Introducing the 2026 winners of the BioCanRx Summer Studentships

Name: Juliana Brank

Supervisor(s)/Institution: Dr. David Latulippe, McMaster University

Project Title: Engineering Glycosylation Control in Continuous Monoclonal Antibody Manufacturing

Profile: I recently finished my second year of Chemical and Bioengineering at McMaster University. Over the course of the last year, I have worked in Dr. David Latulippe’s Lab in the department of Chemical Engineering exploring Biolayer Interferometry (BLI) as a method to characterize protein glycosylation, and this summer I will be building off my previous work by exploring how changing process conditions during production impacts monoclonal antibody glycosylation. Outside of the lab, I enjoy reading, arts and crafts, listening to music, and travelling.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are glycoprotein therapeutics widely used in oncology and hematology, representing 40% of all mAbs approved in the last 20 years. Glycosylation is a prevalent and highly variable post-translational modification that plays a crucial role in the stability, efficacy, and immunogenicity of mAb therapeutics. While its variance is largely driven by upstream process parameters, including those that commonly fluctuate during perfusion culture, the relationship between these dynamic process parameters and glycosylation remains poorly understood. My summer project aims to combine two workflows developed by the Latulippe Lab: a high-throughput BLI -based method that has shown strong potential for monitoring batch-to-batch glycosylation variability, and a parallelized system designed to introduce controlled perturbations of temperature to enable rapid, in-line assessment of glycosylation responses to controlled temperature shifts in Chinese Hamster Ovary cell-based mAb production.

Following this experience, I hope to pursue graduate studies focused on the biomanufacturing of cancer therapeutics. I am excited and extremely grateful to Dr. Latulippe and BioCanRx for this opportunity to expand my research skills and contribute to advancing cancer immunotherapy.

Name: Owen Crump

Supervisor(s)/Institution: Dr. Tabori Uri, The Hospital for Sick Children

Project Title: Characterizing vaccine-driven immune modulation in the tumor microenvironment of CMMRD tumors

Profile: I am a first year medical student at University College Dublin. This summer I will be working in the lab of Dr. Uri Tabori at the Hospital for Sick Children. My project will examine how a neoantigen-based LNP-mRNA vaccine alters the tumor immune microenvironment in preclinical CMMRD models. Using multiparameter flow cytometry, the study will assess changes in immune regulatory populations, including regulatory T cells, as well as shifts in T-cell differentiation states such as naïve, memory, and effector subsets following vaccination. In parallel, tumor and normal tissues will be processed for downstream molecular analyses to explore whether vaccination influences the neoantigen landscape.

As a current medical student, this studentship programme will provide me with invaluable experience in translational research as a starting point for incorporating evidence-based care into my mental framework and eventual future practice.

Name: Amelia Custodio

Supervisor(s)/Institution: Dr. Douglas Mahoney, University of Calgary

Project Title: A Drug-Gated NFAT Responsive Switch Enables Permanent Macrophage Pro-Inflammatory Polarization

Profile: My name is Amelia Custodio and I have just completed my second year pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Biology at the University of Calgary. This is my second summer working with Dr. Mahoney and I am excited to add to the innovative work the team has been doing.

Last summer, we developed a genetic switch that permanently marks T-cells following antigen engagement during a defined window of drug exposure. This summer, we will be investigating how this same system can be applied to macrophages expressing a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) to force them into a pro-inflammatory phenotype following tumour antigen engagement. Macrophages are crucial immune system cells, acting as sentinels, participating in debris clearance and aiding tissue repair. Within the tumour microenvironment (TME), they influence inflammation and tumour progression. In solid tumours, macrophages are recruited into the TME where they are aberrantly reprogrammed into an anti-inflammatory phenotype that suppresses anti-tumour immune responses – including cellular immunotherapies. Strategies targeting tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) hold promise for enhancing anti-tumour immunity by reprogramming TAMs toward pro-inflammatory states and rendering them resistant to TME-driven misprogramming.

I am incredibly grateful to BioCanRX for supporting my work this summer. Following my undergraduate degree, I hope to pursue a career in cancer research. Ultimately, this work will provide me with the essential background knowledge and practical skills to pursue graduate studies in the field of cancer immunotherapy, acting as a stepping stone to achieve my career goals.

Name: Jayden Domitsu

Supervisor(s)/Institution: Dr. Carolina Ilkow, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Project Title: Characterizing new preclinical models of cholangiocarcinoma for the evaluation of tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte adoptive cell transfer (TIL-ACT) therapy

Profile: My name is Jayden and I’m a fourth year Biology and Biotechnology student at Carleton University. This summer I’m excited to be working at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute in Dr. Carolina Ilkow’s lab. My project will focus on cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), which is an aggressive cancer subtype affecting the bile ducts. With very few treatment options and poor survival rates, there is an urgent need for new therapies. Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocyte-Adoptive Cell Therapy (TIL-ACT), where a patient’s own immune cells are extracted from their tumour, multiplied in a lab, and infused back into the patient to fight cancer, is a promising approach recently approved for melanoma and now being explored for CCA through the Canadian Cholangiocarcinoma Collaborative. To advance this, my project is building a research pipeline using two CCA cancer models, characterizing them in the lab and in mice, profiling immune cells within tumours, and testing the full TIL-ACT process to measure therapeutic efficacy. This work will lay the groundwork for developing improved TIL-ACT strategies for CCA, with broader implications for expanding personalized immune cell therapies to other difficult-to-treat cancers. I feel extremely privileged to be able to contribute to this project and want to thank BioCanRx for this amazing opportunity!

