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 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.

Hannah is a first-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.

Yashi is currently pursuing an MSc in Epidemiology at the University of Ottawa. She holds a BSc. Honours in Biology with a Life Sciences Specialization from the University of Prince Edward Island. She previously served as a Team Lead at the Chief Public Health Office (CPHO) of Prince Edward Island where she assisted in coordinating and managing point-of-care COVID-19 testing while liaising with Health PEI and CPHO. Her most recent work in the biotechnology industry has focused on advancing and streamlining pharmacokinetic assays and establishing robust cell-based assays for clinical trials of various biosimilars. This work spans multiple key areas including assay development, validation, sample testing, and troubleshooting. Her master’s research focuses on assessing family doctors’ perspectives toward respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and pneumococcal vaccination among older adults in Ontario.

Sarah Pascale (she/her) is currently doing an MSc in Epidemiology 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.

Angela (she/her) is a third-year medical student at the University of Ottawa. She completed her Bachelor of Health Sciences with a specialization in Global and Population Health at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. During her undergraduate degree, she was involved in public health research involving disability, mental health, and bullying, specifically in the adolescent population. Her current research interests focus on communicable diseases including population-based preventive medicine and outbreak management. She hopes to integrate research and clinical medicine in a public health setting to contribute to the health of Canadians at a population level. At the Sulis Lab, Angela is assisting with a scoping review addressing risk-of-bias concepts in vaccine effectiveness studies. In her free time, Angela enjoys travelling, playing badminton, and spending time outdoors.