STAFF AND STUDENTS

Dr. Liang Zhang, PhD

Dr. Zhang’s research has focused on uncovering the mechanisms and developing treatment strategies for epileptic seizures using rodent models. He established a clinically relevant chronic seizure-monitoring system in which mice experience spontaneous recurrent seizures that closely mimic those in human patients. This work has provided critical insights into seizure genesis, memory impairment, and abnormal brain activity. Additionally, his studies have explored the effects of deep brain stimulation (DBS) on seizure control using a novel stimulation approach. At N2BL, Dr. Zhang joins us as a lead scientist in human tissue cell reporting.

Dr. Nat Shampur, BSc

I’m Nat Shampur. I work as a Research Analyst at N2Bl. Presently, I am curating the sEEG data, which is being used to train the AI model to predict seizure onset, in epileptic patients. The aim is to develop an AI/GPT model that will train seizure predicting micro-chips.

Chaitra Sarathy, PhD

André Cornejo Marín, MASc

I’m André, a Research Associate at N2BL. I specialize in electrical stimulation. My research focuses on how electrical stimulation—specifically, a protocol known as Theta Burst Stimulation—can effectively alter the connectivity of the brain. Through this work, I aim to contribute to the understanding of how stimulation can modulate the intrinsic dynamics of the brain, and further aid in the development of successful treatments based on neuromodulation.

Frank Mazza, BSc MS PhD

I’m an MD candidate with a near decade of experience improving depression diagnosis and treatment using innovative technology such as detailed computational models of human brain (neural spiking, LFP, EEG), repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), and deep learning.

Andrew Yang, BHSc MA

Hey there, I’m Andrew—a Research Associate at the Neuron to Brain lab. My research focuses on utilizing neurosurgical techniques such as stereoelectroencephalography and deep brain stimulation to better understand and treat refractory addiction. Outside the lab, I enjoy meditation.

Mayra Santos Da Silva

I’m Mayra! I’m a research technician at N2BL. I specialize in inducing seizures and recording them through multi-electrode arrays . My research focuses on Epilepsy and how seizure initiates and propagates in the brain. Through this work, I get a better insight into the mechanism of seizure initiation and propagation.

Sophie Veri, BSc MSc

I’m Sophie, a Research Analyst at N2BL. I am coordinating a combined fMRI-EEG study while also helping out the N2BL’s ongoing intracranial studies on epilepsy patients, and an upcoming study on deep brain stimulation to treat epilepsy.

Isabelle Keegan, BSc

My name is Isabelle, and I am a Project Coordinator in the Neuron to Brain Lab. My main focus is managing Dr. Valiante’s MUSIC project, a collaborative initiative with international and local investigators dedicated to exploring the influence of music on brain health and Parkinson’s disease. In addition to overseeing this project, I also manage the lab’s finances, ensuring smooth operations and funding allocation.

Caitlin Ragell, HBSc

I’m Caitlin, a Research Coordinator at N2BL. I help keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes! From managing schedules and communications to supporting research projects, I ensure that teams stay organized and on track.

Olga Dvorkin

I am a clinical administrative assistant for Dr. Valiante, supporting patient care and coordinating essential medical operations. As a passionate advocate for patients, I am dedicated to providing unwavering support and crucial information throughout their surgical journey. My mission is to empower individuals with epilepsy and their families by offering a guiding hand through the complexities of the surgical process. By sharing knowledge, fostering understanding, and ensuring a compassionate support system, I strive to make their journey more manageable and less daunting.

Thomas Biba,
MA

I am a PhD student co-supervised by Dr. Taufik Valiante and Dr. Katherine Duncan at the University of Toronto. My research reveals how memory formation fluctuates on sub-second timescales, along with electrical and neuronal activity in hippocampus, recorded with intra-cranial EEG. In addition, I investigate the role of hippocampus in oculomotor guidance using deep brain stimulation. Broadly speaking, I am interested in characterizing how hippocampus coordinates shifts between perceptual and mnemonic processing, facilitating predictive operations that undergird broader cognition.