Name: Aya Gadi

Supervisor(s)/Institution: Dr. Kednapa Thavorn, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Project Title: Factors Influencing Implementation and Equitable Access to Domestic CAR-T Therapies (CLIC program focus)

Profile: I am currently completing my Health Sciences degree with a minor in Public Administration at the University of Ottawa. Born and raised in Ottawa, I love spending time exploring the city, going on walks, and enjoying summer volleyball. I am passionate about women’s health, youth mentorship, and advocating for equitable healthcare access within marginalized communities. Long-term, I hope to combine healthcare and advocacy to create meaningful change in my community.

This summer I will be joining Dr. Thavorn on a research project examining factors influencing implementation and equitable access of domestic CAR-T therapies. As CAR-T therapies have shown significant clinical benefits for certain cancers, the associated high cost, complex delivery processes, and limited availability raise questions about how they can be implemented sustainably and equitably within the Canadian healthcare system. This project aims to contribute to the development of a discrete choice experiment (DCE) designed to understand stakeholder preferences regarding different models of CAR-T delivery. Additionally, a policy-focused environmental scan will be done to identify structural, financial, and geographic barriers that may limit equitable access to CAR-T therapies across Canada. Throughout this studentship, my responsibilities will include assisting with literature reviews and data analysis. I am excited to be part of this studentship, as it will strengthen my foundational research skills and prepare me for graduate studies and a future career in research and advocacy.

Name: Caitlin Gormley

Supervisor(s)/Institution: Dr. John Bell, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Project Title: A recombinant oncolytic virus strategy to induce T cell priming in situ via delivery of costimulatory and pro-inflammatory signals

Profile: My name is Caitlin Gormley and I will be working in Dr. Bell’s lab at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. I have just completed my third year of an Honours & Co-op Microbiology and Immunology degree at Dalhousie University, and I am very excited to gain a deeper understanding of both virology and oncology research this summer! In my free time, I also enjoy running, reading, playing frisbee, and exploring the outdoors with friends. In the future, I am planning on pursuing grad school with a focus on virology and/or clinical research.

My project is titled “A Recombinant Oncolytic Virus Strategy to Induce T Cell Priming In Situ via Delivery of Co-Stimulatory and Pro-Inflammatory Signals.” T cells are key mediators of anti-tumor immunity and selectively kill cancer cells through antigen recognition, costimulatory receptor–ligand interactions, and pro-inflammatory cytokine signaling. Enhancing these costimulatory interactions can stimulate the immune system and promote a stronger anti-cancer response. Oncolytic viruses selectively infect cancer cells and can be genetically engineered to encode additional genes of interest. This summer, my work will focus on generating oncolytic viruses encoding costimulatory molecules such as CD80/86, CD40, and 4-1BBL, evaluating their expression efficiency, and analyzing their ability to stimulate T cell activation.

Name: Ryland Gujilde

Supervisor(s)/Institution: Dr. Kevin Hay, Riddell Centre for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of Calgary

Project Title: Characterizing the Biology and Expression of IL-1RAP on Activated T cells

Profile: My name is Ryland Gujilde, and I recently completed my Bachelor’s degree in Cellular, Molecular, and Microbial Biology at the University of Calgary. This past academic year, I completed my honours thesis under the supervision of Dr. Kevin Hay, and I look forward to continuing my work under his guidance at the Riddell Centre for Cancer Immunotherapy.

My summer project will focus on further characterizing IL-1RAP, a tumour-associated antigen found in cancers such as acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and Ewing sarcoma, on primary T cells to help inform future IL-1RAP CAR-T cell therapies. Preliminary findings from our lab indicate very low expression of IL-1RAP on healthy primary T cells upon activation, which may interfere with selective tumour clearance by IL-1RAP CAR-T cells and could help explain fratricide. This project aims to reduce non-specific targeting and improve future IL-1RAP CAR-T cell designs.

I am grateful to BioCanRx for granting me the opportunity to continue pursuing cancer research. This summer studentship will allow me to further develop the laboratory skills required for success in graduate school and professional degree programs. In the future, I hope to apply the skills and experiences I have gained toward graduate studies, careers in industry, or medical or pharmacy school.

Name: William Harris

Supervisor(s)/Institution: Dr. Tommy Alain, CHEO

Project Title: Developing Recombinant Reoviruses for Cancer Interception

Profile: I have just completed my third year in Translational and Molecular Medicine at the University of Ottawa. This summer I will be working in Dr. Alain’s lab at the CHEO Research Institute. Outside of the lab I love sports and am a member of the GeeGees track and field team. In the future I plan to pursue graduate studies and continue to work in research or healthcare.

