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
Now featuring
Lucía Nabel Dunsworth Omaña!!!
Born June 3rd, 2022
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
Research Associate
Dr. Lama Fawaz is a research associate in Dr. Stratton's lab. After earning her PhD and Postdoc in neuroimmunology at McGill (1999-2010). Lama decided to focus on instructing and became a part of the teaching faculty at the Lebanese International University and the American University of Beirut (2010-2021). Now Lama plays a leadership role in the Stratton Lab, with a strong focus on immunology, teaching & supporting students, single cell technologies, as well as contributing intellectually.
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 studying ependymal cells with transgenic animal models, single cell and nucleus RNA sequencing, and high-field MRI. He has a particular interest in the relationship between neuroinflammation, ependymal alterations, and ventricular dysregulation. Adam also lectures in the history and philosophy of medicine at King's University College and teaches cadaveric anatomy to 1st and 2nd-year medical students at McGill University. In his spare time, he loves to play piano, write, and cook until the point of physical and culinary exhaustion.
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
PhD Candidate
Adam fast-tracked from his masters program in the summer of 2022. For his PhD project, he is investigating how the immune system is implicated in Parkinson's disease. To address his research questions, he uses a variety of single cell sequencing strategies with bioinformatic analysis, paired with animal models and a variety of cultured cell lines ranging from iPSC-derived dopamine neurons, to T cells, to monocytes and macrophages. During his free time, Adam loves to take long walks in nature and to eat poutine (ideally simultaneously).
ERICA CIANFARANO
PhD Rotation Student
Erica completed her bachelor’s degree at McGill University in 2022, where her work focused on miniscope imaging of the hippocampus. Her interest in neurodegenerative disease brought her to the Stratton lab, where she is doing her first of three rotations for her PhD rotation program. She is using this opportunity to investigate the dynamics of peripheral neuropathy while learning about why this is the best lab to rotate in (reasons include but are not limited to: Adam M’s great lab waffles, lots of fun science, and lab hikes)! Erica’s hobbies include, and are limited to, playing with her cat, Mungo!
DIANA CASAS
PhD Student
Diana completed her bachelor's degree in Biotechnology engineering at Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education in Mexico. During her undergraduate research internship, she studied the innate and adaptive immune response in Parkinson's disease using macrophages and T cells along dopaminergic neurons derived from iPSCs. In the Stratton lab, she aims to investigate the impact of CSF1R mutations on microglia development and function using patient-derived iPSCs. Her hobbies include watching movies, listening to music, and taking long walks at the park to pet puppies!
ELIA AFANASIEV
MSc Student
Elia completed his undergraduate degree at McGill University, with a Major in Neuroscience. He started working at the Stratton Lab towards the end of his bachelor's degree, and was accepted into McGill's IPN to continue conducting research in the lab as a master's student. He's highly interested in neurodegenerative pathology at a cellular level, which is what drew him to the Stratton Lab. In his free time, Elia loves to read about programming language design and implementation.
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHERS
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.
Yeji Lori Song
Yeji is a Physiology major undergraduate who is going into her third year at McGill University. She joined Dr. Stratton’s lab during summer 2022 and works with Adam G to study ependymal cells under healthy and neuroinflammatory conditions. Outside of the lab, Yeji is an active member of Universities Allied for Essential Medicines, a global organization that advocates for healthcare equity. Yeji also enjoys watching crime documentaries and listening to music.
Franziska Eisenhuth
Franziska is a fourth year undergraduate student in the Physiology and Physics joint major program at McGill. She joined the lab during fall 2022, working on her honours physiology research project under co-supervision by Dr. Stratton, Dr. Klostranec, and Dr. Rudko to develop a new imaging technique of interstitial fluid flow in the brain by using ethanol as a tracer in MRI. Outside of school, Franziska enjoys dancing as part of Inertia Modern Dance Collective at McGill, watching baking shows, and taking naps whenever possible.
PREVIOUS LAB MEMBERS
Nina Caporicci-Dinucci: MSc 2019-2021 → Went on to: M.D. candidate, McGill University
Dale Hatrock: MSc 2019-2021 → Deceased
Brianna Lu: BSc honours 2020-2022 → Went on to: M.D. candidate, UofT