pharmacy program (BSc Pharm) at University of Alberta. 

2008-09 - 2009-05

Megan Brockman, Scholars’ Elective SE1020Y, Western University
Project title: Vascular maturation and regression in infantile hemangioma
Subsequent position: Continuation of Scholar’s Elective program at Western University. 

2009-05 - 2009-08

Elizabeth E. Roach, PC Shah Student, Western University
Project title: Mechanisms regulating adipogenesis in infantile hemangioma
Subsequent position: Continuation of MD program at Western University. 

2015-05 – 2016-05

Katie Martini, Applied Science Research Student, Nanuet Public Schools, New York
Project title: Pathogenesis of infantile hemangioma. 

2015-05 - 2015-08

Ruan Lima, BSc, Science Without Borders
Project title: Role of matrix metalloproteinases in cell morphology and differentiation
Subsequent position: Continuation of BSc program in Brazil. 

2015-05 - 2015-08

Gena Ibrahim, BMSc Volunteer, Western University
Project title: Kinase-dependent and –independent signaling regulating collagen expression in stem cells.
Subsequent position: Continuation of the BMSc program at Western University. 

2015-05 - 2015-08

Mareyam Ghatreh-Samani, BMSc Volunteer, Western University
Project title: Epigenetic regulation of adipogenesis.
Subsequent position: Continuation of the BMSc program at Western University. 

2012-05 - 2012-08

Jina J.Y. Kum, BMSc Volunteer, Western University
Project title: Mechanisms of propranolol’s effect of hemangioma-derived cells
Subsequent position: BMSc Honors Specialization in Pathology & Toxicology at Western University. 

2011-01 - 2011-08

Nicole Park, MSc; Western University
Project title: Role of stem-ness phenotype in breast cancer cell metastasis
Subsequent position: PhD in Molecular Genetics program at University of Toronto. 

2009-09 - 2011-05

Rana Chakrabarti, BMSc Volunteer; Western University
Project title: Signaling mechanisms underlying adipogenesis in infantile hemangioma
Subsequent position: MD/MPH program at St George’s University, Grenada, West Indies. 

2009-05 - 2009-08

Ruby Ambalavanar, BSc Work Study; Western University
Joint-supervisor: Dr. Mark Darling
Project title: Identifying the genetic basis of infantile hemangioma pathogenesis
Subsequent position: Continuation of the BSc program at Western University.