Our Team

Lena Serghides, PhD

Principal Investigator, University Health Network
Assistant Professor, University of Toronto

Dr. Serghides is a Senior Scientist at the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute at the University Health Network and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Immunology and the Institute of Medical Sciences at the University of Toronto.

Her current research focus is on understanding the mechanisms that contribute to the increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with HIV, and on the long-term effects of in utero exposure to HIV antiretrovirals.  The research is motivated by the goal of optimizing maternal and infant health in the context of infections of global health importance.

Dr. Serghides is a member of the CIHR Canadian HIV Trials Network (CTN) Women’s Working Group, and a member of the Canadian Infant Feeding in HIV Network (CIFHN).

Caroline Dunk, PhD

Scientific Associate, University Health Network

I took my PhD at the University of Birmingham studying the role of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Family (VEGF) in placental development. For my Post Doc fellowship, I moved to Toronto to join Dr. Stephen J Lye’s laboratory in the Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital. I spent a happy 20 years there as a Research Associate leading the placental research group. My expertise is on the cellular, endocrinological and immunological interactions of the maternal-fetal interface of early pregnancy. I have developed numerous models of the early placenta including the novel placental-decidual coculture model that identified the role of the decidual NK cells and macrophage in the initiation of uterine vascular remodeling.

In Jan 2021 I joined the Serghides lab to further my research into translational clinical work focusing on the effects of antiretroviral therapy and HIV on placental development and maternal decidual immunology. I am an active member of the placental research community and collaborate both nationally and internationally. I have published 60 peer-reviewed publications including 8 invited chapters to special issues and textbooks on placental angiogenesis and development. I am also a founding member of the Research Centre for Women’s and Infants Health placental biobank.

I love living in Canada, and get out into the wilderness camping and paddling with my family as often as I can.

Haneesha Mohan, PhD

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University Health Network

Dr. Haneesha Mohan is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University Health Network and has both a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Fellowship Award and a CIHR Canadian HIV Trials Network (CTN) Postdoctoral Fellowship Award. She is supervised by Dr. Lena Serghides. Haneesha earned her Bachelor of Life Science (Hons.) degree in Life Sciences with a Minor in Health Geography at McMaster University, and then pursued her PhD at the University of Saskatchewan in Integrative Neuroendocrinology.

Rabia Anwar, PhD

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University Health Network

Dr. Rabia Anwar is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Serghides lab. She completed her PhD from Humboldt University of Berlin and conducted her research at the Max Delbruck centre for Molecular Medicine in Berlin, Germany.

She has more than 5 years of experience conducting human placental research and pregnancy related disorders. Currently, her work is focused on identifying the impact of COVID-19 in pregnancy, especially on birth and placental outcomes and associations with race. The results of this study will shed light on the mechanisms underlying race inequalities in relation to poor pregnancy and placenta outcomes in pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2. 

Lindsey Ure

Technical Research Associate, University Health Network

Lindsey Ure earned her B.Sc in Biology with a specialization in Health Science, and further completed an advanced diploma in biotechnology after her undergraduate degree. Lindsey’s background as an independent research assistant has consisted of maintaining and manipulating human cell lines in the context of immunological response to stressors.

At the Serghides lab, She is looking forward to leaning into her clinical research background. She now aids in both human and animal studies related to the effects of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on embryonic development when exposed in utero. She is extremely grateful to be a part of such an exciting endeavour and the potential clinical application of these studies to aid in optimizing antiretroviral therapy for years to come!

Valeriya Donstova

M.Sc. Student, University of Toronto

Valeriya Donstova is an M.Sc. student with the Institute of Medical Science. She completed her HBSc at the University of Toronto in Neuroscience with a focus on Immunology. She is interested in research surrounding pathogen-associated physiological changes and their modulation with therapeutics. Currently, she is working on elucidating the mechanisms of metabolic changes associated with HIV-antiretroviral Dolutegravir use in a mouse model.

