Meet the Team

Directors

Jeff Wrana
Jeff Wrana
Co-Director

Dr. Jeff Wrana is a Senior Investigator at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute and Professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto.

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Anne-Claude Gingras
Anne-Claude Gingras
Co-Director

Dr. Anne-Claude Gingras is the Vice President of Research at Sinai Health, Director of the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, and Professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto.

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Jeff Wrana
Laurence Pelletier
Co-Director

Dr. Laurence Pelletier is a Senior Investigator at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute and Professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto.

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Jeff Wrana
Karen Colwill
Director of Operations

Karen Colwill holds a PhD in Molecular and Medical Genetics, and has been managing scientific projects, large-scale grants and facilities for over 15 years.


Management

Brendon Seale
Brendon Seale
Proteomics Scientific Manager

Dr. Brendon Seale has a PhD in Bioanalytical Chemistry from the University of Toronto focused on the analysis of micro-sized protein samples by mass spectrometry and ion mobility.

Cassandra Wong
Cassandra Wong
Proteomics Operation Manager

Cassandra Wong has a MSc in Molecular Genetics (Proteomics focus) and has a strong background in mass spectrometry and quantitative proteomics.

Kin Chan
Kin Chan
Next-Generation Sequencing Manager

Kin Chan (MSc) has more than 15 years experience in high-throughput gene expression and genomics profiling, and he has managed both microarray and sequencing facilities.

Jenny Wang
Jenny Wang
High-throughput Screening Manager

Jenny Wang has a MSc in Pharmacology and Physiology and over 25 years experience in developing, optimizing, and executing high-throughput screens using integrated automation systems.

Monica Hasegan
Monica Hasegan
High-Content Screening Manager

Dr. Monica Hasegan is the manager of the High-Content Screening facility. With a PhD in Physics, she has a strong background in instrumentation, advanced imaging, data processing and analysis.

Louise Brown
Louise Brown
Advanced Imaging Manager

Louise Brown is the Imaging Manager within the Advanced Imaging facility. She has over 20 years of experience at LTRI within the microscope core (previously known as OPTIMA).

Jenny Wang
Johnny Tkach
Advanced Imaging High-Resolution Manager

Dr. Johnny Tkach is in charge of the high-resolution and super-resolution optical microscopes within the NBCC. Johnny has a PhD in Biochemistry and has authored numerous articles.

Michael Parsons
Michael Parsons
Flow Cytometry Manager

Michael Parsons has an MSc in Medical Biophysics and has managed LTRI's Flow Cytometry facility since 2010 overseeing operations, scientific collaborations, and strategic planning.


Staff

Angeline Zhang
Angeline Zhang
Next-Generation Sequencing Research Specialist

Expertise: next generation sequencing applications, DNA and RNA isolation, molecular biology, maintenance and operation of NGS instruments

Dan Trcka
Dan Trcka
Spatial and Single Cell Specialist

Single cell and spatial transcriptomics using 10X instruments, technology development

Ricky Tsai
Ricky Tsai
Spatial Imaging Specialist

Spatial imaging and transcriptomics using GeoMx digital spatial profiler, technology development

Annie Bang
Annie Bang
Flow Cytometry Specialist

Expertise: development of flow cytometry applications, routine maintenance of instruments, training of facility users

Mariam Iskilova
Mariam Iskilova
Laboratory Automation Specialist

Expertise: quality control and assurance, development and implementation of robot-assisted technologies

Mark Jen
Mark Jen
Laboratory Automation Specialist

Expertise: routine maintenance and QC of instrumentation, development and implementation of robot-assisted technologies

Zhen-Yuan Lin
Zhen-Yuan Lin
Biology and Mass Spectrometry Research Specialist

Expertise: sample purification and mass spectrometry operation

Laura McGary
Laura McGary
Biology and Mass Spectrometry Research Specialist

Expertise: development of chemical proteomics protocols and mass spectrometry operation

Lauren Caldwell
Lauren Caldwell
Bioinformatician

Expertise: analysis of RNA-seq data (experimental and clinical) and high throughput screening data

Andreea Obersterescu
Andreea Obersterescu
Bioinformatician

Expertise: analysis of bulk and single-cell sequencing data and high-throughput screens

Frank Liu
Guomin (Frank) Liu
Proteomics Programmer

Expertise: ProHits LIMS system, software integration

JianPing Zhang
JianPing Zhang
Proteomics Programmer

Expertise: ProHits LIMS system, user interfaces

Bob Liu
Bob Liu
Proteomics Jr Programmer

Expertise: ProHits LIMS system, cloud computing