Before joining the team as a Research Coordinator, Cassandra (she/her) received a BSc Microbiology (Honours) from the University of Victoria and an MSc Epidemiology from McGill University. Her MSc work involved assessing the efficacy of a carrageenan-based gel against human papillomavirus (HPV). Other projects following graduation involved several knowledge syntheses, including reviews on the association between HPV and cervical cancer prognosis and the ethical and legal implications of gender-neutral HPV vaccination. Cassandra’s primary research interests lie in infectious and vaccine-preventable diseases, with a particular focus on vaccines and vaccine uptake. Currently, she is involved in projects related to assessing risk of bias in vaccine effectiveness studies, promoting vaccination among older adults, and to exploring interventions to improve vaccine coverage among ethnically and racially minoritized adults, immigrants and refugees.

Nawal Maredia is a clinical researcher and healthcare professional with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Health Policy and Management. She has over three years of experience in clinical research, during which she has contributed to studies on evaluating effective treatments for malaria, assessing the impact of the rotavirus vaccine, and contributing to an adaptive platform trial to identify treatments for COVID-19. Her primary research interest lies in infectious diseases, and she is particularly passionate about exploring solutions to global health challenges. Currently, she works as a Research Coordinator, mainly involved in projects related to vaccine uptake and healthcare providers' knowledge and practices towards vaccinations for older adults, exploring interventions to improve vaccine coverage among ethnically and racially minoritized adults, immigrants and refugees, as well as a feasibility study evaluating an antimicrobial stewardship intervention among private-sector physicians in Nigeria.

Yashi recently completed an MSc in Epidemiology at the University of Ottawa and holds a BSc (Honours) in Biology from the University of Prince Edward Island. Her master’s thesis comprised a global review of RSV vaccination policies and a mixed-methods study of Ontario family physicians’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding RSV and pneumococcal vaccination among older adults. She also worked with the National Advisory Committee on Immunization at the Public Health Agency of Canada, where she synthesized evidence to support vaccine guidance. Additionally, she also contributed to an international collaborative systematic review on biomarkers for tuberculosis detection, prediction of disease progression, and treatment optimization. Her research interests include infectious diseases, vaccination practices, and vaccine uptake. Currently, she is involved in projects related to assessing risk of bias in vaccine effectiveness studies and exploring interventions to improve vaccine coverage among ethnically and racially minoritized adults, immigrants, and refugees.

Hannah is a Second-year PhD student in Epidemiology and Applied Health Research at the University of Ottawa. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Kinesiology, a Master of Public Health, and a Master of Business Administration. Hannah brings a diverse background in project management, evidence synthesis and guideline development, with recent experience at the Public Health Agency of Canada focused on healthcare-associated infection prevention and control. Her research interests include infectious diseases, knowledge translation, and evidence-based decision making. As part of her doctoral studies, Hannah is contributing to a CIHR-funded project aimed at developing a risk-of-bias assessment tool for vaccine effectiveness studies.

Sarah Pascale (she/her) is currently doing her PhD in Epidemiology and Applied Health Research at the University of Ottawa. Holding a BSc in Nursing and MSc in Public Health, she is deeply committed to public health and epidemiology. At the Bruyère Research Health Institute, she has worked on various research projects, including the development of the Born Fyne prenatal management system, a digital health initiative designed to enhance maternal and child health outcomes. Sarah's research is centered on tackling infectious diseases, fueled by an intense awareness of their global impact and the critical need for innovative solutions. She is dedicated to advancing public health by addressing the challenges posed by emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, antibiotic resistance, and the disproportionate burden these diseases place on diverse populations. Through her work, Sarah strives to contribute to public health preparedness and equity, ensuring that advancements in prevention and treatment benefit those who need them most. In her free time, she enjoys music and movies. For her master’s program, she will focus on Antimicrobial Resistance related projects which is about enhancing antibiotic stewardship program in Nigeria through implementation research and interventions.