Dr. Rena Far,
BHSc MD

I’m Rena, a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering at UofT. I completed my MD at the University of Calgary and I am currently pursuing the research portion of my neurosurgery residency here at N2BL. My research focuses on understanding how music affects brain activity. Through this work, I hope to shed new light on how music may be used to help those with neurological conditions, such as to reduce seizure frequency in epilepsy patients and to improve motor coordination in those with Parkinson’s disease.

Noah Xiao, BEng

I’m Noah, a graduate student at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto. I specialize in computational neuroscience. My research focuses on spatial/temporal code in the human brain. Through this work, I learn advanced neuro-technology, and data analysis.

Laura Kondrataviciute, MEng

I’m Laura, a PhD student at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering and joined program with Max Planck Institute, University of Toronto. I specialize in preclinical models of Parkinson’s disease and in-vivo electrophysiology. My research focuses on how alpha-synuclein overexpression in midbrain dopaminergic neurons affects basal ganglia circuit. Through this work, I try to understand the pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease.

David Roszko,
MSc

I’m David, a fourth-year PhD candidate in the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Toronto, as well as a member of the Max Planck-University of Toronto Centre for Neural Science and Technology. Under the co-supervision of Prof. Joyce Poon (UofT ECE), Prof. Dr. Taufik Valiante (UofT Surgery), and Dr. Wesley Sacher (MPI-MSP), my research focuses on the design, development, and characterization of high-density implantable silicon photonic probes for stimulating the brain using light and recording evoked electrophysiological activity. Through this work, I aim to provide neuroscientists with more sophisticated tools to study the nervous system at greater spatiotemporal resolution.

Yvonne Yang,
BEng

My name is Yvonne, and I’m a first-year MASc student at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto. My background is in computer engineering. I enjoy applying different mathematical and computational tools to gain deeper understanding of the human brain. Currently, I’m building detailed models of single neurons, so we can predict its behaviour when different ionic currents (on the scale of pico-amps) cross the membrane!

Vijithan Mangaleswaran,
BEng

I’m Vijithan, a master’s student at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto. In the Neuron to Brain Lab, I specialize in studying neural population activity using microelectrode arrays (MEAs). My research focuses on how varying stimulation parameters influence neural plasticity, aiming to uncover mechanisms that shape network dynamics. Through this work, I explore advanced stimulation strategies to better understand and modulate neural activity.

Bilal Qureshi

Hi, I’m Bilal! I’m an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto specializing in Neuroscience. At the Neuron to Brain Lab, I analyze stereoelectrode encephalographic (sEEG) data collected from epilepsy patients as they engage in a variety of behavioral and stimulation tasks. I’m especially interested in how neural activity supports memory and decision-making, and I use tools like Python and Pynapple to dive into spike sorting and neural data analysis.

Jana Ali

I’m Jana, an undergrad student pursuing a specialist in Behavioural Neuroscience at the University of Toronto Scarborough. In the Neuron to Brain Lab, I am working to complete my undergraduate thesis project under the supervision of Dr. Moradi and Dr. Zhang. My research uses behavioural and imaging studies to investigate how varying levels of seizure severity correlate with the decrease of heterogeneity in the biophysical properties of neurons in seizure-generating areas. Through this work, I hope to build on previous findings of the lab that demonstrates that seizures are accompanied with a loss of heterogeneity in neurons.

Sina Zamiri

Hi, I’m Sina! I am a senior undergraduate student at the University of Toronto, studying Molecular Biology and Neuroscience. In the Neuron to Brain Lab, I analyze electrophysiological data and build computational models to study how neuronal diversity is regulated, focusing on how reduced heterogeneity contributes to seizures and unstable brain states. When I’m not in the lab, I enjoy experimenting with new recipes at home and trying out new cuisines.

Nada Shaath

I’m Nada, an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto double majoring in Neuroscience and Human Biology. As a research assistant in the Neuron-to-Brain Lab, I support ongoing projects aimed at understanding the molecular and physiological properties of epilepsy. My research interests focus on how electrophysiological and molecular systems behave in neuropathology, particularly during epilepsy as well as in processes related to learning and memory. Through this work, I hope to uncover how neurological systems contribute to the onset and progression of brain disorders.