BHCRI MEMBERS
As an Atlantic Canadian organization with a multidisciplinary and diverse membership of researchers, clinicians, trainees, and partners, BHCRI is committed to building a strong, connected network and fostering collaboration—key drivers of our success and central to advancing cancer research in the region.
Our community brings together a network of over 130 members (including Scientists, Senior Scientists, and Associate Members) alongside 60 trainees. Please note that individual profiles in this directory are dedicated to our Scientists and Senior Scientists.

Dr. Jessica Esseltine
BHCRI Scientist
- jesseltine@mun.ca
- https://www.mun.ca/medicine/faculty-and-staff-resources/faculty-a-z/esseltine-jessica.php
- Cell-Cell Communication, Connexins, Pannexins, Stem Cell
- Group:Scientist
- Specialties:Cell-Cell Communication, Connexins, Pannexins, Stem Cell
Dr. Jessica Esseltine
BHCRI Scientist
Institution: Memorial University of Newfoundland

Dr. Wasundara Fernando
BHCRI Scientist
- wasundara.fernando@acadiau.ca
- Aldehyde Dehydrogenases, Breast Cancer, Drug Resistance, Reactive Oxygen Species
- Group:Scientist
- Specialties:Aldehyde Dehydrogenases, Breast Cancer, Drug Resistance, Reactive Oxygen Species
Dr. Wasundara Fernando
BHCRI Scientist
Institution: Acadia University

Dr. Sheila N. Garland
BHCRI Senior Scientist
- Sheila.Garland@Mun.Ca
- https://drsheilagarland.com/
- Behavioral Clinical Trials, Behavioral Interventions, Psychosocial Oncology, Sleep & Insomnia
- Group:Senior Scientist
- Specialties:Behavioral Clinical Trials, Behavioral Interventions, Psychosocial Oncology, Sleep & Insomnia
Dr. Sheila N. Garland
BHCRI Senior Scientist
Institution: Memorial University of Newfoundland

Dr. Carmen Giacomantonio
BHCRI Senior Scientist
- carman.giacomantonio@dal.ca
- https://medicine.dal.ca/departments/department-sites/surgery/divisions/general-surgery/our-people/our-faculty/carman-giacomantonio.html
- Breast Cancer, Cancer Immunology, Cancer Metastasis, Targeted Therapy, Tumor Microenvironment
- Group:Senior Scientist
- Specialties:Breast Cancer, Cancer Immunology, Cancer Metastasis, Targeted Therapy, Tumor Microenvironment
Dr. Carmen Giacomantonio
BHCRI Senior Scientist
Institution: Dalhousie University

Dr. Amy Gillgrass
BHCRI Senior Scientist
- agillgrass@dal.ca
- https://medicine.dal.ca/departments/department-sites/microbiology/people/our-faculty/amy-gillgrass.html
- Cancer Immunotherapy, Humanized Mice, Immunology, Virology
- Specialties:Cancer Immunotherapy, Humanized Mice, Immunology, Virology
Dr. Amy Gillgrass
BHCRI Senior Scientist
Institution: Dalhousie University

Dr. Kerry Goralski
BHCRI Senior Scientist
- kerry.goralski@dal.ca
- https://www.dal.ca/faculty/health/pharmacy/faculty-staff/faculty/graduate-faculty/kerry-goralski.html
- Breast Cancer, Clinical Pharmacokinetics, Obesity and Metabolic Disease
- Group:Senior Scientist
- Specialties:Breast Cancer, Clinical Pharmacokinetics, Obesity and Metabolic Disease
Dr. Kerry Goralski
BHCRI Senior Scientist
Institution: Dalhousie University

Dr. Scott Grandy
BHCRI Senior Scientist
- scott.grandy@dal.ca
- https://www.thepaclab.com/
- Cardiotoxicity, Clinical Trial, Exercise, Inflammation, Treatment
- Group:Senior Scientist
- Specialties:Cardiotoxicity, Clinical Trial, Exercise, Inflammation, Treatment
Dr. Scott Grandy
BHCRI Senior Scientist
Institution: Dalhousie University

Dr. Mohammad Hajizadeh
BHCRI Scientist
- M.Hajizadeh@Dal.Ca
- https://www.dal.ca/faculty/health/health-administration/faculty-staff/our-faculty/mohammad-hajizadeh.html
- Health Inequalities, Indigenous Health, Public Health Policy, Social Determinants of Health
- Group:Scientist
- Specialties:Health Inequalities, Indigenous Health, Public Health Policy, Social Determinants of Health
Dr. Mohammad Hajizadeh
BHCRI Scientist
Institution: Dalhousie University

Dr. Kensuke Hirasawa
BHCRI Senior Scientist
- kensuke@mun.ca
- https://www.mun.ca/medicine/faculty-and-staff-resources/faculty-a-z/hirasawa-kensuke.php
- Immunotherapy, Oncolytic Virus, Radiation Oncology
- Group:Senior Scientist
- Specialties:Immunotherapy, Oncolytic Virus, Radiation Oncology
Dr. Kensuke Hirasawa
BHCRI Senior Scientist
Institution: Memorial University of Newfoundland

