Senior Scientist – Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids)
Professor – Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto
Director – Collaborative Specialization in Developmental Biology, University of Toronto
Born and raised in Ottawa, my interest in biology wasn’t really piqued until I carried out my undergraduate studies at Queen’s University. Convinced I wanted to become a biochemist by several summers of liquid chromatography, I started my PhD studies at the University of Toronto where I was first exposed to developmental biology and the endlessly fascinating questions of how a single cell becomes an organism.
Following my PhD studies in Toronto on mouse placental development, I was fortunate to be able to carry out my postdoctoral studies with Dr. Didier Stainier at University of California San Francisco (UCSF). This turned out to be a great move! Aside from being exposed to the zebrafish model and excellent mentorship, I had the chance to participate in a full genetic screen. Countless hours of observing cardiac mutants fully tempered my scientific interests, with identification and (eventual…) cloning of the grinch mutant setting my interest in early development and cardiogenesis. On top of that, I got to live in San Francisco, AND meet my future wife. As a Principal Investigator, I truly enjoy my role as a facilitator for the development of trainees as independent scientists. My best days are those where people bring me their new ideas (and of course data) as they become masters of their own projects. Outside the lab, I enjoy family time, sports/CrossFit, reading, and playing Dungeons and Dragons with my boys and others.
Laura joined the Scott lab in 2013. In addition to the support role that she performs for the lab, her research is focused on building a brain tumour model in zebrafish. She is interested in using CRISPR/Cas tools to study cardiac genes. Prior to joining the Scott lab, Laura worked as a protein crystallographer in Montreal. Outside of the lab, she enjoys attending arts and cultural events.
Cherry began her MSc in 2022, after completing an HBSc at the University of Toronto. She is interested in cis-regulatory elements governing gata5 expression during early cardiac development. Outside of the lab, she likes to draw/paint, go to food fests, and garden.
Nathan began his PhD in 2016 after discovering an interest in developmental biology during his undergraduate at the University of Guelph. His project focuses on the function of the Apelin Receptor in cardiac lineage development. He is particularly interested in how this GPCR interacts with other cell signalling pathways to regulate cellular specification and migration. In his free time Nathan likes to escape Toronto and go camping in Ontario’s beautiful wilderness.
Shimon is a PhD candidate in the Scott lab. He is co-supervised by Anne-Claude Gingras at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute. Shimon in interested in developing methods for performing interaction proteomics in vivo in zebrafish. He is utilizing the developed methods to interrogate the in vivo interactome of the Cerebral Cavernous Malformation causing protein CCM3 to better understand the molecular mechanisms of this disease. Outside the lab Shimon enjoys participating in team sports, and spending time with his family and friends.
Casey started her PhD in September 2019, after completing a MSc degree at the University of Alberta. Using bioinformatic and molecular genetic techniques, she studies conserved non-coding regions and the genes they regulate, in both healthy and abnormal heart development. When not in the lab, Casey enjoys bouldering, Dungeons & Dragons, Raptors basketball, and craft beer.
Esra joined the Scott lab in September 2021, after completing a BSc in Molecular Genetics from the University of Alberta. She is interested in non-coding regulatory elements and their role in heart development and disease. Outside of the lab, Esra enjoys rock climbing, running, and playing cards with her friends.
Maria joined the lab in 2022 after completing her BSc in Physiology and Immunology at UofT. She is interested in understanding the earliest stages in transcriptional regulation of cardiac progenitor cells using RNA analyses and genetic validations. Maria spends her free time weightlifting, playing volleyball, or paddling with her dragon boat team.