In the Alain lab I will be working with Reovirus. Reovirus is a non-enveloped, double-stranded RNA virus that naturally infects the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts. Importantly, Reovirus has an extensive clinical safety record in humans, including pediatric populations, demonstrating an excellent safety profile and providing a strong foundation for a proposed use as a cancer vaccine. I will be working on characterizing the effects of single nucleotide mutations in T3D Reovirus.

Name: Nicklas Jeschke

Supervisor(s)/Institution: Dr. Sheila Singh, McMaster University

Project Title: Immunotherapeutic Strategy Integrating CD133 CAR-T Cells and Oncolytic VSV for Recurrent Glioblastoma

Profile: I am a third-year student at the University of Guelph where I study Human Kinetics. This summer I will be conducting research at McMaster University in the lab of Dr. Sheila Singh. When I am not working or studying I enjoy golfing, pickleball, trying new food and coaching soccer.

This summer, I will work on developing a novel immunotherapy approach for recurrent glioblastoma (rGBM), the most aggressive and treatment-resistant primary brain tumour in adults. My project will investigate the combined use of CD133-targeting CAR-T cells and an engineered oncolytic vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV-JuninG-IL-15-CD133) designed to selectively infect glioblastoma cells, enhance CAR-T cell persistence, and overcome antigen escape. I will assess how this therapy reshapes the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment and improves anti-tumour immune activity against brain tumour-initiating cells (BTICs), which are responsible for tumour recurrence and therapeutic resistance. The goal of this work is to evaluate whether combining CAR-T cell therapy with an oncolytic virus can produce a more durable and effective treatment strategy for recurrent glioblastoma.

In the future I wish to have a career as a clinician-scientist. I hope to advance research and bring that care and advancement to patients to improve standard of care.

Name: Samantha Kieyele

Supervisor(s)/Institution: Dr. Jean Marshall, Dalhousie University

Project Title: Assessing the Impacts of Novel Cell Therapy for Ovarian Cancer on Immune Mediators and Inflammation

Profile: This fall, I will be entering my third year in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Dalhousie University. Outside of academics, I enjoy reading, going to the gym, and becoming involved in community-led initiatives. I am especially passionate about outreach work that supports Black youth in pursuing higher education and STEM pathways, whether through organizing workshops for high school students, participating in campus initiatives, or engaging in advocacy and community activism.

This summer, I am excited to be joining the Marshall Lab, where I will gain hands-on experience with a variety of immunology and microbiology laboratory techniques while learning alongside senior researchers and graduate students. My research focuses on exploring a novel cell-based therapy for ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer remains one of the most lethal gynecologic malignancies due to its often-subtle symptoms and late-stage diagnosis. Our project investigates the potential of engineered mast cells to act as “living delivery systems” capable of releasing immune-activating cytokines directly within the tumor microenvironment. The goal of this research is to better understand how these engineered cells may enhance anti-tumor immune responses and contribute to reducing tumor growth.

Throughout the summer, I will be working with techniques such as ELISA, Luminex assays, qPCR, and flow cytometry to evaluate immune responses in experimental mouse models. This opportunity will allow me to deepen my understanding of immunology while developing practical laboratory and data analysis skills in a research environment.

I am incredibly grateful to BioCanRX and Dr. Marshall for providing me with the opportunity to explore research in such an engaging and educational environment. As I continue pursuing a future career in medicine, I ho pe to carry this experience forward by combining scientific research, advocacy, and community engagement to help improve health outcomes and encourage more youth to explore opportunities in STEM and research.

Name: Louis-Philippe Moreau

Supervisor(s)/Institution: Dr. Lee-Hwa Tai, Université de Sherbrooke

Project Title: Next-generation RNA therapeutics for glioblastoma

Profile: I’m a 3rd year undergraduate student in Health Biochemistry with a specialization in Genomics and Proteomics at Université de Sherbrooke. Over the next years, I plan to pursue graduate studies to become a researcher and uncover new molecular mechanisms underlying cancer progression and response to treatments. Outside the lab, I like hanging out with friends and volunteering in my community.

This summer, I will have the opportunity to work on glioblastoma (GBM), which is the most aggressive form of brain cancer. Currently, limited treatments are available, and patient survive only months after diagnosis. For that reason, Dr. Lee-Hwa Tai’s lab focuses on developing and improving a self-amplifying RNA (saRNA)-based treatment. Those saRNA can replicate itself inside the GBM cell allowing potent therapeutic effects to be achieved at lower doses and with fewer injections. I will be responsible for evaluating saRNA delivery, stability and biological activity in GBM models including tumor cell lines and patient-derived brain tumor samples

I would like to gratefully thank BioCanRx for giving me the opportunity to deepen my understanding of immunological mechanisms underlying GBM throughout this Summer Studentship Program.