Theresa Elugbaju is a master’s student in epidemiology with a concentration in global health research, holding an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Life Sciences from McMaster University. She approaches her work as an interdisciplinary researcher, drawing from health sciences, social science, and public health. During her undergraduate studies, she was a member of the Science in Society lab, where she completed a research practicum on exploring stakeholder perspectives on implementing a national confidential enquiry system for maternal deaths in Canada, and a thesis on understanding consumer behaviour and farming practices on antibiotic use in livestock farming. Outside of research-related activities, she is highly involved in student support and engagement initiatives through mentoring, tutoring, and guest speaking.

Catherine Binda (she/her) is a general surgery resident currently completing her MSc in Epidemiology and Applied Health Research at the University of Ottawa as part of the Clinician Investigator Program. Merging the clinical and academic spheres, Catherine completed her BSc Honours in Biology in conjunction with a Co-operative Education program and her MD alongside a rural Integrated Community Clerkship at the University of British Columbia. Her research interest include the ethics of global surgery partnerships and quality improvement in local surgical care. When not at the hospital or in the library, Catherine enjoys volunteering at the food bank, running along the Ottawa river, and singing in a choir.

Asma Mohamed is an epidemiology graduate student with a Bachelor of Health Sciences from the University of Ottawa and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Epidemiology and Applied Health Research, with a concentration in Implementation Science. During her undergraduate studies, she worked as a Clinical Research Assistant, collaborating with community members, healthcare providers, and researchers on a CIHR-funded study examining the relationship between COVID-19 and blood pressure among underrepresented populations. She also completed a one-year internship at the Menzies Lab, where she gained experience in biological research and laboratory techniques. In addition, she completed an advanced research course focused on exploring the potential of ChatGPT to improve doctor-patient relationships. Her primary research interests lie in epidemiology, health equity, and implementation science, with a particular interest in translating research evidence into meaningful improvements in healthcare and community health. Currently, she is pursuing her MSc at the University of Ottawa, where she hopes to further develop her research skills and contribute to applied health research

Shruthi (she/her) is a second-year Master of Public Health student, with a concentration in Public Health Practice, at the University of Ottawa. She holds a Bachelor of Dental Surgery and has completed postgraduate training in Health Economics, Healthcare Financing, and Policy in India. She has a background in qualitative research, knowledge synthesis, advocacy, and program evaluation. Her work and research experience include antimicrobial resistance, arts for well-being, health services research, Parkinson's disease and dementia. At the Sulis Lab, Shruthi is assisting with a systematic review on interventions to improve vaccine coverage among migrants and ethnically and racially minoritized adults.

Shain Raichura is a second-year medical student at the University of Ottawa. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Mental Health from Carleton University and a Masters of Science in Epidemiology and Public Health at UOttawa. His masters work used administrative health data to analyze adverse cardiovascular outcome occurrence among individuals with schizophrenia following an acute coronary event. Through his previous work experiences, Shain has developed strong interests in health equity research, global health, mental health and physical comorbidity and the translation of research into clinical practice and policy. He is currently involved in a Nigeria-based antimicrobial stewardship project, which aims to strengthen approaches to measuring antibiotic prescribing and support stewardship interventions in outpatient healthcare settings.

Lillian Abebe (she/her) is a third-year medical student at the University of Ottawa. She completed an Honours Bachelor of Science in Translational and Molecular Medicine at the University of Ottawa, where she pursued research focused on prevalent chronic diseases including obesity and type 2 diabetes, as well as how these may intersect, through various research awards. She also has a strong interest in preventative medicine, contributing to community efforts including the Ottawa Heart Institute’s Mobile Valve Screening Program for heart disease with her school’s Student-led Health Initiative Partnership (SHIP) Clinic team. As Co-president of the uOttawa Black Medical Students’ Association (BMSA), Lillian seeks to advocate for equitable health care through projects such as launching the club’s annual Blood Drive campaign, addressing the currently existing lack of blood donor diversity, to ultimately improve donor matching and thus patient outcomes. In the lab, Lillian is contributing to a systematic review on current interventions designed to promote vaccine uptake amongst migrant, refugee, and visible minority populations.