JO ANNE STRATTON

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. 

ADAM GROH

PhD Student

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.

DALE HATROCK

MSc Student

Dale graduated from York College, Pennsylvania in 2014, then joined industry working in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, in vitro diagnostics, and gene therapy. Dale is developing in vitro technology to study the function of ependymal cells following inflammatory insults. Dale has a passion for science communication, and is also interested in the arts, including music and theatre, and outdoor sports, like rock climbing and soccer.

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).

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.

GABRIELA BLASZCZYK

Gabriela is an undergraduate student currently in her fourth year in the interdepartmental honours immunology program at McGill. In the lab, she is helping to create the first ependymal cell model derived from human stem cells. This will aid other ependymal cell researchers who need an in vitro model to study these cells with respect to development and disease. She is from Toronto, Ontario, and loves to ski, bike, and watch movies during her spare time.

LUCA BLACK

Luca is an undergraduate studying biology at McGill University. He is taking courses in metabolism, genetics, and biological statistics, as well as courses outside of his major, such as finance and economics. He has joined Stratton lab as a way to further his knowledge in basic science and research to gain experience relevant to a career in medicine. Luca loves swimming, board games, and has an unhealthy obsession with orange juice.