Dr. David Hoskin
BHCRI Senior Scientist
- Group:Senior Scientist
- Specialties:Immunotherapy, Nutraceuticals
Dr. David Hoskin
BHCRI Senior Scientist
Institution: Dalhousie University

Dr. Anna Ignaszak
BHCRI Scientist
- anna.ignaszak@unb.ca
- Aptamer-based Sensing, Electrochemical Biosensors, Electrochemistry, Signal Accusation
- Group:Scientist
- Specialties:Aptamer-based Sensing, Electrochemical Biosensors, Electrochemistry, Signal Accusation
Dr. Anna Ignaszak
BHCRI Scientist
Institution: University of New Brunswick

Dr. Gabriela Ilie
BHCRI Scientist
- Gabriela.Ilie@dal.ca
- https://medicine.dal.ca/departments/department-sites/community-health/our-people/our-faculty/gabriela-ilie.html
- Cancer Survivorship, Patient Education and Empowerment Programs, Patient Reported Outcome Measures, Psychosocial Oncology, Quality of Life
- Group:Scientist
- Specialties:Cancer Survivorship, Patient Education and Empowerment Programs, Patient Reported Outcome Measures, Psychosocial Oncology, Quality of Life
Dr. Gabriela Ilie
BHCRI Scientist
Institution: Dalhousie University

Dr. Amitabh Jha
BHCRI Senior Scientist
- ajha@acadiau.ca
- https://www.acadiau.ca/~ajha/
- Breast Cancer, Drug Design, Enzyme Inhibition, Medicinal Chemistry, Organic Synthesis
- Group:Senior Scientist
- Specialties:Breast Cancer, Drug Design, Enzyme Inhibition, Medicinal Chemistry, Organic Synthesis
Dr. Amitabh Jha
BHCRI Senior Scientist
Institution: Acadia University

Dr. Brent Johnston
BHCRI Senior Scientist
- brent.johnston@dal.ca
- https://medicine.dal.ca/departments/department-sites/microbiology/people/our-faculty/brent-johnston.html
- Dendritic Cells, NKT Cells, Oncolytic Virus
- Group:Senior Scientist
- Specialties:Dendritic Cells, NKT Cells, Oncolytic Virus
Dr. Brent Johnston
BHCRI Senior Scientist
Institution: Dalhousie University

Dr. Pavan Kakumani
BHCRI Scientist
- pavan.kakumani@mun.ca
- https://www.kakumanilab.ca
- Cell Death, Differentiation, miRNAs, Non-coding RNAs
- Group:Scientist
- Specialties:Cell Death, Differentiation, miRNAs, Non-coding RNAs
Dr. Pavan Kakumani
BHCRI Scientist
Institution: Memorial University of Newfoundland

Dr. Tobias Karakach
BHCRI Scientist
- karakach@dal.ca
- https://medicine.dal.ca/departments/department-sites/pharmacology/our-people/faculty/tobias-karakach.html
- Bioinformatics, Cancer Genomics, Multi-Omics Analysis, Pharmacogenomics, Systems Biology
- Group:Scientist
- Specialties:Bioinformatics, Cancer Genomics, Multi-Omics Analysis, Pharmacogenomics, Systems Biology
Dr. Tobias Karakach
BHCRI Scientist
Institution: Dalhousie University

Dr. Barbara Karten
BHCRI Scientist
- Group:Scientist
- Specialties:Lysosomes, Neuroblastoma
Dr. Barbara Karten
BHCRI Scientist
Institution: Dalhousie University

Dr. Melanie Keats
BHCRI Senior Scientist
- melanie.keats@dal.ca
- http://www.thepaclab.com
- Exercise, Implementation Science, Intervention, Survivorship
- Group:Senior Scientist
- Specialties:Exercise, Implementation Science, Intervention, Survivorship
Dr. Melanie Keats
BHCRI Senior Scientist
Institution: Dalhousie University

Dr. Ketan Kulkarni
BHCRI Scientist
- ketan.kulkarni@iwk.nshealth.ca
- https://medicine.dal.ca/departments/department-sites/pediatrics/our-people/our-faculty/ketan-kulkarni.html
- Leukemia, Lymphoma, Pediatric Thrombosis, Supportive Cancer Care
- Group:Scientist
- Specialties:Leukemia, Lymphoma, Pediatric Thrombosis, Supportive Cancer Care
Dr. Ketan Kulkarni
BHCRI Scientist
Institution: IWK Health Centre

Dr. Derrick Lee
BHCRI Scientist
- dlee@stfx.ca
- http://www.derrickglee.com
- Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, Genetics
- Group:Scientist
- Specialties:Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, Genetics