Our Team
Our Team
Principal Investigator
Dr. Shawn Whitehead, PhD
Dr. Whitehead is a neuroscientist interested in understanding what makes different brain regions more vulnerable to injury and stress resulting in neurodegeneration seen in brain diseases and injuries like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and stroke. He completed is PhD training at Western in 2005 followed by Postdoctoral Fellowships at the University of Ottawa, under the supervision of Dr. Steffany Bennett and at the National Research Council of Canada. Dr. Whitehead holds a primary appointment in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology along a cross appointment in the Depts. of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Neurosciences, Chemistry at Western University. Dr. Whitehead is also the Associate Chair of Western's Graduate program and an Affiliate Scientist with the Lawson Health Research Institute.
Technical Staff
Dr. Lin (Lynn) Wang, MD (China) - Senior Technician
Lynn graduated from China Medical University in 1983 and has been conducting research in Canada since 2004, with particular interests in Alzheimer's Disease and stroke. In 2012, Lynn helped Dr. Whitehead establish the VBL. She continues working with the VBL to this day, participating in many experiments such as creating animal models, cell culture, and conducting IHC, WB, qPCR, etc. She also helps with lab management, updating protocols, equipment maintenance, and training new students. In her spare time, Lynn enjoys traveling and photography.
Postdoctoral Fellows
Dr. Manoj Medapati, PhD
Dr. Reza Khazaee, PhD
Reza completed his PhD in the Department of Biology at Western University, where his research examined the interplay between oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and impaired neurogenesis in Alzheimer’s disease, with a particular focus on redox-related signalling pathways. He has extensive experience in fluorescence and electron microscopy and previously worked as a Microscopy Specialist at the Biotron Imaging Facility. Reza is currently collaborating with the Vulnerable Brain Lab to develop biosensor-based approaches for real-time monitoring of neurodegenerative biomarkers in vivo. Outside the lab, he enjoys photography, travelling and exploring different cultures, learning languages, and staying active through various sports. He’s recently been brushing up on his French.
Dr. Caleb Vegh, PhD
Caleb works in Dr. Shawn Whitehead’s lab in collaboration with Dr. Lakshman
Gunaratnam. He is interested in how acute kidney injury and chronic kidney
disease contribute to development of Alzheimer’s Disease and vascular cognitive impairment and dementia using a systems-based, spatial multiomics approach. He received his PhD at the University of Windsor studying the neuroprotective mechanisms of ashwagandha and water-soluble coenzyme-Q10 in Alzheimer’s and
Parkinson’s Disease. Following his PhD, he had a year of postdoctoral training at
Wayne State University investigating the role of mitochondrial proteins in breast
cancer and MELAS. Outside of research, he enjoys going outside, swimming,
making music with his synthesizer/drum machine, and is an avid coffee
connoisseur.
PhD Students
Sarah Myers
PhD Candidate
undergraduate degree in neuroscience at Indiana University. Her current
work focuses on interrogating the relationship between white matter
microglia activation and cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease and
stroke. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys swimming, being outdoors and
cooking.
Wenxuan (Wendy) Wang
MD/PhD Candidate
Wendy is an MD/PhD student currently completing the research component of her degree. Her project focuses on studying brain lipids in microglia neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s Disease. Wendy grew up in Calgary and completed her BSc in Honours Biochemistry from McGill University before joining the VBL lab at Western. Outside of research, she enjoys playing piano, hiking and snowboarding, and is obsessed with coffee.
Nikita Ollen-Bittle
MD/PhD Candidate
Nikita is an MD/PhD student co-supervised by Dr. Whitehead and Dr. Finger. Previously, Nikita completed a BSc (Honours) in Life Sciences and MSc in Neuroscience at Queen’s University. Nikita’s research looks to characterize lipid changes in different neurodegenerative diseases for the discovery of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets. In her spare time Nikita is an avid equestrian and enjoys both volleyball and rock-climbing.
Hannah Martin
PhD Candidate
Hannah is a third year PhD student. She completed her undergraduate degree at Western in the Medical Sciences and Biology double major program. Her current project in Dr. Whitehead’s lab focuses on interrogating microglia activation phenotypes longitudinally following stroke and using extracellular vesicles released from microglia to discriminate post-stroke cognitive impairment. Apart from school, Hannah enjoys baking, running, and painting.
