Download RIOT Panel Bios 2012-2013

Elgin-Middlesex Unit
Research Information Outreach Team
Panelist Bios
Courtney Coschi
Courtney Coschi received her Bachelor of Medical Science (BMSc) at Western University in 2007. She
began her PhD in the Department of Biochemistry at Western University in 2007 doing cancer research
at the London Regional Cancer Program at Victoria Hospital in London, Ontario, under the supervision of
Dr. Fred Dick. Her work focuses on a cellular protein called the retinoblastoma protein (pRB), which is a
master regulator of the cell division cycle. In normal cells, pRB prevents cells from entering the cell
division cycle. In most cancers, this protein is no longer able to do its job and as a result, cells continue
to divide. Courtney began volunteering with the Canadian Cancer Society in 2010 on the Relay For Life
committee, and with the Research Information Outreach Team (RIOT) in 2011. One of her main goals is
to facilitate a dialogue between researchers and the lay community about both cancer, and the cancer
research process, to facilitate a greater mutual understanding.
Saman Malaki
Saman completed his MSc (Master in Science) at Isfahan University in Iran. He started his PhD as an
International student at Western University in 2008 in the department of Microbiology and
Immunology. His work focuses on the interaction between immune cells and cancer cells. He has
improved the immune response towards cancer, and neutralized cancer's immune suppressive
mechanisms as part of his PhD project. So far, he has published 4 peer-reviewed papers including one 1author paper in the American Journal of Transplantation. He has chaired the annual student-run
conference (IIRF) in the department of Microbiology and Immunology and served on multiple
committees such as the research committee and appointment committee of the department as the
student representative. Saman plans to explore new aspects of cancer research after his PhD as a postdoctoral fellow, and hopes to open his own lab to work on new treatment approaches for cancer in
future.
Michael Jensen
Michael Jensen is a PhD Candidate under the supervision of Dr. Eugene Wong in the Department of
Medical Biophysics at Western University, and a Lawson Health Research Institute trainee at the London
Regional Cancer Program, London Health Sciences Centre. He received a B.Sc. Honors degree in Medical
Physics in 2008 from Western. His research investigates the use of medical imaging tools to improve
radiation therapy planning and to monitor treatment response. For the past few years, he has been
involved in the Research Information Outreach Team of the Elgin-Middlesex Unit of the Canadian Cancer
Society. Michael grew up on a farm near Embro, Ontario.
Timothy Yeung
Timothy Yeung graduated from the Radiation Therapy Program that is jointly offered by the University
of Toronto and The Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences. He is currently a PhD student in the
Department of Medical Biophysics at Western University and working under the supervision of Drs
Glenn Bauman, Slav Yartsev, and Ting-Yim Lee. His research investigates the use of dynamic contrastenhanced computed tomography (DCE-CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) in monitoring brain
cancer therapy. He uses these imaging techniques in brain cancer patients to look for blood flow and
metabolic patterns that will likely coincide with tumor recurrence. He also uses DCE-CT imaging in small
animal models to study how tumor perfusion changes after stereotactic radiosurgery and antiangiogenic therapy.
Dr. Alex Louie
Bio to follow
For more information contact:
Lee Jones
Research Information Outreach Team Facilitator
[email protected]
519-281-6711