Current Staff and Students

Drug Delivery Theme

D1A: Degradable elastomeric drug depots for intra-ocular delivery

Zhihan zhou

postdoctoral fellow, queen's university

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Moira Vyner

Ph.D. Candidate, Queen's University

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Moira's project is to determine how the crosslinking density of a polymer surface affects the

proteins that adsorb to the surface of that polymer. This is significant for any biomaterial which

may be implanted into the eye. The ultimate goal of the research is to be able to produce a

biomaterial which will preferentially adsorb the desired type and amount of proteins.

Dale Marecak,

Laboratory Technical Supervisor, Queens University

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Dale works with biodegradable polymers which can be tailored to provide various drug release

profiles. Some are synthetic while others are sourced from nature. Some are crosslinked into

elastomeric materials and others with low viscosity are suitable for injection.{/slide}

D1B: Drug delivery from solid ophthalmic devices

Laura Doody

MASc Candidate, University of Waterloo

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Laura is working on developing a method to evaluate endothelial cell response to to drug

delivering materials to be implanted as an IOL. The purpose is to develop of a method of

preventing the occurrence of toxic anterior segment syndrome following cataract surgery. This

requires development of an in vitro model replicating the in vivo characteristics of the anterior

segment of the eye to determine the efficacy of the drug.

Fran Lasowski

MASc/PhD Candidate, McMaster University

Fran is working with Dr. Bremner's lab at U of T to develop materials for the delivery of their

drugs to prevent retinoblastoma in children. She is also exploring fibrin gels, contact lenses and

endogenous lipids to achieve sustained ocular delivery.

Lina Liu

Research Associate, McMaster University

Lina is currently working on development and characterization of novel biomaterials for

artificial cornea, contact lenses and drug release applications. At same time, she is also

undertaking some industry projects on contact lenses material modification and

characterization.

Jafar Mazumder

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Toronto

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Jafar was working as a collaborative researcher for the development of synthetic

polymeric (bio)materials and novel polymeric surfaces for biomedical applications. He is also

developing biodegradable thermo-responsive polymeric materials for cell and drug delivery

applications and developing PDMS based contact lenses with increasing biocompatibility.

Ben Muirhead

PhD candidate, McMaster University

Ben's research involves NIPAAM based in situ gelling polymers, a minimally invasive delivery

system with great potential in the eye. I use in vivo animal modelling,histology and

immunohistochemistry, as well as various assays to tests the biocompatibility and performance

of novel materials.

Robyn Perry

MASc Candidate, McMaster University

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Robyn is working on the synthesis and characterization of silicone composite hydrogels for use

as intraocular lenses.

Ivana Postic

PhD Candidate, McMaster University

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Ivana is working on developing a microneedle based device that can be reinjected with drug

solution as necessary. This should allow for long-term drug release into the vitreous and reduce

repeat injections through ocular tissue.

D2A/B: In situ gellable polymer solutions and nano- and microparticles

Dale Marecak

Laboratory Technical Supervisor, Queens University

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Dale works with biodegradable polymers which can be tailored to provide various drug release

profiles. Some are synthetic while others are sourced from nature. Some are crosslinked into

elastomeric materials and others with low viscosity are suitable for injection.{/slide}

Jian Yang

PDF, Queens University

D3: Microemulsions

Oliver Chung

MSc Candidate, University of Toronto

Xiao Yue (Carol) Xuan

MASc Candidate, University of Toronto

Carol was working on extended drug delivery to the anterior and/or posterior segment of

the eye using in situ gellable microemulsion-based formulations.

D4: In vivo imaging for pharmacokinetic studies in the eye and correlation with

pharmacokinetic models

Mohammad Abdekhodaie

Research Scientist, University of Toronto

Rhiad Gajraj

MASc Candidate, University of Toronto

Christine Zhao

Laboratory Technician, University of Toronto

Bio Theme

MD1A/D: In vitro biocompatibility and bioactivity measurement

PhD, McMaster University

Mahdiha Khan
MASc candidate, McMaster University
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Madiha's current project involves the in vitro comparison of bacterial and HCEC viability on novel silicone surfaces of varying wettability. Such surfaces have possible ophthalmic applications, hence the need to characterize their biocompatibility and potential to resist the development of bacterial biofilms.

Lina Liu
Research Associate, McMaster University
Lina is currently working on development and characterization of novel biomaterials for artificial cornea, contact lenses and drug release applications. At same time, she is also undertaking some industry projects on contact lenses material modification and characterization.

Christine Zhao

Laboratory Technician, University of Toronto

MD1B: Development of valid fibrosis models

Madhuja Gupta

PhD, McMaster University

Scott Bowman

MSc Candidate, McMaster University

MD1C: In vitro model of inflammation

David McCanna
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Waterloo
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David McCanna is a Postdoctoral Fellow working with Dr.Maud Gorbet and Dr. Lyndon Jones. His research involves the development of new in vitro methods for evaluating the biocompatibility of ocular implant devices. Prior to working as a Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr. McCanna was the Manager of Toxicology at Bausch & Lomb.{/slide}

MD1E: In vivo biocompatibility and biodistribution models

Laboratory Technician, University of Toronto