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
Lab Manager
Vanessa joined the Stratton lab in 2021 after 8 years as a research technician at the Krembil Research Institute in Toronto, where she worked on animal models of Parkinson’s Disease. Vanessa earned her undergraduate degree in Microbiology and Immunology at Western University (2010) and master’s degree in Immunology at Queen's University (2013). At the Stratton lab, she is heavily involved in single cell sequencing, optimization of protocols, student training and day-to-day managing of the lab. Outside of work, Vanessa enjoys going on walks, bike rides, and park outings with her kids and husband, and is an avid fiction reader.
ALEXIS ALLOT
Research Associate
After obtaining his PhD in Bioinformatics from the University of Strasbourg, France, Alexis worked as Bioinformatician at EMBL-EBI, UK where he created websites to search biological samples and display genomic variations. He then spent 6 years working at NIH, USA, first as Visiting Fellow, then as a Research Fellow. There, he created several websites providing easier access to information in biomedical literature, such as LitCovid, LitSense, LitVar2, Pubtator3, LitSuggest, etc... Now in the Stratton lab at The Neuro - McGill University, Alexis will create websites allowing users to explore single cell data. In his free time, Alexis enjoys creating websites, android applications, and running.
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 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 is taking advantage of his bioinformatic expertise to study neurodegenerative disease. In his free time, Moein enjoys watching films, cooking, and relaxing with socio-political novels.
MAXIME BIGOTTE
Postdoctoral Researcher
Maxime obtained his Master’s degree in 2018 and his PhD in 2022 in Lyon, France. During his previous studies, Maxime investigated the effects of autoantibodies from neuromyelitis optica in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo models of ependymal cells. He also developed skills for immunolabeling, for ependymal flow assays, and for bulk RNA sequencing. Passionate about ependymal cells and neuroinflammation, Maxime joined Dr. Stratton’s lab in 2023 for his postdoc. Now, he is combining his skills with Dr. Stratton’s expertise in in vitro and in vivo models of ependyma to develop robust functional assays and single cell RNA sequencing pipelines. This will let him study how ependymal cells are impacted by immune cells and autoantibodies in Multiple Sclerosis. In his free time, Maxime loves sharing good food and drinks with his friends, and enjoys hiking, skiing, and skateboarding.
IRSHAD AKBAR
Postdoctoral Researcher
Irshad completed his Master’s in Immunology in 2015 and went on to work at the National Brain Research Centre in India, where he investigated neurotropic viral infections and their impact on neuroinflammation. Passionate about neuroimmunology, he pursued his PhD at Laval University under Dr. Manu Rangachari, graduating in 2025. During his doctoral studies, Irshad examined the pathogenic roles of Th1, Th17, Tc1, and Tc17 cells in models of multiple sclerosis and explored how stress granules regulate inflammatory T cell states. Irshad joined Dr. Stratton’s lab in 2025 as a postdoctoral researcher, where he now applies his immunology expertise to investigate mitochondrial autoimmunity in Parkinson’s disease using patient-derived PBMCs and translational neuroimmune approaches. His work integrates cellular immunology with human disease modeling to understand how dysregulated T cell responses contribute to neurodegeneration. Outside the lab, Irshad enjoys spending time in nature, inspired by his upbringing on his family’s apple farms in Kashmir. He loves hiking, gardening, and cooking, and especially enjoys preparing traditional Indian and Kashmiri dishes.
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 Candidate
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 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.
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).
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.
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, T cells and dopaminergic neurons derived from iPSCs. In the Stratton lab, Diana investigates 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!
AIRTON SINOTT CARVALHO
PhD Student
Airton completed his BSc in Biotechnology at the Federal University of Pelotas in Brazil and earned his master’s degree in Neuroscience through the Neurasmus program, training across the Netherlands, France, and Canada. He joined the Stratton Lab as a PhD student in Fall 2025. His research focuses on uncovering how glial cells drive neuroinflammation - focusing in ependymal cells - in multiple sclerosis. He investigates these mechanisms using animal models, advanced imaging, RNA sequencing, and cell-culture approaches. Outside the lab, Airton can often be found cycling around the city (thanks Bixi), playing games, baking, or listening to musicals and Taylor Swift.
SHOBINA PREMACHADRAN
MSc Student
Shobina is a Master's student who also completed her undergraduate degree 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 on examining the choroid plexus in MS. In her free time, Shobina enjoys playing tennis, cycling, playing the violin, and watching movies.
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHERS
JOSH GERTSVOLF
Josh is an undergraduate student at McGill, studying Neuroscience. He joined Dr. Stratton's lab due to his interest in developing wet and dry lab techniques in an exciting field like neuroscience. In the lab, Josh works with Elia and Adam Groh to study the ependymal cell's role in the brain-CSF barrier and is currently working on developing a means of visualising the ependyma by means of 3D imaging with light sheet microscopy. Outside of the lab, Josh enjoys playing basketball, cooking, exploring Montreal, and spending time with friends.
ANNE BUI
Anne is an undergraduate student studying Neuroscience at McGill University. She joined the Stratton lab in the fall of 2023 with an interest in neurodegenerative diseases. In the lab, she is investigating the glymphatic system using non-invasive tracers and neuroimaging techniques. In her free time, Anne enjoys figure skating, playing badminton with friends, and perfecting her matcha lattes.
FINN CREEGGAN
Finn is an undergraduate student majoring in neuroscience at McGill University. He joined the Stratton Lab in May 2024, where he began working with single nuclear transcriptomic and epigenomic data to decode cellular heterogeneity in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Currently, Finn is focused on projects aimed at understanding the landscapes of cellular reactivity in MS by examining potential drivers in the microenvironment. He utilizes machine learning, deep learning, and predictive tools to accomplish this. Outside the lab, Finn enjoys playing sports, pottery, sewing, and writing about design.
PREVIOUS LAB MEMBERS
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Nina Caporicci-Dinucci: MSc 2019-2021 → Went on to: M.D. candidate, McGill University
Dale Hatrock: MSc 2019-2021
Brianna Lu: BSc honours 2020-2022 → Went on to: M.D. candidate, UofT
Franziska Eisenhuth: BSc honours 2022-2023 → Went on to: M.D. candidate, McMaster
Elia Afanasiev : MSc 2022-2025 → Went on to: Computational Research Technician, UofT
Abigail Ralph : MSc 2023-2025 → Went on to: Internship at the GraceKennedy Foundation
Vincent Wong : BSc honours 2024-2025 → Went on to: Rhodes Scholarship, Oxford UK
Lin Liu : BSc honours 2023-2025 → Went on to: PhD candidate, McGill University