Dr. Valerie Wallace
Dr. Wallace joined the Toronto Western Research Institute/University Health Network in September 2013, where she is Co-Director of the Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute and Chair of the Vision Science Research Program. She also holds appointments in the Departments of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences and Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto and holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Retina Regeneration.
A molecular and developmental biologist by training, Dr. Wallace is recognized for her work on the role of Hedgehog signaling in neural progenitor proliferation in the central nervous system.
Dr. Wallace obtained her PhD in the Department of Immunology at the University of Toronto before completing postdoctoral studies in developmental neuroscience with Dr. M. Raff at University College London. Prior to her appointment at the University Health Network in 2013, Dr. Wallace was a Senior Scientist and Director of the Vision Research Program at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute/University of Ottawa.
Current Members
Arturo Ortin Martinez, PhD
Arturo completed his PhD in experimental ophthalmology with Dr. Manuel Vidal Sanz at the University of Murcia, and also trained with Dr. Pete Coffey at the Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London. As part of the Wallace lab, Arturo holds a joint fellowship from the Ontario Institute of Regenerative Medicine, the University of Toronto’s Medicine by Design initiative, and the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Outside of the lab, Arturo loves dancing, art, and drag queen performances.
Nobuhiko Tachibana, PhD
Before joining the Wallace lab in 2018, Nobu completed his BSc at the University of Alberta and his PhD degree as a member of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute at the University of Calgary under the supervision of Dr. Carol Schuurmans. Now a postdoctoral fellow, Nobu is working on the cancer project investigating Norrin/Frizzled4 signaling in the brain, more specifically, in medulloblastoma.
Cre Comanita
As senior research technician, Cre manages the lab on a day to day basis while contributing to the vision science projects. Cre has previously worked at the Robarts Research Institute in Ottawa and in the biotech industry at Viron and Cangene. Outside of the lab, Cre enjoys spending time with her family, learning French, and taking long walks in the city.
Zhongda Chris Liu
Chris has expertise in molecular and cell biology, including immunohistochemistry, DNA/RNA/protein manipulation, cell culture, and Lenti- or Adeno-virus construction and packaging. As part of the Wallace lab, Chris maintains the transgenic mouse colony and provides the team with expert technical support.
Neno Pokrajac
Neno first joined the Wallace lab as a summer research student in 2016 to contribute to the cancer research team while completing his BSc and undergraduate thesis at McMaster University. He returned as a University of Toronto master’s student in 2017 and has successfully transferred to the PhD program in the department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and holds an Ontario Graduate Scholarship.
Ahmed El-Sehemy, PhD
Ahmed completed his BSc in Biotechnology from Cairo University before joining the Wallace lab in 2014. During his PhD, Ahmed worked on investigating novel roles of Norrie Disease Protein (Ndp) in the regulation of glioblastoma stem cells. Ahmed has now graduated and continues his work as a postdoctoral fellow in the Wallace lab. In his spare time, Ahmed enjoys playing video games and watching soccer (Forza Juve!).
Nicole Yan
Nicole completed her Bachelors of Health Sciences at McMaster University in 2018 in the Biomedical Discovery & Commercialization program. Soon after, she joined the Wallace lab as a master's student at the University of Toronto. Her thesis project focuses on developing an in vitro model to characterize photoreceptor material exchange.
Akshay Gurdita, MSc
After completing an MSc at the School of Optometry at the University of Waterloo, Akshay began his PhD in the Wallace lab in September 2018. His research focuses on photoreceptor axon guidance and synapse formation in the mouse eye. His passion for science and medicine converge with 3D printing, but when he's not in the lab, Akshay enjoys playing guitar in his bhangra fusion band, Avalla.
Parnian Dolati
After completing her Bachelor of Science in Physiology and Neuroscience at the University of Toronto in 2019, Parnian joined the Wallace lab as a master’s student. She is investigating the mechanism of photoreceptor material exchange. Outside of the lab, Parnian enjoys painting and hiking.