Camille Blanco

M.Sc. Student, University of Toronto

Camille Blanco is an M.Sc. student with the Institute of Medical Science. She completed her HBSc in Biology with a specialization in health sciences and a minor in Philosophy at Trent University. Camille is interested in research exploring the complex mechanisms of inflammation associated with disease and current therapies. She is currently studying ROS-related pathways in response to an integrase-strand transfer inhibitor used in antiretroviral therapy using a murine model. Outside of the lab, she enjoys basketball and has played competitively for many years.

Sebastian Acosta

M.Sc. Student, University of Toronto

Sebastian Acostais an M.Sc. student at the Institute of Medical Science. He graduated with an HBSc in Neuroscience and Immunology from the University of Toronto. His research interests include understanding how HIV antiretroviral exposure during pregnancy affects pregnancy outcome and the effect of in utero exposure to antiretroviral therapy on fetal development and neurocognitive function.

His current project is an evaluation of many currently used integrase inhibitors (Dolutegravir, Raltegravir, Bictegravir) to investigate their effects on early gestational events in a mouse model and to provide mechanistic insight into the observed adverse birth outcomes. Outside of the lab, Sebastian enjoys both playing and watching sports.

Sabrina Rasna

M.Sc. Student, University of Toronto

Sabrina Rasna is an incoming M.Sc. student with the Institute of Medical Science. She completed her HBSc at Queen’s University with a specialization in Biotechnology. Sabrina’s research project under the co-supervision of Dr. Serghides and Dr. Bendayan, will focus on the impact of antiretroviral use on placental nutrient transfer during pregnancy. Outside of the lab, she enjoys hip-hop/street dance and has been performing for  nearly a decade.

Ingrid Hsieh

M.Sc. Student, University of Toronto

Ingrid Hsieh is an M.Sc. student with the Department of Immunology. She completed her HBSc at the University of Toronto with double majors in Immunology and Pharmacology. Currently, she is working with Michelle Ranjbar on establishing a mouse model of HIV+ pregnancy with the chimeric virus EcoHIV. Outside of the lab, Ingrid enjoys reading and crocheting.

Michelle Ranjbar

M.Sc. Student, University of Toronto

Julia Grochola

Project Student, University of Toronto

Julia Grochola has been a project student in the Serghides lab since September 2021. She has completed her HBSc at the University of Toronto with a specialization in Health and Disease and a minor in Immunology.

Julia’s project focuses on examining how antiretroviral therapy affects pregnancy. She is specifically focused on investigating the dysregulation of Angiopoietin-1 and Angiopoietin-2 and their receptors Tie-1 and Tie-2 in HIV-negative pregnancies and HIV-positive pregnancies treated with either Atazanavir or Lopinavir. Outside of lab, Julia enjoys being out in nature and reading.

Zoe Lazaris

Project Student, University of Toronto

Zoe Lazaris has been a project student at the lab since June 2021. Her project focuses on investigating the effects of combined antiretroviral therapy on pregnancy. She is specifically investigating the dysregulation of the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) and their receptors Flt-1 and KDR using placenta samples from pregnancies treated with 1) Atazanavir, 2) Lopinavir, and 3) HIV negative pregnancies.

Christian Singh

Research Assistant, University of Toronto

Christian Singh (he/him or they/them), is a research assistant in the Serghides Lab. As part of the Amgen Scholars Program at the University of Toronto, he is very grateful for the opportunity to work with and learn at the lab. Christian’s project explores the effects of different antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens on placental morphology and vasculature in women living with HIV.

Tumi Olaoye

Research Student, University of Western Ontario

Tumi Olaoye is heading into her 4th year at the University of Western Ontario, in which she’s pursuing her HBSc in Biology with a minor in computer science. Under the supervision of Dr. Serghides, Tumi is currently working with Camille Blanco to further examine the impact of HIV specific drugs on mitochondrial function as a common mechanism leading to fetal anomalies and adverse birth outcomes. Outside of the lab, she enjoys spending time outdoors and working on creative projects.

Muhammad Amjad

Research Student, McMaster University

Muhammad Amjad is entering his final year at McMaster University as a Bachelor of Integrated Science student with a concentration in Mathematics & Statistics. He is enthusiastic and eager to contribute to team success through hard work, attention to detail, and excellent organizational skills. Motivated to learn, grow, and excel in the study of biological systems, Muhammad strives to bring his breadth of skills to the medical field.