Professor | Principal Investigator Canada Research Chair(Tier 1 in Neurological Infection and Immunity) Academic Biography
Christopher Power, B.Sc., M.D., F.R.C.P(C) is a Professor at the University of Alberta and holds a Canada Research Chair in Neurologic Infection and Immunity. He received a B.Sc. from the University of Toronto and an M.D. from the University of Ottawa with subsequent training in medicine and neurology at McMaster University and the University of Western Ontario, respectively, and postdoctoral fellowships at Johns Hopkins University and the National Institutes of Health in neurovirology. Dr. Power is a physician-scientist who studies the mechanisms of neuroinflammatory diseases and their treatments including multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuroHIV. In addition to directing his laboratory, the BrainPowerLab, he is also an attending physician in the University of Alberta HIV and MS Clinics and is the founding Director of the University of Alberta MS Centre. He is an author on over 200 peer-reviewed publications and holds grants from CIHR and MS Society of Canada.

Lab Technician/Prospective MSc Student

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Academic Background and Interests:

I find the study of viruses to be particularly captivating as they are a perfect example of the exquisite beauty molecular biology has to offer. Specifically, I am very fascinated by retroviruses like HIV. To achieve a functional cure of HIV, it is necessary to eradicate viral reservoirs present in various areas of the body, such as the brain. One aspect of research in the Power lab seeks to understand the underlying viral and innate neuroimmunological mechanisms that allow HIV to persist in the brain.

Education:

BSc (Honours) Immunology and Infection, University of Alberta (2018)

Awards:

CIHR Canada Graduate Scholarships-Masters (CGS-M; 2018)

AIHS Summer Studentship (2016, 2017)

URI Undergraduate Researcher Stipend (2018)

MSc Student

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Academic Background and Interests:

I completed my BSc at the Concordia University of Edmonton with High Distinction in 2017. I began in the Power Lab as a summer student afterwards, and transitioned into a technician in the lab where I began my studies on a novel neurotropic virus that was identified in the brains of humans. I am now an MSc student in the department of Neuroscience in the Power Lab, where I am continuing the study of Human Pegivirus-1 and its association with encephalitis in humans.

Education:

BSc, Concordia University (2017)

MSc Graduate Student

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Academic Background and Research Interest:

During my undergraduate years, I had the opportunity to work in several different labs across campus, thus was able to work on variety of projects involving mast cells, NK cells, and host immune responses upon influenza virus infection. Currently I am working on my MSc at the Power lab, where I am investigating the potential of oligodendrocytes in generating an innate immune response in context of multiple sclerosis in vitro and in vivo.

 

Education:

BSc (Honours) Immunology and Infection, University of Alberta (2015)

 

Awards:

endMS Master’s Studentship Award, MS Society of Canada (2017-2019)

PhD Graduate Student

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Academic Background and Interests:

Brienne is a PhD candidate in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology whose thesis focuses upon the role of inflammasome activation and pyroptosis in multiple sclerosis (MS) and its preclinical model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Her doctoral research highlighting the role of pyroptosis in MS and EAE was recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS). She has co-authored ten papers, including three first author manuscripts.

Education:

BSc Biomedical Sciences, University of Calgary

MSc Cancer Biology, University of Calgary

Awards:

Ivy and William Thompson Graduate Scholarship

Queen Elizabeth II Doctoral Award

Canadian Institutes of Health Research Banting and Best Doctoral Award

Alberta Innovates Health Solutions Graduate Studentship

Senior Lab Technician

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Academic Background and Interests:

I am a researcher with nearly 20 years of experience in studying host microbe interactions. Current projects focus on measuring host and pathogen derived gene and protein interactions in diseased tissue by various techniques including confocal microscopy and next generation sequencing. 

Education:

MSc, University of Alberta (2004)

Postdoctoral Fellow

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Academic Background and Interests: Yanna is interested in studying the host-virus interaction, focusing on virus induced host innate immune response and the virus evading mechanisms from said responses.
Education: PhD Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta                          Master Medical Pathology and Pathophysiology, Shantou University                                                            MD, Wuhan University of Science and Technology                                         
Awards: Li Ka Shing - Sino Foundation scholarship  GSA Professional Development Award  First Class University Scholarship  First and Second Class University Prize  National Scholarship

Summer Student

Academic Background and Interests: 
Jenny is currently a summer student in the Power lab preparing for her honors thesis beginning the fall semester of 2019. Her research interests include pyroptosis, inflammasome biology, and specific immune cell responses to CNS disease conditions such as MS. 

Education:
BSc Honours Immunology and Infection (2016-Present)

Awards:
FoMD Office of the Provost and VP (Academic) Summer student award (2019)

Academic Background and Interests: 
Prior to joining the Brain Power Lab, Chantal completed her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a focus on experimental research at MacEwan University. She then served as a Research Assistant at University Hospital, working on a variety of projects related to substance addiction. 

Chantal assists with the administration of The Brain Power Lab research.