Dr. Shannon Bainbridge

BSc. in Life Sciences, Queen’s University. PhD in Reproductive Anatomy and Cell Biology, Queen’s University. Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh. Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Reproductive Physiology and Cell Biology, Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital.

Shannon Bainbridge is an associate professor in the Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, with cross appointment to the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and affiliate investigator status at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI). She obtained her Ph.D. from Queen's University (Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology) with a dissertation that focused on the effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy. Professor Bainbridge went on to complete two post-doctoral fellowships, the first at Magee-Womens Research Institute (Pittsburgh, PA) and the second at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital (Toronto, ON). In both fellowships her research examined how different biological and genetic influences affect early placental development in the context of both healthy and pathological pregnancies. In 2011, Dr. Bainbridge established the Placenta Lab at the University of Ottawa. Her research program focuses on understanding the contributing role of the placenta to two common and debilitating conditions of pregnancy: preeclampsia and intrauterine fetal growth restriction (IUGR). 

Dr. Yusmaris Cariaco

MSc. in Applied Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Brazil. PhD in Applied Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Brazil. Postdoctoral Fellow, Placenta Lab, University of Ottawa.

Yusmaris Cariaco is a postdoctoral fellow at uOttawa since February 2022. She holds master's and doctoral degrees in Applied Immunology and Parasitology from the Federal University of Uberlândia in Brazil. Yusmaris has expertise in the field of immunopathology of diseases caused by protozoa, with a focus on infections during pregnancy. She is interested in investigating how these diseases affect placental health, ultimately impacting fetal growth and causing severe complications during pregnancy. Her current research at the Bainbridge Lab focuses on studying how opioid and cannabis consumption influences fetal growth trajectories. She aims to unveil the mechanisms behind the potential adverse effects of the use of opioids and cannabis during pregnancy, that will help to create harm reduction strategies to prevent fetal growth restriction in drug-exposed pregnancies. During her leisure time, Yusmaris enjoys engaging in aquatic activities, cycling, and immersing herself in movies and TV shows.

Dr. Alex Green

MSc. in Kinesiology, York University. PhD in Medical Sciences (Nutrition and Metabolism), McMaster University. Postdoctoral Fellow, Bainbridge and Menzies Laboratories, University of Ottawa.

Alex is a post-doctoral fellow in Dr. Bainbridge’s and Dr. Menzies’s laboratories at the University of Ottawa. He completed his doctorate on the effects of serotonin on brown adipose tissue and whole-body metabolism at McMaster University. As part of the Bainbridge laboratory, Alex merges his work on NAD+ metabolism and PARylation - a post-translational modification – in skeletal muscle from the Menzies laboratory with studies on the effects of maternal stresses on placental and fetal metabolic programming. Outside the laboratory, Alex spends his time with his partners in crime: Ferris (an over exuberant and anxious Australian Shepherd) and Molly (his partner).

Landry Kalembo

B. HSc., Interdisciplinary Health Sciences (Population and Public Health Concentration), University of Ottawa. M.Sc. (c), Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, University of Ottawa.

Landry is an aspiring global health researcher with interests in maternal and perinatal health, as well as the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD). His current thesis research focuses on food insecurity, maternal stress and maternal / infant health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Landry sits on the Board of Parkdale Food Centre, an Ottawa charity that builds healthier, more connected neighborhoods through good food, innovative community partnerships and challenging inequalities, to create lasting impact. He is also a board member of the Child and Nature Alliance of Canada, an organization that works to connect children and youth with nature through policy, research and practice with the goal of having a profound impact on families and communities across the country. In 2020, Landry founded the Kalembo Foundation, a federally registered non-profit organization that aims to improve the health and education of vulnerable people living in Central and East Africa. Landry has witnessed the impact of research on policy implementation and program delivery in the local community and hopes to take part in high-level conversations to develop creative solutions in the fight against poverty, illiteracy and inequality among vulnerable people, especially those affected by low socio-economic status, both in Canada and abroad. In his spare time, Landry plays charity soccer with the Ottawa Police team, and enjoys writing poetry, playing basketball and dancing salsa.

Rewa Zurub

B.Sc. in Biotechnology, LaCite. M.Sc. (c), Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, University of Ottawa.

Rewa is currently in her second 2nd year in the Interdisciplinary school of Health Sciences Master's program at the University of Ottawa. Rewa completed her honor's Bachelor in Biotechnology at LaCite in Spring 2021. Rewa completed her honor’s research project with the Society of Obstetrics and Gynecologist of Canada focusing on preventable factors on maternal and fetal deaths in Ontario. Her current thesis project investigates the presence of microplastics in human placentas within a Canadian context. Outside of research, Rewa enjoys baking, reading and spending time with loved ones.

Jade Gamelin Kao

B.Sc. in Translational Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa. M.Sc. (c) in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa.

Jade joined the Placenta Lab in May 2023 and is currently in the final year of her Honour’s degree in Translational and Molecular Medicine. In the upcoming Fall of 2024, she will embark on her accelerated journey towards a Masters of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. Beyond her dedicated work in the lab, Jade has a deep fascination for mycelium. During her leisure hours, she loves drawing, swimming and playing video games.

Hannah Poisson

B.Sc. in Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ottawa. M.Sc. (c) in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa.

Hannah is currently in her 1st year in the Masters of Cellular and Molecular Medicine program at the University of Ottawa. She completed her Honour’s Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Ottawa in the Spring of 2022. Hannah completed research projects through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) looking at microRNAs necessary for cardiac repair and honour’s research project focusing on the immortalization of human heart explant derived cells. Her current thesis project evaluates the impact of maternal obesity on placental dysfunction and fetal programming. Outside of research, Hannah enjoys spending her downtime reading, playing piano and enjoying nature.

Jasmine Tripath

BSc. in Biology with a Specialization in Bioinformatics, Faculty of Science, University of Waterloo. M.Sc. (c) in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa.

Jasmine is currently in her 1st year in the Masters of Cellular and Molecular Medicine program at the University of Ottawa. She has completed her Bachelor's of Science at the University of Waterloo in Biology with a specialization in Bioinformatics in Spring 2022. For her thesis, her research focuses on the transcriptomic and histological comparison of different models of inflammatory pathologies in pregnancy, represented by Maternal Obesity and Preeclampsia. Outside of research, Jasmine spends her time reading, learning new things and spending time with loved ones.