Erica Kane
PhD Candidate
Erica is a PhD candidate supervised by Dr. Whitehead and Dr. Cregan. Prior to joining the VBL, Erica completed an Honours BSc in Kinesiology from Washington State University and worked for eight years in functional rehabilitation of individuals with neurodegenerative disorders. This experience prompted her return to academia, where she fell in love with molecular neuroscience. She completed an Honour Specialization BSc in Neuroscience and Major in Biochemistry at Western before pursuing her MSc degree.
Erica’s current research primarily focuses on unraveling the molecular processes behind Parkinson’s Disease (PD). She previously helped elucidate the mechanism of dopaminergic cell death in PD by developing an in vivo C. elegans neurodegeneration model. She has since shifted to exploring the role of alpha-synuclein in disrupting normal autophagic and vesicular efflux processes within the brain.
Outside of the lab, Erica spends most of her time with her two young boys. Her love of science appears to have rubbed off on her children, as they love to spend the weekends outside exploring nature and doing kitchen table science experiments.
Jeng-liang (David) Wu
PhD Candidate
David is a third-year PhD Candidate supervised by Drs. Whitehead and Montero-Odasso. He achieved his BMSc in Microbiology & Immunology with Pathology and first joined the Vulnerable Brain Lab in his second year for the Scholar’s Electives program. His research currently focuses on developing multimodal biomarkers for diagnosing and predicting cognitive decline, with a focus on integrating imaging and blood-based biomarkers. Outside of the lab, David is the Chief Digital Development Officer of COUHR Canada, Virtual Communications Officer for the ACB Graduate Council, and and an advocate for scientific research and education. In his free time, David enjoys playing piano and reading/writing.
Victor Lau
PhD Candidate
Victor is a PhD student co-supervised by Drs. Ali Khan and Shawn Whitehead. He completed his MSc in Neuroscience at the University of Victoria and finished his BSc at Simon Fraser University. His project aims to provide a proof-of-concept diagnostics development of iron-rich microglia for neurodegenerative diseases, starting with cognitive impairment occurring via Alzheimer’s disease and/or cerebrovascular disease. He also enjoys philosophy, horror, meditation, and Youtube essays.
Sandra Zdrale
PhD Candidate
Sandra is a first-year PhD student. She completed her Master’s degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Calgary, where her research explored the role of stress in regulating dopaminergic signalling. Now, her work in the Whitehead lab focuses on translating circulating microglial extracellular vesicle signatures into a blood-based bioassay for assessing post-stroke cognitive risk. Outside of research, Sandra enjoys baking, hiking, and exploring local coffee shops.
MSc Students
Undergraduate Students
Daniel Quan
4th Year Thesis
Daniel Qian is a fourth-year thesis student at Western University, where he is currently investigating lipid alterations in Parkinson’s disease, with a particular focus on gangliosides and their potential role in disease mechanisms. Outside of his academic work, Daniel enjoys playing tennis, swimming, and watching new shows.
VBL Alumni
2022-2025, Elnaz Farahani, MSc
2022-2024, Meaghan Frank, MSc
2022-2024, Sairam Gajavelli, MSc
2019-2023, Salonee Patel, MD/PhD
2016-2022, Austyn Roseborough, MSc, MD/PhD
2020-2023, Kaitlyn Flondra, MSc
2019-2021, Will Pinsky, MSc -> Medical School (Dalhousie)
2018-2020, Fan Liu, MSc -> Medical School (Western)
2018-2020, Victoria Agapova, MSc -> Industry
2018-2020, Nassir Al-Khishman, MSc -> Industry
2017-2019, Aaron Harris MSc -> Industry
2014-2019, Nadia Ivanova, PhD. -> Industry
2015-2018, Alex Levit, MD/PhD -> Medical Resident (UBC)
2016-2018, Mona Alsashaikh, MSc
2014-2018, Jasmine Wang, PhD -> Industry
2013-2018, Sarah Caughlin, PhD -> Brains Canada
2016-2018, Jessica Garabon, MSc -> Medical School (Western)
2016-2018, Victoria Thorburn, MSc -> Dental School (Western)
2017-2018, Dr. Seung Oh, PDF -> Neurologist (Korea)
2015-2018, Asmahan Elsiriti, MSc
2014-2016 – Aaron Regis, MSc -> Medical student (NOSM)
2013-2016 – Dr. Nina Weishaupt, PhD -> Industry
2010-2016 – Dae Hee Park, MSc -> Dentist
2013-2015 – Ryan Wong, MSc -> Lawyer
2014-2015 – Jennifer Au, MSc -> Occupational Therapist
2011-2013 – Hayley Nell, MSc -> Physiotherapist
2010-2012 – Jeffrey Hepburn, MSc -> Physician