Brendan Leung
Principle Investigator, Associate Professor – Department of Applied
Oral Sciences, School of Biomedical Engineering, BSc Hon. – Biochem
(University of Ottawa), BASc – Chem. Eng. (University of Ottawa), MASc and PhD – Biomedical Engineering (University of Toronto)
My research program focuses on the development of advanced tissue construct platforms and cell-based assay technologies to understand fundamental phenomenon that govern tissue homeostasis and responses in human diseases. Specifically, I’m interested in creating in vitro tools to understand the role of human associated microbes in chronic disease, including metabolic syndrome, fibrosis and cancers. When not in my office or in the lab, you can find me hiking on one of many scenic Nova Scotia coastline trails with my camera.
Morgan Pugh-Toole
PhD student – Pathology, BSc. Hon. – Medical Sciences (Dalhousie University )
I obtained my BSc in Medical Sciences from Dalhousie University in 2021 while completing my honours project in Microbiology & Immunology. My honours project focused on developing a 3D spheroid model for ovarian cancer to study their interaction with natural killer cells to validate their therapeutic potential for this disease. I am now working towards my MSc in Pathology, in which I will be continuing my study of ovarian cancer by developing an in vitro tissue platform that mimics the tumour microenvironment to further investigate natural killer cells as a therapeutic target for this disease. Outside of the lab, I enjoy competing in and coaching sprint kayaking, as well as spending time with my family and friends and three dogs.
Sarah Spencer
PhD student – Biomedical Engineering
B.Sc – Medical Sciences – Dalhousie University
I am currently a PhD student. I completed my BSc. in Medical Sciences here at Dalhousie in 2022 and I am currently a second year masters thesis student in the lab focusing on creating a model system to study interactions between microbes and early lung cancer. Outside of school, I enjoy gardening, hanging out with my friends, and travelling.
Andrew Smith
MASc student – Biomedical Engineering, BEng. Chemical Engineering – Dalhousie University
I graduated with my BEng in Chemical Engineering at Dalhousie in May of 2022. I am now working towards a MASc in Biomedical Engineering in the Leung lab. My research is focused on designing, modeling, and fabricating an oral probiotic delivery system. The goal of the proposed platform will enable the translation of oral probiotics from experimental therapeutics into practical bedside treatment used by clinicians to manage and prevent oral diseases. When I’m not busy with school or lab work, I enjoy surfing and skiing.
Max Wolverton
MASc student – Biomedical Engineering,
B.Sc Medical Sciences – Dalhousie University
I graduated with my BSc in Medical Sciences here at Dalhousie in 2023. I am currently working towards my MASc in Biomedical Engineering in the Leung lab. For my project, I am exploring the use of metal ion-releasing bioactive glass in combination with antibiotics to treat bacterial airway infections in cystic fibrosis patients by using and designing an in vitro model of chronic airway infection. When I’m not in the lab or studying, I enjoy golfing, basketball, and watching lots of movies.
Flora Machovsky Mendes Pinto
Research Assistant, (Dalhousie University), B.Sc. – Microbiology and Immunology
I completed my bachelors in Microbiology and Immunology at Dalhousie, and my honours thesis in the Leung Lab. My research focus on the use of T-SLICE model to recreate tumour microenvironments and help study tumour stemness, and drug response. I focused on the effects of ALDH1A3 in breast cancer proliferation and survival! Now, we are hoping to recapitulate the pancreatic tumour microenvironment, adding components such as immune cells, extracellular matrix, cancer cells and stellate cells. When I am not busy with school I enjoy reading fantasy books, watching historical shows, or going on short adventures to places I’ve never been.
Sophie Gauthier
Honours thesis student, (Dalhousie University), B.Sc. – Medical Sciences
I am currently in my fourth year at Dalhousie University, working towards a Bachelor of Medical Sciences. I am completing my honours thesis in the Leung Lab. My research focuses on the optimization of an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) to study microbial-mammalian cell interactions.
Ella Franklin
Honours thesis student, (Dalhousie University), B.Sc. – Medical Sciences
I am currently in my fourth year at Dalhousie University, working towards a Bachelor of Medical Sciences. My research focuses on hanging 16HBE lung epithelial cells into an acini structure as it is physiologically relevant.
Hannah Laquerre
Honours thesis student, (Dalhousie University), B.Sc. – Microbiology and Immunology
I am in my 4th year of Microbiology and Immunology, completing experiential learning in the Leung Lab. My research focus is on studying the process of angiogenesis during adipose expansion using an in vitro microtissue model (T-SLICE). When I am not busy with school I enjoy swimming and hiking
Nathan Purvis
Honours thesis student, (Dalhousie University), B.Sc. – Microbiology and Immunology
I am a 5th year undergraduate student pursuing a bachelor of science in Microbiology & Immunology and a minor in Environmental Science. My Honors Thesis focuses on attenuating chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis with spermidine producing yeast in an in vitro 3D tissue aqueous two-phase system co-culture model. For fun, I like to play soccer, golf, and hike.
Lab Alumni
Hanan Moussa – Postdoctoral Fellow, 2024
Kylie Van Dyke – Honours thesis student, 2024
Yuliia Komburlei – Research Assistant, 2024
Naeimeh Jafari – Postdoctoral Fellow, 2023
Sofía Magaña Lama – MASc student – Biomedical Engineering, 2023
Julia Tetford – Visiting experimental learning student, 2023
Magdalena Katrin Trocha – Visiting graduate research student, 2023
Clair Carruthers – Honours thesis student, Medical Science, 2023
Courtney O’Brien – MASc student, Biomedical Engineering, 2022
Nick Dawe – MASc student, Biomedical Engineering, 2022
Jade Ley – Hon. thesis student, Medical Sciences, 2022
Shalyn Henley – Hon. thesis student, Medical Sciences, 2022
Emma Lirette – Dalhousie Integrated Science Program (DISP), 2022
Hannah Laquerre – Dalhousie Integrated Science Program (DISP), 2022
Andy Huang – MASc student, Biomedical Engineering, 2021
Andrew Clarke – Hon. thesis student, Medical Sciences, 2021
Ethan Ring – Hon. thesis student, Medical Sciences, 2021
Dimah Alabdulhafith – Hon. thesis student, Medical Sciences, 2021
Matthew Kelvey – Hon. thesis student, Medical Sciences, 2020
Matthew Curry – Hon. thesis student, Microbiology and Immunology, 2020
Sungbin Lim – Mitacs Globalink Research Fellow, 2020
Hajung Kim – Dalhousie Integrated Science Program (DISP), 2020
Priyanshi Rao – Dalhousie Integrated Science Program (DISP), 2020
Sarah Spencer – Dalhousie Integrated Science Program (DISP), 2019
Brianna MacKinnon – Dalhousie Integrated Science Program (DISP), 2019
Artem Soroka – Experiential learning student, Chemical Engineering, 2019
Kajanan Sivapalan – Experiential learning student, Medical Sciences, 2019
Yashar E. Monfared – Postdoctoral Fellow – Biomedical Engineering, 2018
Gavin Raddall – Honour thesis student, Medical Science, 2018
Breagh Devereaux – Experiential learning student, Medical Science, 2018
Jessica Grant-Burt – Summer student 2017
Emily Bishop – DDS summer student, 2017
Claire Jurgens – Undergraduate research student, 2017
Michaela Kember – Undergraduate research student, Dalhousie Integrated Science Program (DISP), 2017
Lauren Kelly – Undergraduate research student, Dalhousie Integrated Science Program (DISP), 2017
Jacob Nickerson – DDS summer student, 2016
LEUNG LAB @ Dalhousie 