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 III, 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 at 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 in 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 remodelling.

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.

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 responses 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

Research Assistant, University of Toronto

Valeriya Donstova earned her M.Sc. with the Institute of Medical Science at the University of Toronto. She also 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. She has previously worked on elucidating the mechanisms of metabolic changes associated with HIV-antiretroviral Dolutegravir use in a mouse model.

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 on 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. 

Shreya Dhume, PhD

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University Health Network

Dr. Shreya Dhume is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Serghides lab (University Health Network and University of Toronto) and joined our team in July 2022. She completed her Ph.D. at the University of Manitoba with a specialization in synaptic physiology and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Currently, her work focuses on understanding the neurodevelopmental outcomes of HIV-uninfected but exposed children after in-utero exposure to antiretroviral drugs. She plans on conducting this research through primary mouse neuronal cultures and assessing the effects on neurotoxicity, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial function.

Camille Blanco

M.Sc. Candidate, University of Toronto

Camille Blanco is an M.Sc. candidate with the Institute of Medical Science at the University of Toronto. 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. Candidate, University of Toronto

Sebastian Acosta is an M.Sc. candidate at the Institute of Medical Science at the University of Toronto. He also 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 outcomes 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.

Ingrid Hsieh

M.Sc. Candidate, University of Toronto

Ingrid Hsieh is an M.Sc. candidate in the Department of Immunology at the University of Toronto. She also completed her HBSc at the University of Toronto with double majors in Immunology and Pharmacology.

Currently, she is working with another M.Sc. candidate, Michelle Ranjbar, on establishing a mouse model of HIV+ pregnancy with the chimeric virus EcoHIV. Outside of the lab, Ingrid enjoys reading and crocheting.

Sabrina Rasna

M.Sc. Candidate, University of Toronto

Sabrina Rasna is an M.Sc. candidate with the Institute of Medical Science at the University of Toronto. She completed her HBSc at Queen’s University with a specialization in Biotechnology. Previously, she was a project student for two summers in the Serghides Lab.

Sabrina’s project under the co-supervision of Dr. Serghides and Dr. Bendayan explores the impact of antiretroviral use on placental nutrient transfer during pregnancy. Outside of the lab, she enjoys being active through weightlifting, hiking and water sports.

Julia Grochola

M.Sc. Candidate, University of Toronto

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

Currently, Julia Grochola is an M.Sc. candidate with the Institute of Medical Science at the University of Toronto. Julia’s project focuses on examining how antiretroviral therapy affects pregnancy. She is specifically focused on investigating the impact of antiretroviral use on placental structure and morphology and the dysregulation of angiogenesis. Outside of lab, Julia enjoys travelling and being out in nature.

Michelle Ranjbar

M.Sc. Student, University of Toronto

Zoe Lazaris

Undergraduate 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.

Spencer Brooks

Undergraduate Project Student, University of Toronto

Spencer is a 4th-year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto, pursuing a double major in Immunology and Biochemistry with a minor in Psychology. 

Spencer works under the co-supervision of Dr. Serghides and Dr. Dunk to characterize the impact of antiretroviral drug use during pregnancy on testes morphology in F1 mice.

Outside of the lab, they enjoy swimming, playing bass, and tearing up the streets of Kirby Air Ride.

Annika Sivak

Undergraduate Project Student, McGill University

Annika is a 3rd-year undergraduate student at McGill University majoring in Biology, minoring in Neuroscience and East Asian Language and Literature. 

In Annika’s project, she is working with an M.Sc. candidate, Julia Grochola, to assess the impact of antiretroviral therapy on placenta morphology for women with HIV using stereology methods.   

In her free time, she enjoys baking, running by the lake, and sewing cosplay. 

Katherine Dibbon

Undergraduate Project Student, Memorial University of Newfoundland

Katherine is an Amgen Scholar in the Serghides Lab and she is pursuing a joint B.A./B.Sc. (Hons) in Chemistry (biological) and Political Science from Memorial University of Newfoundland.

This summer she is working with Dr. Shreya Dhume on an immunohistochemistry project to look at the impact of antiretroviral exposure on the neonatal brain in a mouse model.

Katherine has been recognized for her academics and volunteering. She recently finished her mandate on the UN Women’s Generation Equality Youth Task Force representing Canada and as Co-Chair of Newfoundland’s Premier’s Youth Council. Katherine is currently the Political Advocacy Specialist for World Vision Canada’s National Youth Council and was awarded a 2022 Fulbright Canada Killam Fellowship.

Kaitlin Chen

Undergraduate Project Student, University of Toronto

Kaitlin Chen is a 4th-year undergraduate project student at the University of Toronto, double-majoring in Physiology and Immunology. She is currently working with M.Sc. candidates Michelle Ranjbar and Ingrid Hsieh on an HIV mouse model utilizing the virus EcoHIV.

In her spare time, she loves to draw digitally and traditionally as well as play piano.