The Heart of the Lab
Translational Medicine, SickKids Research Institute
Dr. Chi enormously contributes in multiple aspects to all the projects in our lab. In addition, Dr. Chi is investigating the function of histone methyltransferases that form part of epigenetic silencing complexes in the development of cardiovascular precursor cells and their descendants.
Translational Medicine, SickKids Research Institute
Dr. Pérez-Romero is delving into the mechanisms of gene expression control that are dysregulated to cause peripartum cardiomyopathy. Dr. Pérez-Romero’s research focuses on uncovering genes and pathways targeted by histone demethylases mediating adaptation of the cardiovascular system to the physiological challenge of pregnancy.
Department of Molecular Genetics, U of T
Amalia is investigating how obesity during pregnancy affects gene expression in the early developing embryo. Amalia employs single-cell genome wide approaches to uncover regulatory mechanisms of disease programming.
Department of Molecular Genetics, U of T
Jibran is working on a new project investigating how noncoding RNAs are processed in the heart. Jibran’s research has uncovered a transcriptional repressor that controls cardiomyocyte growth when the heart is challenged by pathological stimuli.
Department of Molecular Genetics, U of T
Jielin investigates the dynamics of genome organization in cardiomyocytes to understand the regulatory mechanisms of heart development and regeneration.
Department of Molecular Genetics, U of T
Jasmine is focused on uncovering the function of a histone chaperone in development of cardiac neural crest progenitors and their contribution to formation of the cardiac septum and outflow tract.
Translational Medicine, SickKids Research Institute
Cristina is our point of contact for logistics, onboarding, and navigating the Research Institute’s policy.
Alumni
Research Fellows
Abdalla Ahmed, PhD.
Abdalla discovered a pathway controlled via histone demethylation and that is dysregulated to initiate cardiac deterioration leading to heart failure.
Present position: Consultant, biotech industry.
Graduate Students
Abdalla Ahmed, PhD.
Graduated from the PhD Program in the Department of Molecular Genetics at U of T
Abdalla investigated the earliest effects of obesity during pregnancy on the developing heart and the molecular events that program an increased risk of adult-onset heart disease.
Thesis: Transcriptional Origins of Adult Cardiac Disease in Response to Maternal Obesity
Position after graduation: Research Fellow, The Hospital for Sick Children
Anna Roy
Graduated from the Master of Science program in the Department of Molecular Genetics, U of T.
Thesis: CCCTC-binding Factor (Ctcf) is Required for Mouse Cardiovascular Development.
Position after graduation: Project Coordinator, The Hospital for Sick Children.
Sandra Vuong
Graduated from the Master of Science program in the Department of Molecular Genetics, U of T.
Thesis: Loss of L3mbtl2 in Cardiac Progenitor Cells Causes Subtle Defects in the Developing Heart Leading to Cardiac Dysfunction in Adulthood.
Position after graduation: MD Candidate, Australia.
Undergraduate Research Students
Sofia Wang
Position after graduation: PhD Student in the Department of Molecular Genetics at U of T
Mabel Yang
Research Student, Special Research Project, Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto
Evonne Anin
Research Student
Etri Kocaqi
Position after graduation: Medical School, McMaster University.
Dorothy Lee
Position after graduation: Student in the PhD program in the Department of Physiology, U of T.
Tao Wang
Position after graduation: Student in the Master of Science program in the Department of Physiology, U of T.
Meaghan Leslie
Position after graduation: Graduate Student in the Master of Science program in the Department of Molecular Genetics, U of T.
Ryan Tracey
Alicia Jarosz
Position after graduation: MD Candidate, University of Alberta.
Evonne Anin
Etri Kocaqi
Position after graduation: Medical School, McMaster University.
Dorothy Lee
Position after graduation: Student in the PhD program in the Department of Physiology, U of T.
Tao Wang
Position after graduation: Student in the Master of Science program in the Department of Physiology, U of T.
Meaghan Leslie
Position after graduation: Graduate Student in the Master of Science program in the Department of Molecular Genetics, U of T.
Ryan Tracey
Alicia Jarosz
Position after graduation: MD Candidate, University of Alberta.
Volunteers
Sina Fatehi Someeh
Position after graduation: Student in the Master of Science program in the Department of Molecular Genetics, U of T.
Angela Chen
Position after graduation: Undergraduate Student, U of T.
Angela An Qi Duan
Position after graduation: Student in the Master of Science program in the Department of Medical Science, U of T.