Name: Barry Ngo

Supervisor(s)/Institution: Dr. Seung-Hwan Lee, University of Ottawa

Project Title: Optimization of lentiviral vectors for enhanced CAR-NK transgenesis by RD114 envelope engineering

Profile: I have just completed my fourth year of the Honours BSc in Translational and Molecular Medicine program at the University of Ottawa. I joined Dr. Seung-Hwan Lee’s lab on May 2025, and I’m excited to continue working with him this summer thanks to the support from BioCanRx.

I am pursuing a project that I have been conceptualizing for the past 6 months, which attempts to optimize our lab’s lentiviral vector platform to engineer CAR-NK cells. Lentiviral vectors (LVs) are gene delivery vehicles that allow efficient integration of genetic material into target cells, crucial for generating stable CAR-engineered immune cells such as CAR-T and CAR-NK. Baboon endogenous retrovirus (BaEV)-pseudotyped LVs (BaEV-LVs) are widely used to generate CAR-NK cells. However, in pursuit for generating more accessible CAR-NK therapies by generating better LVs, ongoing patents for BaEV-LVs introduce significant hurdles for creating modified versions without legal challenges. RD114 envelope pseudotyped LVs (RD114-LVs) are a patent-free alternative to BaEV-LVs; however, they do not generate CAR-NK cells as efficiently. Therefore, I will be making modifications to RD114 envelope and screen for mutations that enhance NK cell transduction efficiency. I’ll be performing high-throughput in silico screening and deep mutational scanning experiments to scan the effects of mutations on transduction efficiency. At the end of the workflow, I will be validating promising mutations for transduction efficiency and benchmarking against conventional BaEV-LVs. Ultimately, I envision that engineering more highly efficient LVs would reduce the cost to biomanufacture CAR-NK therapies and thus improve accessibility to these therapies for cancer patients.

Name: Dylan Remington

Supervisor(s)/Institution: Dr. Pierre Billon, University of Calgary

Project Title: In vivo generation of gene-edited CAR-T cells for enhanced anti-tumour efficacy

Profile: My name is Dylan Remington, and I recently completed my Bachelor of Health Sciences at Queen’s University. I spent the past two summers in the Billon lab at the University of Calgary, and thanks to support from BioCanRx, I will be returning again this summer. Outside of the lab, I enjoy fly fishing, weightlighting, and playing basketball.

CAR-T cell therapy has transformed treatment for certain blood cancers, however, significant barriers limit its broader clinical application. To address this, the Billon lab has developed a platform that generates genetically modified CAR-T cells directly from circulating T cells, potentially overcoming T cell dysfunction and conventional manufacturing constraints. My project will evaluate the therapeutic potential of this approach in a mouse model of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, measuring in vivo CAR-T cell generation, gene editing efficiency, and anti-tumour efficacy. By enabling direct, precise engineering of circulating T cells, this approach could transform cancer immunotherapy by broadening access, improving durability, and providing a step towards overcoming the limitations of current CAR-T therapies.

I will begin my MSc in the fall in the Billon lab, with the goal of pursuing an MD/PhD and becoming a physician-scientist, aiming to treat cancer patients while advancing translational research that directly benefits them. I am very grateful to BioCanRx for providing me with an invaluable experience for my career path.

Name: Jiawen Ren

Supervisor(s)/Institution: Dr. Jonathan Bramson, McMaster University

Project Title: Optimization of Engineered Gamma Delta T cell Manufacturing

Profile: I am a third-year student in the Honours Biochemistry Co-op program at McMaster University. Over the past few months, I have had the pleasure of conducting my first Co-op work term with the Bramson Lab, and I will be continuing my work on gamma delta (γδ) T cell therapies this summer. Apart from research, I enjoy painting, crocheting, and reading outside.

γδ T cells represent an incredibly promising substrate for off-the-shelf (allogeneic) cancer cell therapies. Allogenic therapies involve the isolation, expansion, and engineering of tumour-targeting T cells derived from healthy blood donors. This generates a repertoire of more readily available, affordable, and standardized treatments for cancer patients compared to conventional, patient-derived (autologous) CAR T cell therapies. However, these engineered T cells are foreign to patient tissues and can engage in MHC-dependent killing of healthy cells, resulting in devastating toxicities. Since γδ T cells activation is MHC-independent by nature, they can bypass this graft-versus-host-disease commonly seen in allogeneic alpha beta T cell therapies.

Despite this, current γδ T cell products face challenges with persistence following manufacturing and tumour killing. This is critical, as cellular therapies should be engineered to last. One approach to overcoming this is through manipulating the conditions in which γδ T cells are grown. My project therefore explores the effect of modulating growth conditions on γδ T cell function and persistence, in the hopes of generating more robust CAR T cell therapies.

I am incredibly grateful to BioCanRx and the Bramson Lab for this opportunity to learn and grow as an aspiring scientist. I hope to leverage these experiences by pursuing graduate studies and further contributing to the field of immunotherapy.

