Thomas Murooka, PhD

Assistant Professor, Departments of Immunology and Medical Microbiology & ID

Education:  Postdoctoral fellowship, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (2009-2014)
                      Ph.D (Immunology), University of Toronto, Canada (2002-2008)
                      B.Sc (Microbiology & Immunology), University of British Columbia, Canada (1997-2002)

I am also an active member of  the Canadian HIV Cure Enterprise (CanCURE), which is a research collaboration focused on studying HIV persistence and developing strategies towards a functional HIV Cure.
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Paul Lopez, B.Sc

Research technician

Education:   B.Sc (Analytical Biotechnology Hons.; Co-op program), University of Manitoba

Research interests:
  • Live-cell imaging in 3D collagen matrices to characterize the cellular dynamics of HIV transfer between  infected and target cells.
  • The goal is to study the kinetics of cell-to-cell virus transfer within a more dynamic environment, and study how these mechanisms can resist inhibition by antiretroviral drugs.

Contact:   Paul.lopez@umanitoba.ca
Nnamdi Ikeogu, DVM, M.Sc

Research Associate

Education:  Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria Nsukka (2009-2015)
                      M.Sc. (Immunology), University of Manitoba (2019)

Research interests:
  • I am using a humanized mouse model of HIV infection to visually characterize the migratory behavior and cellular distribution of productively- and latently-infected T cells in vivo using MP-IVM.
  • I am also interested in understanding how cell-cell communcation contribute to HIV persistence.

Contact:   ikeogun@myumanitoba.ca
Romaniya Zayats, B.Sc

PhD student

Education:   B.Sc. (Microbiology), University of Manitoba

Research interests:
  • I'm using MP-IVM to visualize the dynamic nature of anti-Leishmania T cell responses in vivo, using a new TCR transgenic mouse model that better models T cell responses in humans.
  • The goal is to better the cellular and molecular mechanisms that are in place to permit persistent Leishmania Major infection even after lesion resolution.

Contact:   umzayatr@myumanitoba.ca
Marina Costa-Fujishima, B.Sc

MSc student

Education:   B.Sc. (Microbiology), University of Manitoba
                    
Research interests:
  • I'm studying the role of mucosal neutrophils as regulators of vaginal epithelial barrier function. Using microscopy and proteomics approaches, my work will dissect how changes in the vaginal microbiota influences neutrophil migration and function.
  • The goal is to better understand the interplay between neutrophils and the epithelium, and how these interactions play a role in sexual HIV transmission.

Contact:   costafum@myumanitoba.ca
Roshan Parvarchian, B.Sc

MSc student

Education:   B.Sc. (Molecular Cell Biology and Microbiology), Islamic Azad University, East Tehran Branch
                    
Research interests:
  • My current interests are to decipher the signal trasduction pathways that are initiated during HIV-containing DC-T cell contacts, and how these signals enhance viral spread between cells.

Contact:   roshanpv91@gmail.com
Oluwaseun Elizabeth Ajibola

Undergraduate research assistant

Education:   B.Sc. (Genetics), University of Manitoba, In progress.
                    
Research interests:
  • I am currently constructing and testing a new dual-fluorescent HIV reporter that can visually discriminate between productively versus latently-infected T cells.

Contact:   ajibolao@myumanitoba.ca
Our esteemed alumni:


Dr. Wan Hon Koh (postdoctoral fellow) 2016-2019

Atta Yazdanpanah (M.Sc student) 2017-2019

Ryan Hnatiuk (co-op student and undergraduate research assistant) 2016-2018

Leo Xinyun Liu (undergraduate intern) summer 2019

Umar Mohammed (co-op student and research technician) 2018-2019