Researcher Profiles

Dr. Anna Ignaszak, PhD MSc

Appointments: Associate Professor Affiliations: University of New Brunswick, Department of Chemistry Research Interests: Electrochemical biosensors, point-of-care, medical diagnostics, lab-on-a-chip, electrochemistry, early detection, cancer biomarkers Research projects that have been initiated in our laboratory at UNB aim to develop an electrochemical analyzer that provides solution to early screening of selected cancer biomarkers (breast, pancreatic, lungs). Currently, … Read more

Dr. Gabriela Ilie, PhD (She/her)

Appointments: Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation Endowed Soillse Scientist in Prostate Cancer Quality of Life Research; Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University Affiliations: Joint Associate Professor appointment in the Departments of Urology and Community Health and Epidemiology The overarching aim of Dr. Ilie’s research is to Improve the Quality of Life of Prostate Cancer survivors through … Read more

Dr. Amitabh Jha, MSc, PhD

Appointments: Professor, Department of Chemistry, Acadia University George H. Wallace Chair of Chemistry, Acadia University Adjunct Professor, Department of Biology, Acadia University Affiliations: Acadia University Research Interests: Drug Design, Medicinal Chemistry, Anticancer Drug Development, Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Green Chemistry Anticancer Medicinal Chemistry Research efforts in Dr Jha’s laboratory have led to identification of several clusters … Read more

Dr. Brent Johnston, PhD

Appointments: Professor, Department of Microbiology & Immunology Professor, Department of Paediatrics Cross-appointed to Department of Pathology Affiliations: Dalhousie University Research Interests: Mechanisms of immune activation and cell recruitment; adhesion molecules, chemokines, and cytokines; NKT cells  in inflammation and cancer; immunotherapy; oncolytic viruses Stimulating natural immunity against cancer Natural Killer T (NKT) cells are a population of immune … Read more

Dr. Gerald C. Johnston, PhD, FCAHS

Appointments: Professor, Microbiology & Immunology Dalhousie University, Faculty of Medicine Affiliations: Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine Research Interests: Yeast as a model system for studying cancer and the transition of cells from quiescence to proliferation Unlocking the secrets of cancer’s origins Bakers’ yeast is a simple organism – yet the genetic and cellular processes that … Read more

Dr. Pavan Kumar Kakumani, PhD

Appointments: Assistant Professor (Tenure-track), Biochemistry Affiliations: Memorial University of Newfoundland Research interests: small RNAs, RBPs, gene silencing, mRNAs, retrotransposons, cell death, cell differentiation, human health and disease Research Summary: small RNAs in gene regulation and human health: The onset and progression of cancers involve deregulation of gene expression responsible for cell division and differentiation. I … Read more

Dr. Tobias K. Karakach, PhD

Appointments: Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University; Adjunct Professor, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba. Affiliations: Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute; Trace Analysis Research Center Research Interests: Bioinformatics; Genomics; Transcriptomics; Proteomics; Pediatric Cancer; Wilms Tumor; Metabolomics; single cell RNAseq Solving our biggest health challenges by studying the smallest units of life New … Read more

Dr. Barbara Karten, PhD

Appointments: Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Department Head, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Affiliations: Dalhousie University Research interests: Cell Biology, Intracellular lipid metabolism, cholesterol homeostasis, neuroblastoma, neurons, endosomes, mitochondria, breast cancer Research Summary: Linking cellular cholesterol homeostasis to cancer cell growth All animal cells require cholesterol, which regulates membrane and membrane protein function. Cholesterol is present … Read more

Dr. Melanie Keats, PhD

Appointments: Professor, School of Health and Human Performance (Division of Kinesiology), Dalhousie University Affiliations: 02/2018 – present Affiliate Scientist Division of Medical Oncology, Nova Scotia Health Authority 01/2009 – present Scientific Staff, Izzak Walton Killam Health Center   Research Interests: Exercise oncology; cancer survivorship; late-effects; interventions; implementation science Dr. Keats’ program of research focuses on exploring the … Read more

Dr. Sara FL Kirk, PhD

Appointments: Professor of Health Promotion, School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University; Scientific Director, Health Populations Institute, Dalhousie University; Member, CIHR Institute Advisory Board, Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health (IHDCYH). Affiliations: Adjunct Professor, Mount Saint Vincent University Research Interests: Health promotion, population health, applied health services and policy research, social-ecological approaches to health, … Read more