Name: Sara Stojanovic

Supervisor(s)/Institution: Dr. Barbara Vanderhyden, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Project Title: Exploring the therapeutic potential of NLRC5

Profile: My name is Sara and I just completed my third year in the integrated HBSc/MSc program in Translational and Molecular Medicine at the University of Ottawa. I am excited to be joining Dr. Barbara Vanderhyden’s lab at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, where I will be studying a novel immunotherapy for ovarian cancer.

This summer, I will be investigating the potential therapeutic role of NLRC5, a transcriptional regulator of MHC class I gene expression. MHC class I molecules are essential for immune recognition of tumor antigens. In ovarian cancers, MHC class I molecules are often downregulated, thus limiting the effectiveness of known immunotherapies. Our lab has shown that overexpression of NLRC5 can restore MHC class I expression in cancer cells, but its broader immunological effects are not well understood. My summer project will focus on investigating how NLRC5 influences the expression and diversity of MHC class I genes. In addition, our lab has found that NLRC5 overexpression can increase PD-L1 signalling, which is used by tumor cells to evade immune recognition. Thus, we aim to investigate the potential of restoring NLRC5 expression as a combination therapy with anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitors, with the goal of enhancing cancer cell responsiveness and improving patient survival.

I am very grateful to BioCanRx for the opportunity to conduct research in the field of cancer immunotherapy. In the future, I aspire to pursue a career as a clinician-scientist. The Summer Studentship will allow me to gain valuable skills and experiences that will prepare me for future graduate studies.

Name: Khanh Huy Nguyen

Supervisor(s)/Institution: Dr. Jennifer Quizi, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Project Title: Optimization of Upstream Process Parameters for Suspension-Based Vector Manufacturing

Profile: I am a Vietnamese international student who came to Canada in November 2019. I am currently in my third year of the Biotechnology Advanced Diploma program at Algonquin College. My journey into biotechnology has been shaped by a genuine passion for medicine and a deep desire to help people, to contribute to the development of therapies that allow patients to live fuller, healthier lives free from the burden of disease. From early on, I was drawn to the hospital environment and the idea that science, when applied with care and precision, has the power to meaningfully reduce human suffering. That belief continues to drive everything I do in the lab and the classroom.

Prior to this studentship, I completed a CanPRIME co-op placement at the Biotherapeutics Manufacturing Centre (BMC) as a Quality Control and Assay Development intern. This summer, I am working as part of Dr. Jennifer Quizi’s Process Development team at the BMC, where my project focuses on optimizing upstream process parameters for suspension-adapted cell lines used in the clinical manufacture of therapeutic viruses. I am systematically evaluating key culture variables including agitation rates, feeding strategies, media composition, and growth conditions in suspension bioreactors, with the goal of enhancing cell performance, increasing product yield, and strengthening process robustness. All studies are designed with scalability in mind so that findings can be reliably transferred into larger manufacturing environments, contributing to the broader goal of making effective biologic therapies available to more patients across Canada.

Through this studentship, I hope to gain a thorough, end-to-end understanding of the biotherapeutics production process and grow as a scientist in experimental design, process optimization, and technical communication. Looking further ahead, I aspire to build a career focused on the development and manufacturing of cancer therapies, particularly in the areas of viral vectors and cell-based immunotherapies, where I hope to contribute to making these treatments safer, more scalable, and more accessible to patients who need them most. I am deeply grateful to BioCanRx, the Advanced Biomanufacturing Innovation Program, and my mentors Dr. Jennifer Quizi and Dr. Piriya Yoganathan for this opportunity. For someone who arrived in Canada not long ago with a dream of working at the intersection of science and healthcare, being part of a program like this is both humbling and deeply motivating.

Name: Nora Rassenberg

Supervisor(s)/Institution: Dr. David Latulippe, McMaster University

Project Title: In vivo generation of gene-edited CAR-T cells for enhanced anti-tumour efficacy

Profile: I have recently completed my second year of Chemical and Bioengineering at McMaster University. For the past year, I have been part of Dr. David Latulippe’s lab in the Department of Chemical Engineering, gaining hands-on experience in downstream chromatography and exploring bufer recycling strategies for viral vector biomanufacturing.

This summer, I am excited to continue at the Latulippe Lab with the support of BioCanRx, working on developing upstream manufacturing strategies for viral therapeutics. Oncolytic viruses for cancer therapies are limited by the batch-wise strategies currently employed in their manufacturing. Continuous reactors have the potential to improve productivity and throughput but have not yet been developed for adenoviral vectors, which represent 50% of current oncolytic viruses in clinical trials. One of the challenges with the extension to continuous manufacturing and the longer reactor run times it requires is the potential shift in critical quality attributes, such as titer, aggregation, and impurity levels, which will require efective monitoring throughout the extended process. Multi-angle light scattering (MALS) is a real-time technology that has been used to assess aggregation and size for other viral vectors in manufacturing trains. This summer, I will be assisting the research team in developing and implementing a continuous virus reactor, while also assessing the use of MALS for real-time monitoring, to determine the impact of continuous production on critical quality attributes.

