Dr. Alex Quinn - PrincipAL Investigator
Alex is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiology & Biophysics and the School of Biomedical Engineering at Dalhousie University. He received his PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Columbia University and did his postdoctoral training at the University of Oxford and Imperial College London. His research program builds on experience in basic, translational, and clinical research, with a focus on the intrinsic regulation of cardiac function and the effects of mechano-electric interactions on heart rhythm, to better understand and treat cardiovascular disease. When not considering matters of the heart, he enjoys time with his family, or staring off into space considering nothing at all.
Dr. matthew stoyek - RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
Matt received his PhD in Medical Neuroscience from Dalhousie University. His research uses a multi-modal approach (immunohistochemistry, electrophysiology, fluorescence functional imaging, and pharmacology) integrating structure and function to define autonomic nervous system control of the heart in physiology and pathophysiology. As a Postdoc he has vague memories of times when he was not considering matters of the heart at all hours, and fondly recalls hobbies.
jonathan Baillie - phd student
Jon recieved his BSc Honours in Kinesiology from Dalhousie University and his MSc in Exercise Physiology at the University of New Brunswick, where he worked with a clinical cardiovascular disease population. He is currently pursuing his PhD in the Quinn Lab, using the zebrafish as an experimental model to investigate autoregulation of the sinoatrial node. An avid exercise enthusiast, Jon enjoys being outside and is happiest when he’s in the water.
Jessi Bak - PHD student
Jessi received her BSc in Biochemistry and Biology from Dalhousie University. During this time, she participated in the co-operative education program where she completed three different research-related work terms. Jessi then moved to the University of Alberta where she completed a MSc in Biochemistry, studying the functional effects of small peptides on intracellular calcium regulation. As a PhD student in the Quinn lab, she is currently working to identify the expression of TRPA1 and microtubules in human and rabbit cardiomyocytes and investigating their effect on cardiac electrophysiology in rabbit isolated hearts and cells to understand their role in mechanically-induced arrhythmias.
Ahmed Ramadan - PhD student
Ahmed received his BENG in Electrical Engineering from Dalhousie University with a Certificate in Biomedical Engineering. Ahmed enjoys implementing engineering principles in the field of medicine and biology; recently working at the QEII – Centre for Clinical Research, designing and building a new prosthesis solution. His current projects involve investigating the potential of optogenetics as an anti-arrhythmic therapy through a combined experimental-computational approach using zebrafish.
ZACHARY LONG - PhD student
Zachary received his BSc Honours in Medical Science with a minor in Computer Science from Dalhousie University. During that time he was investigating how acute thermal changes affect basal autonomic tone of the intracardiac nervous system in the isolated zebrafish heart. His current project involves investigating mechanisms of intrinsic cardiac control, using the zebrafish as an experimental model. In his free time, Zachary enjoys hiking, watching motorsport and sailing.
EMMA SAVOIE - MSC student
Emma received her BSc in Biomedical Science from the University of Guelph. In the Quinn lab she is utilising optogenetics, involving the use of light-sensitive proteins, to create a model of heart failure in zebrafish. In her spare time, Emma enjoys running, playing hockey, and soaking in all that Halifax has to offer!
BRIANNA LATREMOUILLE - MSC student
Brianna received her BSc in Physiology from McGill University, followed by summer of a Neuroscience research investigating the effects of early-life stress on development in neonatal rats. She is currently the exploring the effects of an acute increase in mechanical afterload on mechano-electrical coupling in rabbit isolated ventricular myocytes using a cell-in-gel system. Apart from research, she enjoys reading, painting, hiking, and rock-climbing.
AMELIA REINER - BSC student
Amelia is a 4th year BSc Medical Sciences student at Dalhousie University who is investigating the effects of cannabinoid exposure on cardiac development and function in zebrafish embryos. In her free time, Amelia enjoys baking, reading, and going to the gym.
Shannon Dallaire - BSC student
Shannon is a 4th year BSc Medical Sciences student at Dalhousie University who is investigating the effects of cannabanoid exposure on cardiac development and function in zebrafish embryos. In her free time, Shannon enjoys coaching speed skating, goingfor runs, and baking.
RYAN TOPPLE - BSC student
Ryan is a 4th year BSc Medical Sciences student at Dalhousie who is investigating the effects of cannabanoid exposure on cardiac development and function in zebrafish embryos. Outside of academics, Ryan enjoys playing the saxophone and church organ, boating (at home in Bermuda), and working on the ambulance as an Advanced EMT.
LAB ALUMNI
Postdoctoral Fellows
- Hirad Feridooni
- Enaam Chleilat
Graduate Students
- Katherine Purvis (MSc)
- Michael Connolly (MSc)
- Breanne Cameron (PhD)
- Eilidh MacDonald (PhD)
- Behzad Taeb (MSc)
- Peter Baumeister (MSc)
- Tarek Lawen (MSc)
Technical Staff
- Sara Rafferty
- Rick Livingston
Medical Students
- Donovan Cassidy-Nolan
Undergraduate Students
- Katharine Yeo
- Bryn Alexander
- Emma DeLong
- Annie Kakamousias
- Christian Gamblin
- Jessica Ramia
- Angela Tsai
- Kelly Sit
- Sierra Sparks
- Bailey Selig
- Melissa Mantifel
- Sawini Fernando
- Spencer MacDonald