We are excited to welcome the incoming CBR Graduate Award Program (GAP) cohort for 2025-2026! Over the next year, these students will take part in exciting professional development activities alongside their research. Learn more about them and their research below:
Download the GAP 2025-2026 Cohort PDF Here!
Alessia Palumbo, Foster Lab
I am a 2nd year MSc in Biochemistry student in Dr. Leonard Foster’s lab. I am researching the cellular mechanisms of hormone therapies using multi-omics approaches, specifically proteomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics.
Hobbies: I enjoy crochet, dance, and sewing.
What sport would you compete in if you were in the Olympics? Equestrian! I can barely keep myself on a horse but they’re so cute!
Hayle Kincross, Karsan Lab
I am a 6th year, PhD student in Dr. Aly Karsan’s lab. I am studying the role mitochondria play in regulating hematopoietic stem cell self renewal and differentiation. When those processes go awry, it can contribute to transformation of healthy stem cells into acute myeloid leukemia. I am trying to identify the unique dependencies that leuekmic cells have because of those mitochondiral defects. We hope this will allow us to treat a patient’s leukemia better without harming their healthy stem cells.
Hobbies: I enjoy cycling, hiking, and watching sports with my cat on my lap.
What sport would you compete in if you were in the Olympics? Ice Hockey.
Michelle Lin, Kizhakkedathu Lab
I am a 1st year PhD student in Dr. Jay Kizhakkedathu’s lab in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. My project will involve the masking or cleavage of all antigens on the surfaces of red blood cells to create a truly universal blood type that is capable of being transfused in all patients regardless of blood type.
Hobbies: Outside of the lab, I’m a big fan of hiking in the summer, and I’ve recently begun skiing on the rare occasion when there’s enough snow. When the weather is a bit gloomier, you can usually find me reading in a coffee shop somewhere in Vancouver.
What sport would you compete in if you were in the Olympics? If I were to compete in the Olympics, I think I’d do a great job in bobsledding.
Paniz Ghavimi, Conway Lab
I am a 1st year, MSc student in Experimental Medicine in Dr. Ed Conway’s Lab. Despite major advances, a gap remains in understanding how key components of the blood clotting system directly interact with the insulin-glucose transport system in the blood, and conversely, how insulin affects blood clotting. The goal of my project titled “Molecular Pathways Regulating Coagulation and Insulin Signalling” is to systematically examine the biochemical interactions between the blood clotting and insulin glucose transport systems, to reveal how the key components interact. We are hopeful that such information would be valuable in designing therapeutic targets to prevent excess clotting in patients with diabetes.
Hobbies: I enjoy running, kayaking, exploring new coffee shops, and trying new ice cream flavours!
What sport would you compete in if you were in the Olympics? I would play tennis, as it is a sport I have played throughout elementary and high school.
Taehyun Kim, McNagny Lab
I am a 3rd year PhD student in Biomedical Engineering in Dr. Kelly McNagny’s lab. My work is centered on understanding and controlling immune memory. I investigate how to improve LNP-RNA vaccines by analyzing the initial innate immune response they trigger. Concurrently, I focus on developing new therapies for asthma by finding ways to modulate the immune system’s memory.
Hobbies: I love trying new food.
What sport would you compete in if you were in the Olympics? I would compete in horseback riding (horses are cute).
Sandra Tsai, Brown Lab
I am a second year MSc student in Microbiology and Immunology in Dr. Kelly Brown’s lab. I work on understanding pediatric autoinflammatory conditions, specifically on a condition called deficiency of adenosine deaminase 2 (DADA2), which is caused by mutations in the gene that encodes for the protein adenosine deaminase 2 (ADA2). I am working with human myeloid cell lines to investigate ADA2 variant-specific effects and provide a better understanding of the mechanisms behind DADA2.
Hobbies: I enjoy crocheting, watching shows, and hanging out with friends.
What sport would you compete in if you were in the Olympics? If I were to compete in the Olympics, I would choose table tennis!