With this work, I will gain a deeper understanding of continuous production in viral therapeutics and further develop my research skillset. McMaster’s growing biomanufacturing facilities and the Sartorius Bioprocess Automation Lab provide me with the unique opportunity to explore both potential avenues for graduate work and the industrial relevance of this process. I am thankful for the BioCanRx summer studentship for providing the opportunity to work on this exciting project and to connect with others working in cancer immunotherapy research.

Name: Iris Sun

Supervisor(s)/Institution: Dr. Amine Kamen, McGill

Project Title: Optimization of Scalable Cell-Free Manufactured Phi29 DNA Polymerase for Decentralized mRNA Biologic Manufacturing

Profile: I am a recent Bioengineering graduate from McGill University, where I will be continuing my research this summer in the laboratory of Prof. Amine Kamen before beginning my M.Sc. (Thesis) in the Fall. Beyond the bench, I am passionate about the venture capital space and entrepreneurship, focusing on how lab-scale innovations can be translated into meaningful clinical solutions.

The success of mRNA vaccines highlighted the critical need for robust, scalable biomanufacturing platforms. Yet, the key bottleneck remains the centralized supply chains. While standard production relies on fermenting DNA in E. coli — often a slow and expensive process — cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) is an efficient alternative that leverages cellular lysate in a controllable, open reaction environment, bypassing conventional limitations. My research focuses on optimizing the upstream parameters of a CFPS platform, including redox potential, agitation, co-factor supplementation, and temperature to maximize the production of Phi29 DNA polymerase. This enzyme is essential for high-fidelity DNA amplification, and I will be benchmarking our lab-scale results against commercial standards using RCA-based functional assays.

I’m moving into my Master’s to keep working on making therapeutics more accessible and scalable. I’m very grateful to BioCanRx for the support this summer to explore this application before I dive into my graduate thesis.

Name: Ohemaa Acheampong

Supervisor(s)/Institution: Dr. Muriel Brackstone, London Health Sciences Centre

Project Title: Evaluating SBRT Combined With Intratumoral Pembrolizumab in High-Risk Breast Cancer

Profile: I am going into my fourth year at Western University, where I am pursuing a Bachelor of Medical Sciences with a focus in pharmacology. This summer, I will be contributing to a Phase II immunoradiotherapy study focused on high-risk breast cancer in collaboration with Dr. Muriel Brackstone at the London Health Sciences Centre. Outside of research, I enjoy crocheting, volunteering in student organizations, and spending time with friends and family.

Breast cancer remains one of the most common cancers worldwide, and patients with stage 3 or high-risk stage 2 disease often face significant risks of recurrence despite current treatment approaches. My project, titled Evaluating SBRT Combined With Intratumoral Pembrolizumab in High-Risk Breast Cancer: A Phase II Immunoradiotherapy Study, will investigate a novel treatment regimen combining stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) with intratumoral pembrolizumab to enhance anti-tumour immune responses. The study aims to evaluate treatment safety, immune activation, and pathologic complete response rates while exploring how immune biomarkers such as tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes correlate with treatment outcomes. My role will involve supporting biospecimen collection and processing, assisting with clinical trial coordination, maintaining research databases, and contributing to data collection and analysis.

In the future, I aspire to pursue a career as a pediatric oncologist, where I can contribute to advancing cancer research while improving patient care. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to participate in this study through BioCanRx, allowing me to deepen my understanding of cancer immunotherapy and translational research, and contribute to the development of innovative treatment strategies for breast cancer patients.

Name: Serena Ibama

Supervisor(s)/Institution: Dr. Natasha Kekre, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Project Title: Evaluating Neurofilament Light Chain as a Biomarker for Outcomes and neurotoxicity in CAR-T Therapy

Profile: I recently completed my first year of Bachelor of Health Science (Honours) at Ontario Tech University. This summer, I am looking forward to working with Dr. Natasha Kekre on a project focused on CAR-T therapy and neurotoxicity. I aim to gain hands-on experience in clinical outcomes and biomarker analysis. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, crocheting, and exercising.

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has improved outcomes for patients with recurring or refractory hematologic malignancies, but response and toxicity, particularly neurotoxicity, still vary widely. My summer project focuses on neurofilament light chain, a biomarker of neuronal damage, to explore its value in measuring neurologic risk and neurotoxicity in CAR-T recipients. I aim to clarify whether neurofilament testing can predict neurotoxicity or clinical outcomes in patients from Ottawa undergoing CAR-T therapy. To do this, I will examine the relationship between neurofilament levels (before and after CAR-T) and key clinical events, such as neurotoxicity, cytokine release syndrome, treatment response, and early survival. I will also analyze data from the BioCanRx CLIC CAR-T program to identify additional factors that influence patient outcomes across multiple clinical sites.

In the future, I aspire to pursue a career in medicine or research, where I can contribute to the development of novel treatments and improve patient outcomes. I am grateful for the opportunity to be involved in this research and thankful to BioCanRx and Dr. Natasha Kekre for their support of this experience.

