Lab Members
![lab members](/sites/default/files/styles/ucws_image_desktop/public/2021-10/IMG_1012_0.jpg?h=1a5f5253&itok=nQwIbEbQ)
Current Lab Members
![Sabine Gilch, PhD, PI](/sites/default/files/styles/ucws_thumbnail_portrait/public/2020-12/170116_chronic-wasting-disease-005_0.jpg?h=3ffa2239&itok=UzMskrEy)
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.
![Su Shim, MSc](/sites/default/files/styles/ucws_thumbnail_portrait/public/2020-12/su-shim_1_1.jpg?itok=ceYaVd6M)
Su Shim, MSc
Researcher/ Lab Manager
![Samia Hannoui](/sites/default/files/styles/ucws_thumbnail_portrait/public/2020-12/samia_2.jpg?h=cbb32e4f&itok=OOzjiS1O)
Samia Hannoui, PhD
Research Associate
![Tahir Ali, PhD](/sites/default/files/styles/ucws_thumbnail_portrait/public/2021-10/Profile%20picture%20.jpg?itok=7i6eg8eF)
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](/sites/default/files/styles/ucws_thumbnail_portrait/public/2021-10/PXL_20210521_211857472_2.jpg?itok=m496dtuP)
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](/sites/default/files/styles/ucws_thumbnail_portrait/public/2021-10/UC%20Card%20Pic.jpg?itok=gWluA6Ib)
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](/sites/default/files/styles/ucws_thumbnail_portrait/public/2023-09/Gokhan%20Yilmaz.jpg?h=14090e88&itok=t-7ZVcUJ)
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](/sites/default/files/styles/ucws_thumbnail_portrait/public/2023-10/Melissa_Razcon_1.jpg?h=9e5e8a29&itok=ho3n_Akd)
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](/sites/default/files/styles/ucws_thumbnail_portrait/public/2023-09/Anja%20Itum.jpg?h=0d45f205&itok=QbuZKcC9)
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.
Former Members
- Chris Chang, graduated with PhD in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology in August 2023; PhD, post-doctoral fellow
- Jia He, PhD, post-doctoral fellow
- Ryan Sayers, undergraduate summer student
- Haylee Robertson, undergraduate summer student
- Priya Raj, undergraduate summer student
- Maria Arifin, graduated with PhD in Veterinary Medical Sciences in August 2021; DVM, PhD, post-doctoral fellow
- Nicole Wilson, undergraduate summer and thesis student
- Keegan McDonald, Co-op student
- Pearl Cherry, graduated with PhD in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology in June 2022; PhD, post-doctoral fellow
- Lovisa Johansson, visiting PhD student
- Wanzhen Zhang, PhD, post-doctoral fellow
- Doris Zeng, Co-op student
- Govinda Sharma, PhD, post-doctoral fellow
- Antonia Klein, PhD, post-doctoral fellow
- Preetha Gopalakrishnan, undergraduate thesis student
- Oliver Huang, Co-op student
- Syeda Atika, undergraduate summer student
- Li Lu, PhD, Research Associate
- Alex Vu, undergraduate summer student & student assistant
- Jie (Bella) Yu, Co-op student
- Srinivasarao Karri, PhD candidate
- Peter Kay, graduated with MSc in October 2017
- Vlad Buiac, BHSc Honours student
- Jimmy Lee, Co-op student
- Ginny Cheng, graduated with MSc in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology in March 2016
- Erica Corda, DVM, PhD
- Doug-Doyle Baker, undergraduate student
- Barbara Killy, visiting PhD student
- Evan Cooper, summer student
- Josh Newman, RHISE summer student, University of Oxford