Past Students

Chaired by Dr. Ban Younghusband, the Discipline of Genetics formed in 1999. Although it is a relatively small and new Discipline, we have had good success recruiting additional Faculty members and we have a strong commitment to supporting our graduate students. Below is a catalog of those students that have graduated from the Human Genetics program to date. As can be observed, they have gone on to become successful clinicians, medical researchers and educators who reside in Newfoundland & Labrador and throughout the globe. We anticipate many more successful graduates in the future. 

Last Name First Name Program Year Graduated Supervisor  Co-Supervisor Thesis title Current position
Young Terry-Lynn PhD 2000 Dr. William Davidson Dr. Patrick Parfrey Molecular Genetics of Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS) in the Newfoundland Population.  Professor, Discipline of Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University
Woods Michael PhD 2001 Dr. William Davidson Dr. Patrick Parfrey Bardet-Biedl Syndrome in Newfoundland: Molecular genetics of a rare recessive disorder in a small isolated population Associate Professor, Discipline of Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University
Butt Chris PhD 2009 Dr. Proton Rahman Dr. Yagang Xie The Genetics of Psoriatic Arthritis Certified Life Care Planner
Merner Nancy PhD 2011 Dr. Terry-Lynn Young   A molecular genetics approach to gene discovery of Mendelian diseases on the island of Newfoundland Research Assistant Professor, Harrison School of Pharmacy, University of Auburn
Shea Jennifer PhD 2011 Dr. Guang Sun   Understanding the etiology of obesity : a multi-faceted approach Division Head of Clinical Chemistry at the Saint John Regional Hospital in Saint John, New Brunswick
Hyde Angela PhD 2012 Dr. Ban Younghusband Dr. Patrick Parfrey Characterization of colorectal cancer and identification of prognostic determinants Medical Resident (Medical Oncology), University of Ottawa
Uddin Mohammed PhD 2013 Dr. Proton Rahman Dr. Michael Woods Detection of Rearrangment Hotspots and Their Implication in Complex Diseases   Assistant Professor, Human Genetics at MBRU, College of Medicine, Dubai
Doucette Lance PhD 2013 Dr. Terry-Lynn Young   The genetic characterization of Mendelian ocular disorders in the population of Newfoundland and Labrador Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Alberta (Dr. Michael Walter)
Abdel-Fatah Nelly PhD 2014 Dr. Terry-Lynn Young   The genetic aetiology of otosclerosis in the population of Newfoundland and Labrador Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of Calgary
Aref-Eshghi Erfan PhD 2016 Dr. Guangju Zhai   Understanding the role of Transforming Growth Factor Beta signalling and Epigenomics in Osteoarthritis Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of Western Ontario
               