Name: Dami Oyefeso

Supervisor(s)/Institution: Dr. Lucas Mendez, London Health Sciences Centre

Project Title: Evaluating continuous production of adenoviral vectors through real-time monitoring of critical quality attributes

Profile: My name is Dami Oyefeso, and I recently completed my third year at Western University pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree. This summer, I am conducting research focused on the molecular profiling of endometrial cancer and investigating how specific genetic mutations may influence prognosis and treatment response. Through this work, I am gaining experience in cancer genomics, molecular classification, and translational research while contributing to efforts aimed at improving personalized treatment strategies in gynecologic oncology.

I am especially interested in women’s health and hope to pursue a career as an OB/GYN in the future. This research experience is helping me build a strong foundation in both clinical and scientific aspects of medicine, while strengthening my long-term interest in gynecologic cancer research and patient-centered care.

Name: Sydney Leroux

Supervisor(s)/Institution: Dr. Hasan Uludag, University of Alberta

Project Title: Engineering Nanoparticles for Blood Cancer Therapy

Profile: I recently completed my second year in Mechanical Engineering (Biomedical Option) at the University of Alberta. After finishing my degree, I hope to pursue either medical school or a master’s degree in biomedical engineering. This summer, I will be returning to Dr. Hasan Uludag’s lab at the University of Alberta with support from the BioCanRX Summer Studentship. Outside of academics, I enjoy hiking with my dog, cooking, and reading.

Survivin is an anti-apoptotic protein the is highly expressed in many human cancers, where it promotes rapid cell growth and resistance to cell death. Our project aims to investigate the use of Cas9/sgRNA ribonucleoprotein complexes (RNPs) to disrupt the Survivin gene in cancer cells, enabling apoptosis to occur. While other therapies temporarily suppress Survivin expression, RNP-based CRISPR editing offers the potential for permanent gene disruption, which may lead to more durable therapeutic effects. However, although RNPs are highly effective at cutting DNA, they are challenging to deliver efficiently into human cells. My role in this project is to evaluate a library of synthetic biomaterials capable of forming nanoparticles that can deliver RNPs into cancer cells while still allowing efficient gene editing.

I am incredibly grateful to BioCanRX, Dr. Uludag, and the members of his lab for the opportunity to continue developing my skills in biomedical research. This experience will help me build a strong foundation in gene-editing and nanoparticle-based therapeutics as I continue my academic journey, while allowing me to challenge myself and grow as a researcher.

Name: Kloe Mayhew

Supervisor(s)/Institution: Dr. Shawn Beug, CHEO

Project Title: Characterizing small extracellular vesicles derived from SMAC mimetic treated triple-negative breast cancer cells

Profile: My name is Kloe, and I am a third-year First-Nation student in Translational and Molecular Medicine at the University of Ottawa. I am the first in my family to pursue higher education, and that has come with its fair share of challenges. Opportunities like the BioCanRX Studentship make my dream of becoming a clinical research physician much more attainable, and I am honoured to work in Dr. Beug’s lab this summer.

The Beug Lab at the CHEO Research Institute focuses on cancer biology, with a particular focus on cell death mechanisms and immunity. The project I’ll embark on is related to SMAC mimetics, small molecule therapeutics that induce cell death, and their observed tendency to promote the excretion of small extracellular vesicles. These vesicles can package immunologically relevant proteins and tumour-associated antigens, which are then used to mediate anti-tumour immune responses.

Name: Anna Marie Nobert

Supervisor(s)/Institution: Dr. Hasan Uludag, University of Alberta

Project Title: Implementing CRISPR in Leukemia Cells

Profile: I am entering my third year of a bachelor of science honors degree majoring in biochemistry at the University of Alberta. This summer I will be working with siRNA in order to silence aberrant expression in leukemia cells.

Defense against foreign invaders is achieved through the removal of aberrant mRNA sequences using synthetic siRNA is very useful in silencing aberrant mRNAs (and genes), especially in cancer therapeutic studies. However, siRNA is difficult to deliver across the cell membrane, due to its highly anionic nature and large size. One delivery method that has been able to mitigate this is lipid-conjugated low molecular weight (MW) polyethylenimine (PEI)-derived lipopolymers (LPs) complexed with siRNA (Lipopolymer nanoparticles or LPNPs), which was represented with promising results in targeting a specific fused oncogene RUNX1::ETO in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) cells. During the summer, I will be testing AML cells as follows:

i) Human PBMCs from 2 different individuals, and MV4-11 and MOLM-13 cell lines will be cultured and counted with siRNA treatment.

ii) all siRNA will be standard 21-bp siRNA (and possibly DsiRNA to compare reagents) and lyophilized for preservation

iii) siRNA LPNP libraries from Uludag labs, act as transfection reagents and are compared against commercial lipids (ex. RNAiMAX) and previous successful siRNA LPNPs in transfections

iv) transfections include CsiRNA and untreated cells used as negative controls and differing ratios of siRNA to LP

v) FAM-siRNA transfection and flow cytometry (or plate reader fluorescence measurements) are used to quantify the efficiency of LPNP uptake, along with negative controls of FAM-siRNA without polymer/untreated cells specific genes in AML cells will be targeted by siRNA

vi) cell apoptosis will be measured using flow cytometry and visualized using confocal microscopy

vii) Real-time Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) used to measure the silencing of oncogene expression vs. CsiRNA/untreated cells as negative controls

Name: Katelyn Recagno

Supervisor(s)/Institution: Dr. Dugald Seely, Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine

Project Title: Roots of Resilience: Investigating Indigenous Medicinal Foods in Cancer Care

Profile: I am a second-year naturopathic medical student at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM), and a member of the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO). This summer, I will be working with Dr. Dugald Seely, a recognized leader in integrative oncology to explore the use of traditional medicinal foods and herbs in Métis individuals to improve cancer-related outcomes as a form of culturally situated medicine.

