Having just completed her Ph.D. studies at York University, Esther hails from the world of structural mass spectrometry and hydrogen-deuterium exchange. Her new focus will center on biophysical characterization of novel Huntingtin interactors in the lab of Dr. Rachel Harding.
Manisha is a PhD student under the co-supervision of C. Arrowsmith and R. Harding. Her research focuses on studying Huntingtin-RNA interactions in relevant cell models of Huntington’s disease, employing approaches from molecular, cell and structural biology.
Rebeka Fanti joined SGC Toronto in January 2023 as a PhD student in the Molecular Genetics Department at the University of Toronto. She is exploring the potential application of macrocyclic peptides as tools to investigate the role of the Huntingtin protein in the cell.
Samira is a PhD student at the University of Toronto, co-supervised by Drs. R. Harding and A. Edwards. She completed a BSc in Genetics and MSc in Nanobiotechnology at the University of Tehran. Her current research focuses on a genetic neurodegenerative disorder.
Ailin joined the Harding Lab in September 2024 as a PhD student in the Pharmacology department at the University of Toronto. She completed her BSc in Biology at York University.
Rocher is an MSc student in the Pharmacology & Toxicology Department at the University of Toronto. She graduated with a BSc in Honours Pharmacology from McGill University where she performed biochemical research on Alzheimer’s Disease. Her new focus will be on the biophysics and structural analysis of proteins involved in Huntington’s Disease.
Renu graduated with an MS in Chemical Engineering from Michigan Technological University. Currently, she is working on characterizing protein-protein interactions and detection of protein complexes as a means of understanding disease pathways.
Elisa graduated from Fleming College with an advanced diploma in Biotechnology. She has over ten years of experience producing recombinant proteins for various projects within the SGC.
Caroline is a second-year undergrad specializing in Biological Chemistry at the University of Toronto Mississauga. Her current research focuses on assay development to study protein-ligand interactions.
Ella Sussman is a third-year Biochemistry student at the University of Toronto with a strong interest in protein interactions. She is currently working on purifying an ALS-linked PFN1 variant to explore cryptic pocket formation and support structural studies.
Ethan joined the Harding Lab as part of the 2025 Huntington Society of Canada undergraduate summer student fellowship. He has recently completed his first year in Life Sciences at the University of Toronto and he is looking forward to gaining hands-on experience in the lab, where he will explore a novel therapeutic avenue centred on FAN1.
David is a summer student who joined the lab through the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy’s Undergraduate Student Research Program. He recently graduated from Western University with an Honours Specialization in Physiology and Pharmacology. His current project focuses on characterizing several proteins containing the PWWP domain.
Alex is entering his fourth year of undergraduate biology at the University of Prince Edward Island. Through the Amgen Scholars Program, he will work in the Harding Lab to study drug targeting for neurodegenerative repeat tract expansion disorders