Wallace Lab Alumni
Samuel Tsai, MSc
Sam completed his BSc in physiology at McGill University before earning an MSc at the University of Toronto under the supervision of Dr. Wallace. His thesis involved developing an in vitro assay to investigate the interaction between donor and host photoreceptors. When not in the lab, Sam enjoys playing piano, bouldering, and cooking.
Phil Nickerson, PhD
Phil joined the Wallace lab in 2015 as a senior research associate to oversee the vision science team. During his time in the lab, Phil contributed to the development of advanced imaging techniques, mentored trainees, and supported the team through paper and grant writing. A seasoned scientist, Phil has previously held a research associate position in the Division of Neurosurgery, as well as completed two postdoctoral fellowships in developmental biology and biochemistry, in Halifax, NS
Nick Tokarew, PhD
Nick completed his BSc at University of Ottawa before joining the Wallace lab in 2011 as a PhD candidate at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. As part of the cancer team, his research focused on the role of Norrie Disease Pseudoglioma (Ndp) in cerebellar development and tumorigenesis. Nick has moved on to a postdoctoral fellowship in Germany. When he’s not in the lab, he enjoys spending time with his young family, and a nice cold beer.
Miriam Bergeret, MSc
Before joining the Wallace lab as a master’s student in 2015, Miriam completed her BSc at the University of Guelph with an honours thesis in developmental neuroscience. As part of the vision science team, her research focused on immunophenotyping cone photoreceptors for future cone transplantation applications.
Yao Lu, BSc
Yao was an undergraduate research student in the Wallace Lab from June 2016 to June 2017. She contributed to projects including the characterization of the Crx-/- mouse model of retinal degeneration and of the late migratory phase in postnatal retinal cone photoreceptors. As a current medical student at the University of Toronto, Yao conducts research in biomedical mathematics, but is grateful for the guidance and friendship she received as part of the Wallace lab.
Erin Bassett, PhD
Erin was a postdoctoral fellow/research associate in the Wallace lab from 2011 to 2016. Her work as part of the cancer project focused on the relationship between pre-tumor cells and their surrounding stroma in the cerebellum by examining the role of Norrin/Frizzled4 signalling in Shh-driven medulloblastoma initiation. Following her time in the Wallace lab, Erin worked as a research associate at the Council of Canadian Academies, and then moved on to a position at Tetra Bio-Pharma.
Sheila Smiley, MSc
Sheila completed a BSc in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Ottawa, and joined the Wallace lab as an MSc student at the Ottawa Hospital Research in 2011. Her project focused on characterizing a cone photoreceptor GFP-reporter mouse line as well as investigating cone photoreceptor transplantation. After graduating, Sheila worked as a research technician in the Wallace lab during the lab's transition to Toronto.
Charles Campbell, PhD
PhD candidate, 2009 to 2016.
Randy Riguette, PhD
PhD candidate, 2008 to 2016.
Andrew Ha, MSc
MSc candidate, 2006 to 2010.
Brian McNeill, PhD
PhD candidate, 2006 to 2012.
Dana Wall, PhD
PhD candidate, 2004 to 2009.
Shawn Beug, PhD
PhD candidate, 2004 to 2009.
Matt Cwinn, MSc
MSc candidate, 2007 to 2009.
Chantal Fournier, MSc
MSc candidate, 2006 to 2008.
Hong Liu, PhD
PhD candidate, 2001 to 2007.
Chuan Yu, MSc
MSc candidate, 2002 to 2005.
Alan Mears, PhD
Research Associate, 2010 to 2013.
Ya Ping Wang, PhD
Research Associate, 1999 to 2010.
Gabriel Dakubo, PhD
Postdoctoral fellow, 2000 to 2004.
Marosh Furimsky, PhD
Postdoctoral fellow, 2002 to 2006.
Claire Li
Laboratory Technician, 2013 to 2018.
Chantal Mazerolle
Laboratory Technician, 2000 to 2013.
Sherri Thurig
Laboratory Technician, 2002
Katrina Campsall
Laboratory Technician, 1991 to 2001.