Contact Us:
Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology
University of Waterloo, East Campus 4, Room 2001
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo , Ontario, N2L 3G1 Canada
cbb.uwaterloo.ca
519-888-4567 Ext 32732
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Treatment of neurological disorders (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and mental health conditions including schizophrenia and depression)
Molecular pharmacology and pharmaceutical delivery
Intracellular signaling pathways in neurons, and the role of cytoskeletal dynamics in the trafficking of receptors in neurons
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Canada Research Chair in Fish and Environmental Immunology [Canada Research Chair Profile]
[UW Science News] June 15, 2018, Waterloo Biologist mentors local teen, the 2018 International BioGENEius Challenge winner
[Waterloo Stories] January 22, 2018 "Vaccines not protecting farmed fish from disease"
[Waterloo Stories] February 13, 2014 "True love makes pacific salmon healthier"
[YouTube] October 9, 2013 "Science Scoop - For the love of fish!"
[Waterloo Stories] September 9, 2013 "Video conferencing connects Waterloo biologist to young students"
Research Interests:
Cancer research
Cell cycle, DNA replication, biomarkers and checkpoints
Genetics, yeast genetics, molecular biology
Protein factors
Kinases
Chromatin
[CBB researcher story] January 2, 2013 "How the Trout are Saving Us: Using Biomarkers to Improve Water Quality"
Research Interests:
[YouTube] December 23, 2013 "Waterloo Engineering Research: Targeted Drug Delivery"
[Daily Bulletin] June 1, 2018, 11 CBB Members Named Outstanding Performance Award Winners
Research interests:
[Waterloo News] February 6, 2019 "Researchers find new treatment for Chlamydia"
[Waterloo News] April 16, 2018 "Developing new way to fight transmission of HIV"
Research Interests:
Methionine chemistry and biochemestry (amino acid methionine and its roles in proteins, cellular pathways and its functions)
Bionanomaterials, bionanotechnology (for novel drug carriers, molecular foundations for nanodevices)
Medicinal chemistry
[Daily Bulletin] June 1, 2018, 11 CBB Members Named Outstanding Performance Award Winners
Research interests:
Research Interests:
University Research Chair
Office of Research - Technology Transfer & Commercialization:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Biophysics of lipids and lipid-protein interactions
The role of structural changes and physical properties of lipid template in controlling biological processes and diseases
Biomedical nanotechnology (lipid films, molecular mechanism of Alzheimer's disease)
Drug development and delivery systems, antimicrobial peptides in lung disorders
Fluorescence and atomic force microscopy
Kelvin probe force microscopy and single molecule force spectroscopy
[Global Impact] May 2018, studying Alzheimer's at a molecular level to find a cure
[YouTube Lecture] October 1, 2014 "Scanning probe microscopy in biomedical research"
Research Interests:
microrobots
We develop microrobots for medical applications. The goal is to develop more targeted, active, but less invasive strategies for drug or cell delivery with the help of wireless, autonomously moving microrobots. One strategy is to combine biological elements with artificial components in a biohybrid approach. The biological component (cells, molecules) can serve as power source, loading unit or structural unit.
One example is the "spermbot" - a sperm cell remotely controlled with magnetic fields: https://phys.org/news/2014-01-sperm-bots-desired-video.html
Another example is IRONSperm: a magnetically functionalized nonmotile sperm driven by magnetic fields:https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aba5855
Inspired by the motion of sperm, we also develop small scale flexible magnetic robots for noninvasive surgery (coming soon). I am also interested in reproductive biology and research that elucidates reasons for infertility. We look into the mechanisms of sperm migration and some interesting phenomena, such as sperm bundling (publication online soon)
[Google Scholar]
Research interests:
Research Interests:
Protein structure, functions, evolution (yeast, mammalian cell lines, plant-bacterial)
Bioinformatics, systematics and protein evolution
Research interests:
Research Interests:
[Science News] October 22, 2018 "Nekkar lab determines that depression medications can help treat Alzheimer’s disease"
[Pharmacy News] July 29, 2015 "Waterloo pharmacist examines drug therapies for Alzheimer’s disease"
Research Interests:
Molecular genetics
Cell and Developmental Biology
Research Interests:
Protein and DNA separation analysis towards disease diagnosis and drug discovery
Biosensing and Devices (bacterial, proteins, fluorescence)
Living cell analysis and water toxicity testing
Lab-on-a-Chip technology (point-of-care biomedical diagnosis , chemical detection, protein separation and identification, environmental testing)
Micro-scale fluid mechanics, droplet microfluidics and nanofluidics
Canada Research Chair in Lab-on-a-Chip Technology [Canada Research Chair Profile]
[Waterloo Stories] June 14, 2012 "Creating the tiny future of science"
Research Interests:
Lab Equipment: Imagestream MkII with 488nm, 642nm and 785nm lasers; 60x magnification
[YouTube Lectures] Winter School on Quantitative Systems Biology 2015
Research Interests:
Calcium channel analysis for target drug delivery for treatment of pain, arrhythmias, angina, and potential benefits in treatment of epilepsy and cancer.
Structure, function and pharmacology of calcium channels and sodium channels
Structure and function and analysis of NALCN cation channel and anti-calcium channel toxins
The Spafford Neurobiology Research Laboratory studies voltage-gated calcium channels, molecular physiology, biophysics, cell biology, protein biochemistry, fluorescence microscopy and tissue cultures.
[Science News] April 25, 2014 "Waterloo discovers a key regulator in the pacemakers of our brain and heart"
Research interests:
Research Interests:
Stem cells, nanofabrication and advancement of biomaterials in healthcare technologies to repair, replace or regenerate damaged tissue and organ structures
Fabrication and application of nano-structure for biomedical applications in neural, vascular, and cornea tissue engineering
Biomaterial approach to study ex-vivo pluripotent stem cell expansion
Modulation of cell behavior with nanotopography
Topography-regulation of stem cells lineage commitment and differentiation
Differentiation of adult and pluripotent stem cells with nanotopography
Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology
University of Waterloo, East Campus 4, Room 2001
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo , Ontario, N2L 3G1 Canada
cbb.uwaterloo.ca
519-888-4567 Ext 32732
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is centralized within our Office of Indigenous Relations.