Madeline Hayes, PhD
Scientist

Madeline is a Scientist at SickKids and Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto. She completed her PhD at the University of Toronto and postdoctoral training in the laboratory of Dr. David Langenau, at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. In 2019, Madeline returned to SickKids and worked with Drs. Bret Pearson, Meredith Irwin and David Kaplan developing translational zebrafish cancer models, before starting her own lab in 2022.

Madeline loves zebrafish and spending both park and couch time with her dogs, Pip and Flo.

Alex Weiss M.Sc.
Research Technologist II

Alex is a Research Technologist II at SickKids in the Developmental, Stem Cell & Cancer Biology Program. Alex completed his undergraduate degree and a Masters of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Guelph. In 2018, Alex started at SickKids with Dr. Bret Pearson, working with zebrafish and planarians and helped develop our novel zebrafish brain tumor model using genetic techniques, transplantation and live imaging.

Outside of the lab, Alex likes gaming with friends, getting out into nature, and hanging out with his many pets.

Jun Hui Yeoh M.Sc.
Research Technologist II

Jun is a Research Technologist II at SickKids, working in the Developmental, Stem Cell & Cancer Biology Program. He completed his Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Montreal and a research internship at the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM). In 2024, he joined Dr. Zhengping Jia’s lab at SickKids, where he studies how glutamate receptors are involved in synaptic plasticity and learning, utilizing eGRASP technique to visualize the location of synapses.

Outside of work, Jun enjoys playing soccer, strumming guitar, and pencil sketching.

Sarah Kamel
Postdoctoral Fellow

Sarah is a Research Fellow at SickKids in the Developmental, Stem Cell and Cancer Biology Program. Sarah received her B.Sc. (Hons.) degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics from the University of Toronto where she completed her Honours Project in the lab of Dr. Ian Scott (SickKids). Sarah obtained her M.Sc. in Biology from Leiden University (The Netherlands) within the group of Dr. Annemarie Meijer and PhD in Biomedical Sciences (Genetics) from Utrecht University (The Netherlands), where she conducted her doctoral research in the group of Dr. Jeroen Bakkers at the Hubrecht Institute.

Sarah completed a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship (partially supported by FRQS Postdoctoral Fellowship) in CHU Sainte-Justine Research Centre in Montreal within the group of Dr. Ruben Marin-Juez prior to moving to Toronto. In the Hayes lab, Sarah utilizes the zebrafish for uncovering targeted therapeutics for metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). Sarah was awarded a Restracomp Postdoctoral Fellowship from SickKids Research Training Centre and the Garron Family Cancer Centre to support her research.

Outside the lab, Sarah enjoys travelling, photography and exploring Toronto’s diverse neighbourhoods.

Ting Xiong
Graduate Student – PhD candidate

Ting is a PhD candidate in the Molecular Genetics Program at the University of Toronto. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto in Molecular Genetics (Microbiology stream) and music programs. She joined the Hayes lab in January 2023 and is currently working on modeling patient-derived variants of the DNA damage response genes in a zebrafish model of neuroblastoma.

In her free time, Ting enjoys playing violin in community orchestras, biking in the city, and searching for new cafes to satisfy her flat white cravings.

Erin Cooper
Graduate Student – M.Sc. candidate

Erin is a graduate student in Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto. She completed her undergraduate degree in Health Sciences at Wilfrid Laurier. Erin joined the Hayes lab in 2025, where she is investigating the roles of tumour heterogeneity in metastatic neuroblastoma using both zebrafish and cellular models.

Outside of the lab, Erin enjoys cooking/baking, socializing with friends, and trying to read every book in Indigo.

Veronica Vendetti
Graduate Student – M.Sc. candidate

Veronica is a graduate student in the Department of Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto. She completed her HBSc in Neuroscience and Biology at the University of Toronto Mississauga. Veronica joined the Hayes Lab in 2024, where she is currently investigating the mechanisms underlying metastasis in rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) using a zebrafish model of metastatic RMS.

Outside of the lab, Veronica enjoys spending time with friends, exploring Toronto, and discovering new sitcoms to watch!

Willow Squires
Graduate Student – M.Sc.

Annam Imran
Research Technologist II