Alexis Ejeckam

Graduate Student

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Nadia Siddique

Graduate Student

Co-advised by Dr. Andrea Jurisicova

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Sara Sugin

Graduate Student

Co-advised by Dr. Andrea Jurisicova

I am a PhD student studying the different types of microRNAs expressed in trophoblast cells and the role they play in ensuring proper placentation and maternal immune tolerance of the growing fetus. My work is done both on mouse cell lines and whole-animal models of a trophoblast-specific microRNA deletion. I started off my research career in biological physics and mathematics, having done field work in Civil and Mineral Engineering, but have quickly discovered that my passions lay within developmental biology. Outside of the lab, I am an avid reader, photographer, concert-goer, and sport enthusiast.

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Morgan Zych

Graduate Student

Morgan is a PhD student in the Cox Lab. Her research interests include advanced cell culture constructs and developmental immunology. Morgan’s previous work in a tumor immunotherapy laboratory left her well-poised to study the crosstalk between trophoblast and the maternal immune system. She has now created a culture system which represents human column cytotrophoblast development and crosstalk with decidual natural killer cells in vitro. She would love to talk with you about ways this culture system could be adapted to model disorders of pregnancy, or hear any other ideas you have about these cultures! Morgan also enjoys playing the drums and hanging out with her cat, who is named Soup.

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Maslin Blundell

Undergraduate Student

I am a 2nd year Physiology Specialist with great enthusiasm for understanding the placenta and how placental dysfunction results in disorders of pregnancy!  I work mainly on a bioinformatics project studying the connection between placental development and cancer using scRNA-seq data.  I also support wet lab projects involving cell culture, qPCR, Western blotting, and more.  When not in the lab, I am playing trumpet with my siblings!

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Genlei Lu

Undergraduate Student

I am a 3rd year Immunology student interested in reproductive immunology. Currently, my work aims to examine the immune milieu at the murine feto-maternal interface primarily using flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and fluorescence microscopy; I also maintain cultures of human placental organoids (my children) semi-regularly. Before starting at the University of Toronto, I completed a diploma in IT administration. In my spare time, I’ve been learning to make Japanese mud balls (Dorodango).

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