Lab Members
Current Members
Anna Syed, MSc
2025-09 -
Anna joined the lab as an MSc student, co-supervised with Dr. Christopher Howlett, after completing their BMSc with a double major in Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences and Medical Cell Biology from Western in 2025. Their graduate research focuses on understanding differential vascular endothelial cell outcomes in the bone marrow during ageing and the downstream consequences for resident stem cell populations. Anna brings a strong interdisciplinary foundation to the lab and approaches complex questions at the interface of vascular biology and stem cell ageing.
Lisa Fang, BMSc
2025-09 -
Lisa first joined the laboratory in 2025 as an Honours thesis student (co-supervised with Dr. AlMutawa), on a project to identify blood-based biomarkers for bacterial sepsis. They completed their BMSc in Biochemistry and Pathology of Human Disease from Western in 2026. Rather than close the chapter there, Lisa returned to the lab in May 2026 as a USRI student to build on their Honours findings and investigate the specificity of the identified biomarkers for bacterial sepsis.
Undisputed Superstars
Saja
2025-09 -
Saja joined the lab in 2025 and has quickly become one of its most socially connected members, having established warm working relationships with every colleague on the floor. He brings an infectious, high-energy enthusiasm to all collaborative endeavors and is known for proactively presenting his personal projects and materials to anyone willing to engage. Saja's unique contributions to lab culture include spontaneous interactive demonstrations, a refreshingly transparent approach to peer review (he actively and physically solicits feedback from others), and an unwavering commitment to keeping morale high. He is a welcome presence at every lab gathering.
Alice (Allie McNallie)
2022-06 - 2023-06
Alice joined the group in June 2022. She worked remotely, and was always looking for new challenges. Alice had some of the same talents as Leo, including using cellulose and napping. She was a loafer, not a flopper. She is also missed dearly.
Leonardo
2015-06 - 2022-03
Leo joined the lab in the summer of 2015. He did not talk much but worked extremely hard with senior members of the lab, incoming trainees, and volunteers/visitors to enhance productivity. He brought unique expertise to the lab including odd uses of cellulose, flopping, and napping (?). From 2018 to 2022, Leo worked remotely. He is missed dearly.
