EDUCATION AND RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Postdoctoral Fellow, Division of Bone and Marrow Transplantation (2006-Present)
Stanford University School of Medicine
Advisor: Robert S. Negrin, MD
Determined the trafficking behavior of NKT cells in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) and their ability to regulate graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)
Discovered that host Mast cells have an immunosuppressive role and reduce GVHD after HCT
Studied mechanism by which a co-stimulatory blockade of T cells promotes the engraftment of in Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent stem cells
Studied how NK cells reduce GVHD by affecting conventional T cells (Tcon)
Investigated mechanisms governing the differential effects of Rapamycin on CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) vs. Tcon
Studied role of IL-18 in Treg and Tcon expansion in GVHD
Currently investigating the use of Tregs to facilitate the engraftment of embryonic stem cells.
Ph.D., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2005)
University of British Columbia
Advisor: Victor Ling, Ph.D.
Adapted a split-enzyme protein complementation assay to the study of ½ ABC transporters and characterized all interactions between members of the TAP family.
After discovering that TAPL protein forms homodimers, discovered its function as a lysosomal peptide transporter.
Research Assistant (1999)
Howard Hughes Medical Institute at The University of Chicago
Advisor: M. Celeste Simon, Ph.D.
Assisted in the generation of transgenic embryonic stem cells
Studied the affect of various genes on the survival of cells after inducing ischemia-reperfusion injury.
B.Sc., Microbiology (1999)
University of Victoria
Advisors: Chris Upton and J.T. Buckley
Produced and purified large quantities of Taq polymerase
Performed titers of Vaccinia virus
Studied the effect of various mutations on the hemolytic activity of aerolysin.