Lab Members

Sabine Gilch, PhD, PI

I obtained my PhD in Molecular Biotechnology in 2009 from the Technical University of Munich, Germany. Then I undertook postdoctoral studies on the molecular and cellular biology of prion infection at the Technical University of Munich and the University of Wyoming in Laramie, USA. In May 2013, I joined the UCVM Faculty as an Assistant Professor and Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Prion Disease Research.

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Su Shim, MSc

Researcher/ Lab Manager

Samia Hannoui, PhD

Research Associate

Tahir Ali, PhD

Dr. Tahir Ali obtained his PharmD degree from University of Malakand, Pakistan and earned his Ph.D. from Gyeongsang National University, South Korea. In 2019, he joined Dr. Sabine Gilch’s team as an Eyes High postdoctoral fellow and has since been the recipient of numerous prestigious awards and fellowships, including the Alberta Innovates Postgraduate Fellowship in Health Innovation, the UCVM Outstanding Postdoc Award, and the CIHR-Banting fellowship. Tahir’s research is focused on exploring novel signaling pathways and developing therapeutic strategies for the treatment of incurable neurodegenerative diseases causally linked to protein misfolding, such as Alzheimer’s disease and prion diseases. When he is outside of the lab, Tahir enjoys spending time with his family.

Irina Zemlyankina, PhD Candidate

I have been a PhD student at Dr. Glich’s lab since September of 2021. My research is focused on the response that different brain cells have to prions and thus their effect on disease development and progression. I have completed a BSc Hons in Biochemistry at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver where I did research on the relationship between liquid-liquid phase separating proteins and neurodegeneration with aging and disease. Outside the lab, I spend a lot of my time either hiking in the Rockies and doing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or playing video games and Dungeons & Dragons with my friends.

Jessica Cashion, PhD Candidate

Jessica received her BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Alberta. She joined Dr. Gilch's lab in the Fall of 2021 as a graduate student in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Her project focuses on cholesterol metabolism and its possible role in alleviating prion disease.  

Gokhan Yilmaz, Graduate Student

Gokhan received his BSc in Biochemistry at the University of Ottawa, and started in the Gilch lab as a masters student. His project is on the cellular pathways that are affected in prion infection. In his spare time, he likes playing board games, video games, and sports.

Melissa Razcon Echeagaray, Graduate Student

I have a bachelor's degree in Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics from the University of Sonora, in Mexico. I just started my graduate program for MSc Veterinary Medical Sciences. I am working with CWD isolates from moose to determine its strain properties and investigate their potential transmission to caribou in the boreal forests. During my free time, I really like playing video games (currently I'm playing Tears of the Kingdom), watching movies and tv shows, and reading.

Anja Itum, MSc

Research Assistatnt

Raychal Ng

Raychal is a co-op student from UBC who is completing her Bsc in Microbiology and Immunology. She joined the lab in September of 2023, and is assisting in the research surrounding ​the potential of CWD to transmit to humans. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, traveling and baking treats.