Spring 2026 Graduates: Research, reflections and what comes next

Research area: Stem-cell based therapy of congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Supervisor: Dr. Augusto Zani

Research site: SickKids Research Institute

I previously worked as a pediatric surgery resident in Germany, where I witnessed the devastating outcomes of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), with some patients not surviving despite advanced surgical and intensive care. CDH is a congenital malformation in which a defect in the diaphragm allows abdominal organs to herniate into the thoracic cavity. Although the defect can be repaired surgically after birth, the lungs are often already underdeveloped, mainly due to antenatal compression by the herniated viscera.

During my Master's degree I investigated a novel stem cell-based therapy aimed at improving in utero lung growth, with the hope of reducing postnatal morbidity and mortality in the future.

I have too many memorable moments from grad school to count! From the various events such as new student orientation and Scientific Day, to the opportunity to present my research at national and international conferences, my time at IMS has been one of the most formative and rewarding experiences of my life.

I have accepted a position as a General Surgery resident at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, where I will have the opportunity to train in a world-class surgical and scientific environment. I look forward to gaining experience as a surgeon while also advancing research on stem cell-based therapies for congenital malformations such as CDH.

My advice to incoming students would be to choose both your research project and lab carefully. It's imperative to genuinely care about the research you'll be doing, as it will become a central part of your life for the next several years. Stay open to new opportunities and connect with like-minded people early on — you never know what the future may hold if you remain engaged and curious.

Research area: Gut inflammation and epithelial barrier dysfunction in Spondyloarthritis

Supervisor: Dr. Nigil Haroon

Research site: Schroeder Arthritis Institute, UHN

My doctoral research focused on how gut inflammation and changes in the intestinal barrier may contribute to Spondyloarthritis (SpA). I used a preclinical model to study the role of MIF in intestinal inflammation, barrier integrity, and epithelial homeostasis. 

I've been fascinated by the immune system since my undergraduate studies, and that interest continued through my master’s work on cell death. When I was looking for a PhD position, I came across one of Dr. Haroon’s papers on autophagy in SpA and immediately felt drawn to the questions his lab was asking. 

Some of the greatest highlights of my time at IMS have been the opportunities to build community through science communication and outreach. In 2023, I led the UofT Talks event "Dig In: Our Health on a Platter", which was our first in-person event after the COVID-19 pandemic. Seeing it come together successfully, with nearly 200 attendees and support from the Gairdner Foundation, was incredibly rewarding.

Co-founding IMS MedDash was another very fulfilling experience. It gave me the chance to create something new within IMS, connect with students outside the University, and make medical science research more accessible and engaging for younger audiences.

I'm currently continuing my research journey as a postdoctoral fellow,  having received the Spondyloarthritis Research Fellowship, sponsored by UCB. This will allow me to expand on my PhD thesis work and continue exploring the role of the gut in SpA. Looking further ahead, I'm interested in moving into industry, particularly in roles that connect scientific knowledge, translational research, and patient impact.

My advice to incoming students is to stay curious, be open to learning, and don't be afraid to ask for help. Graduate school can feel overwhelming at times, but you do not have to figure everything out alone. Build a support system, seek mentorship early, and remember that growth often comes from challenges as much as from successes. I would also encourage students to get involved beyond their own research projects, because some of the most meaningful experiences can come from the people you meet and the communities you help build.

Research area: Non-invasive brain stimulation for treatment resistant depression 

Supervisor: Dr. Sean Nestor

Research site: Sunnybrook Research Institute 

My research focused on the intersection of metabolic health and treatment-resistant depression, specifically looking at whether glucose-related biomarkers, such as fasting insulin and insulin resistance, could help predict how well patients respond to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). I noticed a growing body of work on metabolic psychiatry, but very little of it had looked at neuromodulation specifically. The idea that something as measurable as glucose levels might tell us something meaningful about whether a patient will respond to brain stimulation felt both clinically important and underexplored.

One highlight from grad school was the opportunity through my lab at Sunnybrook to do an internship abroad. I spent three weeks in Seoul, South Korea with a biotech company, which led to a collaboration where we incorporated their device into our study. Getting to build that protocol and see it integrated into the research was extremely rewarding.

In terms of what’s next, I’m looking to move into sales, whether that's pharmaceutical, medical device, or health tech. I want to combine my passion for science with client-facing work, and my master’s is what gave me that exposure through the internship, international conferences, and working with clinicians at Sunnybrook. I really thrived in those interactions, so the next step is finding a role where both sides can coexist.

My advice to new students is to never say no to an opportunity that scares you. I was asked to be a keynote speaker at a Society of Biological Psychiatry conference and I agreed, even though public speaking used to be my biggest fear. Say yes anyway because that discomfort is exactly where the growth happens.

Research area: Clinical stroke research focused on cognitive outcomes

Supervisor: Dr. Richard Swartz

Research site: Sunnybrook Research Institute 

My research focused on improving how cognitive outcomes are measured and understood after stroke, particularly within clinical stroke trials. Through working directly with stroke survivors, I became interested in understanding the long-term cognitive challenges many patients continue to face even after appearing to recover physically. Hearing patients’ experiences highlighted the importance of developing more inclusive and patient-centered approaches to cognitive assessment and stroke recovery research.

Some of the greatest highlights of my time at IMS have been the opportunities to grow not only as a researcher, but also as a mentor, science communicator, and collaborator. Beyond my research, I became involved in Youth-of-T Talks, the IMS Students' Association, UofT Talks, the Ori Rotstein Lecture in Translational Research planning committee, and serving as a Student Ambassador. 

Building my science communication and mentorship platform — @sciencewithsajee — also allowed me to connect with students navigating paths that once felt unfamiliar to me. Alongside this, I have been grateful for opportunities to collaborate with national and international researchers, present my work at conferences, and contribute to impactful stroke research during my PhD.

l'll be continuing as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Sunnybrook to further build on my PhD research. One of the major contributions of my PhD was helping develop a more inclusive and accessible framework for assessing cognition that can be used across stroke survivors irrespective of cultural, language, social, or functional barriers that may otherwise limit participation in research. The goal of this work is to ensure that all stroke survivors can be meaningfully included in clinical trial analyses so we can better identify interventions that are effective and applicable across diverse patient populations. 

Graduate school is not only about research, it's also an opportunity to explore your interests, build relationships, and grow both personally and professionally. My advice to incoming students would be to get involved, say yes to opportunities that excite you, and not be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Some of the most valuable experiences and connections often come from the communities and opportunities you least expect.