JO ANNE STRATTON
Dr. Stratton was recruited to the Montreal Neurological Institute in 2019 and specializes in the analysis of neuro-immune interactions. She completed her PhD in 2013 at the University of Melbourne, then went on to complete her postdoctoral fellowship at Hotchkiss Brain Institute in 2019. She has a long-time interest in neurodegenerative disease and focuses on the use of single cell technologies to understand the mechanisms of glial and immune cell actions within the nervous system. Her lab uses in vitro assays, in vivo mouse modeling as well as human cell and tissue analysis, including the use of iPSCs.
Dr. Stratton is an Assistant Professor of Neuroimmunology at The Neuro, McGill University.
CURRENT LAB MEMBERS
VANESSA OMANA
Research Assistant
Vanessa joined the Stratton lab in 2021 after 8 years as a research technician at the Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, in Toronto, where she worked on animal models of Parkinson’s Disease. She has a master’s in immunology from Queen's University (2013). At the Stratton lab, she is heavily involved in single cell sequencing and animal disease models. Outside of work, Vanessa enjoys going on walks, bike rides, and park outings with her toddler son and husband, and is an avid fiction reader. (On Maternity leave until May/June 2023).
MOEIN YAQUBI
Postdoctoral Researcher
Moein obtained his master's degree in Cell and Molecular Biology in Iran in 2015. In 2016, he joined McGill's Integrated Program in Neuroscience (IPN), earning his PhD in 2021. During his PhD, he used single-cell RNA-sequencing to primarily study microglia. Moein has extensive background in analyzing high throughput transcriptomic and epigenomic data at bulk and single cell levels. During his postdoctoral fellowship in Dr. Stratton’s Lab, Moein will take advantage of his bioinformatic expertise to study neurodegenerative disease. In his free time, Moein enjoys watching films, cooking, and relaxing with socio-political novels.
LAMA FAWAZ, PhD
Research Associate
Dr. Lama Fawaz
ADAM GROH
PhD Candidate
Adam graduated from Western University with a master’s degree in Anatomy and Cell Biology in 2019. There, his research spanned the fields of autonomic neuroscience, medical imaging, and science pedagogy. Now in the Stratton lab at The Neuro - McGill University, his work focuses primarily on characterizing the role(s) of ependymal cells in brain health and disease using methods such as single nuclear RNA sequencing and high-field MRI. Adam loves to play piano, write, bake bread, and perhaps brew the occasional double-hopped IPA when he is not in the lab.
SHERILYN RECINTO
PhD Student
Sherilyn earned her undergraduate degree in Pharmacology and Therapeutics and master’s degree in Neuroscience at McGill University in 2017 and 2019, respectively. Her interest in uncovering the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases began while studying Alzheimer’s disease, and now she seeks to understand the autoimmune mechanisms driving Parkinson’s disease pathogenesis. She will integrate molecular and biochemical work with single-cell technologies to accomplish this goal. In her spare time, Sherilyn enjoys hiking trips with friends and binge-watching sit-coms. She also has a passion in community organizing, particularly raising awareness about issues of Filipino youth and student immigrants.
Yue Zhang
PhD Student
Yue obtained her master’s degree in Neuroimmunology in China in 2021. There, she investigated microglia’s relationship with neurogenesis in depression. Now in Dr. Stratton’s Lab, she focuses on developing the first protocol of inducing ependymal cells from human iPSCs and will further apply it to interrogate the role of ependymal cells in neurological diseases. In her free time, Yue likes to watch crime and sci-fi series preferably with a female lead, play video games, write original novels, cook delicious meals and try to exercise.
ADAM MACDONALD
MSc Student
Adam completed his bachelor’s degree at Concordia University in 2019, where his undergraduate research focused on exosome biogenesis. In the Stratton lab, he is expanding his skillset to include bioinformatic analysis, which he uses to understand glial cell and immune cell dynamics in diseases such as Parkinson's disease. During his free time, Adam loves to take long walks in nature and to eat poutine (ideally simultaneously).
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHERS
BRIANNA LU
Brianna is an undergraduate student studying interdepartmental honours immunology at McGill University. She joined the Stratton lab during her first year at McGill because of her interests in neuroscience, immunology, and autoimmune disease. Since then, she has been able to work with several graduate students on different projects, including a project investigating the loss of ependymal barrier integrity in multiple sclerosis. Outside of the lab, Brianna enjoys sports like soccer and rhythmic gymnastics, hanging out with her cats (she’s fostered 10 cats and 2 bunnies in the past two years!), and playing the guitar.
Shobina Premachandran
Shobina is an undergraduate student currently in her second year at McGill University, studying Anatomy and Cell Biology. She joined Dr. Stratton's lab due to her interest in neuroscience, neurodegenerative diseases and to expand her knowledge on laboratory techniques. In the lab, Shobina works with Sherilyn to examine the gut-brain axis and the altered immune responses that facilitate the progression of Parkinson's disease. In her free time, Shobina enjoys playing tennis, cycling, playing the violin, and watching movies.
PREVIOUS LAB MEMBERS
Nina Caporicci-Dinucci: MSc 2019-2021 → Went on to: M.D. candidate, McGill University
Dale Hatrock: MSc 2019-2021 → Deceased