Our Current Projects
We're driven by a passion for collaboration in science, education and innovation.
We care about global research, patients with rare bleeding disorders, and believe in maximizing interaction within the scientific community.
AI-generated peptide theranostic for platelet-type von Willebrand disease
Collaborative project with computational biology experts in Carleton University
Goals:
-
To investigate the ability of the InSiPS AI to target human pharmaceutically important proteins
-
To study the effect of the AI-generated G14 peptide on the interaction between GPIbα and VWF in the context of PT-VWD
-
To examine therapeutic and diagnostic benefits.
Co Leads:
-
Dr. Maha Othman
-
Dr. Ashkan Golshani
-
Dr.Tom Kazmirchuk
Lab Members: Tom Kazmirchuk, Yousra Tera
Project is ongoing
ISTH BAT Scores for VWD in Normal Children and Adolescents
International project supported by ISTH
Goals:
-
To fill a critical gap in knowledge for ISTH BAT normal scores for population (below the age of 18).
-
To identify a cut-off for diagnosis of BD specially VWD in this age group.
Co Leads:
-
Dr. Maha Othman
-
Dr. Paula James
Lab Members: Yousra Tera, Ahmad Ekhtiar
Project Complete- Manuscript is in progress
Assessment of hypercoagulability and Thrombosis Risk in Women with Cancer Under Chemotherapy
Collaborative project supported by KHSC medical oncologists and OBGYN oncology surgeons, Queen’s DBMS and St Lawrence College
Goals:
-
To assess hypercoagulability, thrombosis risk and rates of VTE in women with ovarian, endometrial and breast cancer
-
To examine the role of Thromboelastography (TEG) for better prediction of cancer associated thrombosis in cancer under standard chemotherapy
-
To examine if TEG can be added to current RAMs to improve decisions around thromboprophylaxis
Lab Members: CarolineD, Caroline M, George, Lucas, Zoe and others
Project ongoing
Improvement of Thrombosis Risk Assessment Models (RAMs) in Women with Ovarian Cancer
Collaborative project supported by KHSC medical oncologists and OBGYN oncology surgeons, Queen’s DBMS and St Lawrence College
Goals:
-
To assess current RAMs for cancer associated thrombosis in ovarian cancer
-
To identify routine lab tests that can be added to improve current models
-
To create a novel ovarian cancer specific RAMs
KHSC Collaborators:
-
Dr. Anita Agrawal. Dr. Mihaela Mates
-
Dr. Rania Chehadeh.
Lab Members: Yousra
Project ongoing
Investigating the Relationship Between Red Blood Cell Biomechanical Properties and Anemia in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy
Collaborative project supported by ALCOR Scientific, KHSC medical oncologists and OBGYN oncology surgeons, Queen’s DBMS and St Lawrence College
Goals:
-
Examine quantitative CBC changes in cancer patients compared with controls and before and after chemotherapy
-
Evaluate aggregability, deformability, and elasticity of RBCs in cancer patients compared with controls and before and after chemotherapy
-
Investigate whether impaired RBC functionality relates to cancer-associated anemia
Lab Members: Deirdre, Regan, Caroline D
Project ongoing
Examining the clotting potential of plasma in pregnant women with COVID-19
Collaborative project supported by rapid response maternal-infant clinical and bio-specimen access platform UBC- https://ridprogram.med.ubc.ca/biorepository/
and St Lawrence College
Goals:
An exploratory study aims to:
-
Assess coagulability of plasma using a sensitive global hemostatic assay Thromboelastography (TEG) at delivery and compare it to that at 4-6 weeks postpartum.
-
To evaluate -in light of other patient thrombosis risk factors (general & obstetric)- if hypercoagulability is detected at delivery and use this to minimize COVID-19 related thrombotic events and provide better care of these women.
Lab Members: Yousra, Maica, Caroline
Project ongoing
Utility of red blood cell morphology as a low-cost tool to predict chemotherapy-associated toxicities in women with cancer
Collaborative project supported by Mindray-China and St Lawrence College
Goals:
-
To evaluate whether changes in red blood cell morphology are associated with chemotherapy toxicity, anemia severity, or early clinical deterioration in women undergoing chemotherapy for cancer
Lab Members:
Caroline Deng, Caroline Mwubaha, Yousra Tera, Yan Liu (Senior Medical and Scientific Affairs Manager/Scientific Relations,Mindray)
Project ongoing
Hormonal Contraception (HC) and Thrombosis Risk
Goals:
-
To identify the gaps in knowledge among young women- Phase 1: Survey
-
To examine coagulation profile among HC users using sensitive TEG- Phase II: Blood testing
Lab Members: Yan Deng, Skyler Tierney, Yousra Tera, Jesscia Hodjson, Natalie Kearn, Ali Zidan, Stefania
Phase I complete- Manuscript published in Heliyon.
Phase II ongoing.