French Curtis MSc 2005 Dr. Guang Sun   Global Gene Expression Profiles of Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue in Obese andÊNon-obese Young Men Assistant Professor, Discipline of Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University
Martin Glynn MSc 2005 Dr. Guang Sun   An investigation into the underlying genetic determinants in obesity using the candidate-gene association approach and microarray technology Orthopedic surgeon, Health Sciences Centre, Memorial University
Cui Jianxun MSc 2007 Dr. Yagang Xie   Study of Genetic Risk Factors for Myocardial Infarction in the Newfoundland Population Student, Marine Institute, St. John's, NL
Cooke Sandra MSc 2008 Dr. Terry-Lynn Young   Investigation of the genetic cause of hereditary hearing loss in three large deaf, consanguineous Newfoundland families Medical Resident, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University
Williams Phillip MSc 2008 Dr. Ban Younghusband Dr. Michael Woods Population-based study of Lynch syndrome in Newfoundland Pathology Resident, University of Ottawa
Adams Aimee MSc 2009 Dr. Ban Younghusband   The investigation of single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes of the cell cycle and related pathways as candidate modifiers of the age of disease onset in hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer Biology Instructor, Acadia University, Nova Scotia
French Vanessa MSc 2009 Dr. Terry-Lynn Young   Fine mapping and mutation identification for ARVC (Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy) at the ARVD5 locus (3p25) in the Newfoundland population Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of Calgary
Kamel Fady MSc 2010 Dr. Michael Woods   Determining the genetic etiology of familial pulmonary fibrosis in six Newfoundland families Surgical Resident, University of Alberta
Kennedy Aaron MSc 2010 Dr. Guang Sun   Investigations into obesity using anthropometric, serum andÊgenetic markers Obstetrics and Gynecology resident, University of British Columbia
McComiskey David MSc 2010 Dr. Terry-Lynn Young   Investigation of genetic cause of hearing loss in 28 autosomal dominant families within the Newfoundland founder population Medical Student, Memorial University
Clarke Erica MSc 2012 Dr. Michael Woods   Involvement of GALNT12 variants in inherited susceptibility to colorectal cancer Medical Resident, Queens University
Negandhi Amit MSc 2012 Dr. Sevtap Savas   Genetic factors correlated with survival in colorectal cancer: validation studies in patients from Newfoundland Pharmacist, Newfoundland & Labrador
Li Shou MSc 2012 Dr. Yangang Xie Dr. Feiyu Han Association of MTHFRand 9p21 with Ischemic Stroke in the Chinese Han Population Neurologist in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University
Pirzada Ashar MSc 2013 Dr. Michael Woods   Inherited predisposition to pulmonary fibrosis in the Newfoundland population Cardiology Resident, University of Ottawa
Khalili Sammy MSc 2013 Dr. Guang Sun   Nutritional Regulation of Adiponectin and the  Effect of Genetic Variations in the Adiponectin Gene on Bone Density in the Newfoundland Population Fellow of Rhinology and Endoscopic Skullbase Surgery, University of Pennsylvania
Mohideen Asan MSc 2014 Dr. Sevtap Savas   Analysis of Variations in Hypoxia-pathway Genes and Mitochondrial DNA as Prognostic Markers in Colorectal Cancer Patients Graduate Student, Diploma of Clinical Epidemiology, Memorial University
Dan Lydia MSc 2014 Dr. Sevtap Savas   Variations in genes regulating angiogenesis, lymph-angiogenesis and metastasis: associations of three polymorphisms with outcome in patients with colorectal cancer  
Squires Jessica MSc 2015 Dr. Terry-Lynn Young   The genetic etiology of early-onset hearing loss in Newfoundland and Labrador Teacher, Buchans, Newfoundland
Rabie Zoha MSc 2015 Dr. Ann Dorward   The Chr X-linked Gct6 locus: A granulosa cell tumour suppressor in mice Associate Manager at Groupe Dynamite
Byrne Robyn MSc 2015 Dr. Michael Woods   Whole Exome Sequencing for the Identification of Novel Susceptibility Genes Related to Familial Pulmonary Fibrosis in a Newfoundland Cohort Genetic Counselor, GeneDx
Harper Patricia MSc 2015 Dr. Guangju Zhai   Gene Expression And Methylation of Matrix Metalloproteinase-13 And Osteoarthritis & Burden of Risk Alleles for Complex Traits in the Newfoundland and Labrador Population Genetic Counseling student, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
Powell Amy MSc 2016 Dr. Michael Woods   Whole Exome Sequencing Analysis of Intracranial Aneurysm in Multiplex Families from Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Student, Memorial University
Werdyani Salem MSc 2016 Dr. Sevtap Savas   Characteristics of the germ-line copy number variations (CNVs) in colorectal cancer patients PhD Candidate, Discipline of Genetics, Memorial University (Dr. Terry-Lynn Young)
Dohey Amanda MSc 2018 Dr. Bridget Fernandez Dr. Ban Younghusband FRAXE in the Newfoundland Population Project Manager,  Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University (Dr. Proton Rahman's Laboratory)
Penney Michelle MSc 2018 Dr. Yildiz Yilmaz Dr. Sevtap Savas Genome-wide association studies investigating a histological variant and time-to-metastasis of colorectal cancer Clinical Research Coordinator (NewLab Clinical Research Inc.)
Penney Cindy MSc 2018 Dr. Terry-Lynn Young   Investigation of the Genetic Cause of Hearing Loss in Newfoundland Families Research Assistant (Dr. Darren O'Rielly)
Power Rebecca MSc 2018 Dr. Proton Rahman Dr. Darren O'Rielly A Genetic Screening Algorithm for Inflammatory Back Pain Medical Student, Memorial University
Sutherland Alison MSc 2018 Dr. Proton Rahman Dr. Darren O'Rielly Optimization of Circulating miRNA Library Preparation for Next-Generation Sequencing and an Exploratory Pharmacogenomics Investigation of Psoriatic Arthritis Patients Treated PhD candidate, Cambridge University, UK

Yu

 Yajun PhD 2022

Dr. Sevtap Savas

 Dr. Lourdes Pena-Castillo; Dr. Yildiz Yilmaz

Genetic and epidemiological studies investigating the susceptibility and outcome risk in colorectal cancer

  

Umali

 Jurgienne Arizza MSc  

Dr. Curtis French

  

Zebrafish, Danio rerio, as genetic models of Glaucoma associated with Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome.

  

Fowler

 Gerissa MSc