Our research project will use a mixed-methods approach, conducting a literature review and an ethnographic study involving interviews with Métis indigenous healers to understand the cultural significance and anti-cancer properties of medicinal foods such as Chaga Mushroom, Turkey Tail, Elderberry, American Ginseng, and Devil’s Club. The project will explore these medicinal resources for supportive cancer care against a backdrop of confounding factors including: socioeconomic status, family history, access to healthcare, and cancer incidence within Métis populations. This project aims to expand research on culturally based medicinal foods and herbs, potentially improving symptom management and cancer care outcomes in Métis peoples.

The experience gained through this program will be pivotal as I move forward in my studies at CCNM, particularly when I am a fourth-year intern treating patients at the Schad Naturopathic Clinic, hopefully with the Integrative Cancer Care (ICC) team. The research experience gained throughout the Summer Studentship will allow me to incorporate evidence-based, complementary treatment options into my future practice, ultimately enhancing my ability to make a difference in the lives of cancer patients.

I am very thankful for this opportunity provided by BioCanRx, and I am eager to gain the research experience and insights necessary to shape my future as a Naturopathic Doctor, contribute to Indigenous research, and improve the lives of those impacted by cancer.

Name: Andrew Rose

Supervisor(s)/Institution: Dr. Michael Olson, Toronto Metropolitan University

Project Title: Evaluating the Cellular Effects of Novel MRCK Inhibitors

Profile: My name is Andrew Rose, and I’m going into my second year of Biomedical Science with Toronto Metropolitan University. This summer, I’ll be working with ovarian cancer cell lines and applications of different drug lines for expressions of proteins. I play multiple different sports, do varsity fencing, and am a black belt in karate. I’m hopefully going to be pursuing either research in the future, or going to medical school.

Name: Mya Thompson

Supervisor(s)/Institution: Dr. Raymond Kim, OICR

Project Title: Advancing Indigenous Data Sovereignty through the Creation of a Researcher Training Package Tailored to Hereditary Cancer Research

Profile: I recently completed my third year at the University of Toronto, pursuing an Honours Bachelor of Science, majoring in Human Biology and Psychology. Outside of academics I am interested in reading, cinema, writing, and beading.

This summer I am thrilled to be collaborating with Monique Albert, Tamara Braid and Dr. Raymond Kim to begin formulating a training package for researchers interested in utilizing self-identified Indigenous data as it relates to hereditary cancer.

When researchers interact with Indigenous self-identified data, knowledge pertaining to Indigenous cultural principles is crucial. Moreover, cultural distinctions between First Nations, Inuit, and Métis groups must be understood and respected. An understanding of social determinants of Indigenous health is also necessary to handle data with care. Therefore, the creation of a framework to ensure the proper use of Indigenous self-identified data aims to inform data access procedures for governing the release/use of Indigenous self-identified data at the Ontario Hereditary Cancer Research Network (OHCRN), as well as broadly advance research outcomes and medical treatment for Indigenous Peoples.

I am grateful to Monique Albert, Tamara Braid, Dr. Raymond Kim, and BioCanRx for making this research project possible and allowing me to grow my skills and knowledge of Indigenous data sovereignty and management. This opportunity will give me valuable experience that will aid in my steps toward a career in Indigenous data governance and policymaking, where I hope to work towards breaking down barriers to healthcare for Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

Name: Ella Zwep

Supervisor(s)/Institution: Dr. Raymond Kim, OICR

Project Title: Genetic Testing and Hereditary Cancer Registry Awareness and Access: A Comparative Policy Analysis on Indigenous vs Non-Indigenous Populations

Profile: I am a Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) student and this fall I will be entering my 4th year of Health Science at Wilfrid Laurier University. Upon graduation I plan on pursuing medical school to become a family physician. Over the past 3 years of my undergraduate degree I have become very passionate about health equity. This summer I will be researching the barriers Indigenous communities across Ontario face in accessing genetic testing and hereditary cancer registries with the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) and Ontario Hereditary Cancer Registry Network (OHCRN).

With hereditary cancer research and genetic testing being a new and upcoming field in medicine, it is extremely important that technology that aims to advance health outcomes does not further increase the disparities Indigenous communities face in healthcare and accessing health services. I aim to uncover the barriers that can result in Indigenous communities being underrepresented in hereditary cancer registries and provide the OHCRN with more effective and culturally sensitive outreach strategies.