OUR TEAM
STAFF
Damien Faury, MSc
Lab Manager
Damien obtained a Protein Engineer degree in a former life and then decided to cross the Atlantic Ocean to see what life looked like in the New World. Once here, he completed an MSc in Applied Microbiology and then joined the Jabado lab as its very 1st member… in 2003. Since then, his role has evolved but his passion remains the same. He makes sure conditions are there for everyone to work in a good and safe research environment. The thematic of his research project is liquid biopsy. He plays soccer and is a big fan of that sport. With 3 boys at home, he almost has his own team.
Caterina Russo, MSc
Research Assistant
Caterina is a native Montrealer. She obtained her BSc in Biochemistry at McGill University and an MSc at Concordia University-CO-OP. Her focus was on characterizing the structure and function of the mouse oxytocin receptor gene. She has been working for Mcgill University as a Research Assistant for nearly thirty years. She has worked in several labs at the RVH, Goodman Cancer Centre, MNI and is now at the Glen under the supervision of Dr. Nada Jabado. The list of techniques she acquired over the years is quite extensive. She is now mainly involved in elucidating the role of histone H3 mutations and their involvement in the oncogenesis of pediatric tumors. In her spare time, Cathy enjoys gardening, working out at the gym, watching movies, ancient history, reading and long walks with her dog.
Nikoleta Juretic, MSc,PhD
Project Manager
Nikoleta joined the Jabado lab in 2015 after an eventful youth spanning Croatia, Canada, Japan and the Philippines and research subjects ranging from plants to insects and monkeys. Following a PhD at McGill University on the role of transposable elements in plant genome evolution, she started working as a project manager on large-scale genomics research projects and has been involved in a number of projects funded by Genome Canada, Genome Quebec and the NIH. In her free time, Nikoleta enjoys traveling, reading novels, jogging, dancing and yoga.
Amel Chaouch, MSc,PhD
Research Associate
Amel graduated in pharmacy from the Faculty of Pharmacy of Algiers (Algeria) and later earned a Master’s degree from the Faculté de Pharmacie de l’Université Paris 5 in France. She then moved to Montreal for a Ph.D. in Biology at McGill University, focusing on histone mutations and epigenome remodeling using the Drosophila melanogaster (fruitfly) model. Having completed her Ph.D. in 2021, Amel joined the Jabado lab as a Research Associate, continuing her work with histone mutations using the same fruitful model. Her hobbies outside of academia include reading or listening to detective novels, spending time with friends, and exploring museums and art exhibits.
Rahul Andharia, MSc
Research Assistant
Rahul completed his master’s in applied biotechnology at McGill and brings with him three years of industry experience across various domains in the life sciences. In November 2025, he joined the Jabado lab as a Research Assistant, working closely with Damien, the lab manager, on liquid biopsy projects. Beyond his major project, Rahul contributes to diverse lab tasks and collaborates across different research initiatives. Passionate about both science and business, he enjoys exploring new cuisines and is an avid ping pong player.
Arash Abolhassani, MSc
Research Assistant
Arash attained his bachelor's degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology in 2022 in Mashhad, Iran. Driven by a passion for cancer research, he sought to enhance his expertise in the field by engaging in research within a globally renowned laboratory. He joined Jabado’s lab in November 2023 for a Master’s focused on Histone H3.3 mutations involved in impairing neurodevelopment and developing brain organoids to gain deeper insights into their impacts. In January 2026, he transitioned to a research assistant position in the lab. Outside of his research pursuits, he finds joy in reading books, working out at the gym, watching documentaries about the cosmos, and of course, having some chit-chat with family and friends.
POSTDOCS
Daria Ostroverkhova, PhD
Daria received her PhD in Computational Biology from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. During her doctoral studies, she developed computational approaches to identify driver mutations and mutational processes in cancer.
She joined the Jabado Lab as a postdoctoral fellow in 2025, co-supervised by Dr. Claudia Kleinman. Her research aims to elucidate epigenomic mechanisms underlying pediatric brain tumors.
Isadora Pereira Gomes, MSc, PhD
Isadora is a dentist with a Master’s and PhD in Oral Pathology from Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil, with experience in molecular pathology of odontogenic tumors. Her work bridges histopathology and molecular genetics, and she is currently applying her expertise to integrate histopathological findings with genomic and epigenomic data to investigate the mechanisms driving tumor development. Outside the lab, she enjoys reading, cooking, working out, and spending time with friends and family.
Stefanie-Grace Sbergio, MSc, PhD
Originally from Toronto, Stefanie completed her Bachelor of Medical Sciences at the University of Western Ontario before pursuing a PhD in Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto in Dr. Cynthia Hawkins’ lab. Her PhD focused on identifying therapeutic options for DIPG, and included extensive training using patient-derived models, cell culture, animal models, and multi-omics analyses. She joins the Jabado lab as a postdoctoral fellow eager to build on this translational research background, develop new experimental approaches, and contribute to a deeper understanding of pediatric brain tumors. When she is not in the lab, Stefanie can be found reading, running, or exploring the city.
PHD STUDENTS
Alva Annett, MSc
Alva has a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology and master’s degree in bioinformatics from Uppsala University. During her master’s she became interested in pediatric cancer and single cell genomics which made Dr. Jabado’s lab a perfect fit for her PhD. The focus of her project is to analyze histone mutations and their effect on the epigenetic landscape. Her work is mainly computational, and she is co-supervised by Dr. Jabado and Dr. Claudia Kleinman. In her free time Alva enjoys hiking, gardening and having a beer with friends.