Blood Rheology in Normal and Cancer Patients
Goals:
-
To set up a reference normal range for deformability, elasticity and aggregability of red cells
-
To examine changes in blood rheology in cancer patients
-
To evaluate the effect of chemotherapy on red cells
Lab Members: Deirdre Finnigan, Jordan Harry, Hannah Parante, Regan Bucciol, Yousra Tera
Project complete- manuscript in progress
Management of type 2B VWD in pregnancy and postpartum
International project supported by ISTH and the Canadian Haemophillia Society
Goals:
-
To examine challenges in diagnosis and management
-
To evaluate current practices
-
To develop guidance on for better care for this cohort
Co Leads:
-
Dr. Predrag Mijic- Haematologist, University of Belgrade, Serbia
-
Dr. Michelle Lavin- Consultant Haematologist, Dublin, Ireland
Lab Members: Abdelrahman (CHS Summer Studentship)
Project Complete- Manuscript Published in JTH
COVID-19 Coagulopathies - highlights during the 2 years of the pandemic
A student-led project dedicated to conducting a systematic review of the literature to highlight key findings on coagulopathies and present progress over the 2 years of the pandemic.
Lab Members: Shreya Anil Kumar, Anushka Pradhan, Abdo Elsebaie, Karina Fainchtein, Abdelrahman Noureldine, Yousra Tera
Project now complete- Manuscript published in ULJRI.
COVID-19 COAG PREG
International registry - ISTH supported
Goals:
-
To examine coagulopathy and VTE events in COVID-19 affected pregnancies and their potential link to disease severity.
-
To assess effects of COVID-19 related coagulopathy on maternal and fetal/neonatal outcomes
-
To evaluate the use/effects of therapies
Co leads:
-
Rezan Adul Kadir- OBGYN-UK
-
Sajida Kazi- HAEM UK
-
Ann Kinga Malinowski- OBGYN CA
First report is now complete. Manuscript Published in Obstetric Medicine J ; Oct 2023. Second report also published in Res Pract Thromb Haemost ; Jan 2024
PT-VWD Nomenclature
ISTH supported. International standardization of the current name for a rare disease. International Survey using REDCap
Goals:
-
To standardise disease name
-
To gather scientific community's (ISTH members) views on best nomenclature and where disease belong
Co leads:
-
Dr. Paolo Gresele- Italy
-
Dr. Li Renaho- US
-
Dr. Michelle Lavin- Ireland
-
Abdelrahman Elsebaie - Queen's student
Project completed- Manuscript in Progress
TEG/ROTEM as a tool to aid in the diagnosis and management of COVID-19 coagulopathies: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Goals:
-
To evaluate if TEG/ROTEM are useful in the diagnosis and/or management of COVID 19.
-
To determine if TEG can detect hypercoagulability and VTE risk.
Project lead:
-
Dr. Sajida Kazi; Consultant Haematologist, UK
Lab members:
-
Yan Deng
-
Karina Fainchtein
-
Abdelrahman Noureldin
-
Yousa Tera
Project- on hold
Novel tools to assess and predict the risk of cancer-associated thrombosis in women undergoing chemotherapy for breast and gynecological cancers
Goal:
-
To evaluate the effects of chemotherapy on coagulation profile over time
-
To assess utility of TEG as a predictor for thrombosis risk
Blood is taken prior to chemo and at each of 2 chemo cycles + 6 month follow up for VTE events:
Blood test:s
1- TEG
2- Plasma: D-dimer, sPslectin
3- Procoagulant cell free DNA (in collaboration with University of British Columbia)
4- Platelet aggregation
Co leads:
-
Dr. Anita Agrawal - OB/GYN- Queen’s U
-
Dr. Miahela Mates - General Oncology-Queen’s U
-
Dr. Yousra Tera - Post doc
Project ongoing. First Manuscript now published in AJH
Image sourced from Gavi.org
PeersInPatho- Peer tutoring support in pathophysiology
Goal:
-
To enhance peer support, access to tutorials and course content
-
To facilitate student-led collaborative learning
Features:
-
Multi-institutional team (SLC, Queen’s McGill) (current students and alumni)
-
Online education platform to accompany a university-level pathophysiology course
-
A quality improvement plan and research study for objective evaluation and to meet evolving student needs
Co-leads
-
Kathryn Osborne (SLC Alumna)
-
Madeline Tripp (SLC), Karina Fainchtein (Queen's)
Team members: Abdo, Asaad, Sarah, Conner, Natalie
Project complete- continues to serve BScN and other students.
Vaccine Induced Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia
Rare side effect of AstaZenca and J&J vaccines. Both vaccines are adenovirus-based technology
Goal:
-
To understand mechanism of thrombosis and thrombocytopenia in VITT
Co leads:
•Dr. Alan parker - Cardiff, UK
•Dr. Alexander Baker - Mayo Clinic, US
Lab members:
•Abdo Elsebaie - Queen's Student
Experts:
-
Dr. David Lillicrap- Haemostasis -Canada
-
Dr. Matthew Rondina- Platelet biology- Utah, US
-
Dr. Carly M. Bliss- Vaccinolgy and virology- UK
-
Dr. Elena Gupalo - Moscow, Russia
Manuscript published in JTH.
Vaccine Induced Thrombocytopenia
A Featured Infographic
Displayed to the left is the VITT figure from one of our latest papers. Click the link below to read more on this topic.
Othman M, Baker AT, Gupalo E, Elsebaie A, Bliss CM, Rondina MT, Lillicrap D, Parker AL. To clot or not to clot? Ad is the question-Insights on mechanisms related to vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia. J Thromb Haemost. 2021 Nov;19(11):2845-2856. doi: 10.1111/jth.15485. Epub 2021 Aug 23. PMID: 34351057; PMCID: PMC8420166.