Kimia Asghari, MSc
Kimia completed her BSc in Genetics and her Master’s degree in Cell and Molecular Biology from 2015 to 2022 in Iran at the University of Isfahan. She started to pursue her Ph.D. in Human Genetics at McGill University and her research in the Dr. Jabado lab in June 2022.
She is interested in the role of genes and epigenetics in cancer, as well as the effects of histone mutations on tumorigenesis and their microenvironment. She enjoys swimming, hiking, and ice skating as hobbies.
Wajih Jawhar, MSc
Wajih obtained his BSc. in Biology in Beirut, Lebanon. He first joined the Jabado lab in 2018 as a MSc. student in Human Genetics, co-supervised by Dr. Livia Garzia. During his MSc., he worked on deciphering genetic drivers of initiation and progression of pediatric sarcomas. Fascinated by epigenetics, he is now pursuing his PhD focusing on dissecting the role of epigenomic dysregulation in mesenchymal development and neoplasia. Other than eureka moments, Wajih enjoys tennis, hiking, and biking.
Abolfazl Maghrouni, MSc
In 2022, Abolfazl earned his Master's degree in Human Genetics from Tehran University of Medical Sciences. With a prior background and expertise in cancer research, he developed a keen interest in studying chromatin architecture and dynamics during both development and brain tumor formation. Upon joining the Jabado Lab that same year, Abolfazl shifted his focus towards investigating the impact of NSD1 haploinsufficiency on brain development, particularly on homeotic genes. During his free time, Abolfazl enjoys exploring new cafes, swimming, and spending time with friends.
Ahmed El Mouatani, MD, MSc
After his medical training and master's degree in Europe, Ahmed joined the Jabado lab in January 2023 as a PhD candidate. His PhD project focuses on the study of G34R/V mutations in gliomas and the involvement of PDGFR signaling. Outside of the lab, he enjoys cinema, photography, music, and spending time with friends and family.
Claudia Negrón-Lomas, MSc
Claudia completed her BSc in Biotechnology Engineering and a MSc in genetics and molecular biology in Mexico City. Captivated by cancer epigenetics, she joined the Jabado lab on January 2023, and she is co-supervised by Dr. Livia Garzia. Claudia is working on projects focused on studying the role of histone mutations on pediatric and young adult tumors. Outside the lab, her favorite hobby is scuba diving. She loves traveling, working out, and hanging out with friends.
Anthony Lteif, MSc
Anthony holds a BSc in Biology and a Master’s in Cancer Therapeutics from Byblos, Lebanon. Fascinated by cancer genetics, epigenetics and the mechanisms driving tumors, Anthony was inspired by the Jabado Lab’s groundbreaking research. This shared passion led him to join the lab in September 2024 to pursue a PhD in Human Genetics at McGill University. His research focuses on BMP signaling and ACVR1 mutations in H3.3K27M and H3.1K27M gliomas. Outside the lab, he enjoys swimming, biking, hiking, and exploring the beautiful city of Montreal with friends and colleagues.
Bonnie Wang, BSc
Bonnie completed her BSc. in Honours Immunology at McGill University in 2024. Driven by her interest in epigenetics and cancer research, she joined Dr. Jabado's lab as an MSc. student in Experimental Medicine, later fast-tracking to PhD. In her free time, she enjoys learning to skate, listening to K-POP, and spending time with friends.
Luohuan Dai, MSc
Luohuan obtained a master's degree in Neurosurgery from Central South University. During his master’s training, he realized that conventional radiotherapy and chemotherapy provide limited benefit for glioma treatment. Driven by curiosity and motivated by this clinical challenge, he joined the Nada Jabado Lab to investigate the mechanisms underlying histone-mutant pediatric gliomas, with a particular interest in epigenetic regulation and multi-omics approaches. Outside the lab, he enjoys sleeping, daydreaming, and singing.
Iris Tong, MSc
Iris comes from a biochemistry background. Driven by her interests in epigenetic cross-talk and brain cancer, she joined Nada’s team in Fall 2025. In addition to her project on the developmental impacts of histone mutations, Iris is interested in learning how insights from biochemistry connect with neurophysiology to help complete the broader story.
Outside the lab, she enjoys hiking and spending time with friends and family, and is looking forward to exploring Montreal and Quebec — when it’s not too cold.
MASTER'S STUDENTS
Nmesoma Theo-Emegano, BSc
Nmesoma completed her BSc. in Biotechnology and Psychology at the University of Toronto, Mississauga. Her undergraduate degree and her volunteer work with children sparked her interest in high-grade pediatric gliomas, and she decided to join the lab in 2024 to pursue her Master’s degree, where she is working on identifying epigenetic vulnerabilities in H3K27M-patient derived cell lines. In her free time, she enjoys playing soccer, sewing, crocheting, watching reality TV shows, travelling, dancing, and having fun.
Emma Pleynet, BSc
Emma earned her BSc in Honours Anatomy and Cell Biology from McGill University in 2025, during which she conducted research in biochemistry and cell biology, resulting in a journal publication. Her longstanding interest in neuroscience and cancer biology led her to join the group in January 2026 to pursue her master’s degree in Experimental Medicine. Her research focuses on non-CG DNA methylation during neurodevelopment and the regulation of DNMT3B through alternative promoters. Outside the lab, Emma enjoys playing soccer, going to the gym, listening to music, and doing crafts.
Dylan Gharibian, BSc
Dylan completed his bachelor's degree at McGill University in Biochemistry, minoring in computer science. During his undergraduate degree, he became interested in the role of epigenetics in brain development and cancer. His work is in bioinformatic analysis of epigenetic data, and he is co-supervised by Dr. Claudia Kleinman. Outside the lab, he enjoys playing guitar and woodworking.