MEET OUR TEAM

Dr. Matthew Lanktree, MD, PhD
Principal Investigator

After completing his undergraduate studies in bioinformatics at University of Waterloo, Dr. Lanktree obtained a combined MD/PhD from Western University. He then completed clinical training in internal medicine and nephrology at McMaster University, followed by a post-doctoral fellowship studying genomics and heritable kidney disease at University of Toronto. Dr. Lanktree is currently a clinician-scientist in nephrogenetics at McMaster. Over the past 15 years, Dr. Lanktree has published over 70 articles in influential medical and genetics journals. His goal is to translate genetics research findings to the clinical setting for improved care of kidney disease patients. Dr. Lanktree was recently awarded the 2023 Carl W. Gottschalk Research Scholar Grant from KidneyCure/American Society of Nephrology (ASN).

Andrea Mazzetti Vieira, BA, CCRP
Research Manager

Andrea is a research manager at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. She has over 13 years of clinical research experience working in the Division of Nephrology. Andrea leads a team of research coordinators and assistants for all industry sponsored and investigator initiated trials in chronic kidney disease, end-stage renal disease, and autoimmune diseases that affect the kidneys.

Wei Deng, BSc, MSc, PhD
Research Associate
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Wei received her BSc in applied statistics from McMaster University in 2011 and a Masters in Health Research Methodology from the same university in 2012. From there Wei earned her PhD in Statistics from the University of Toronto in 2021. Wei has held various research and teaching positions at the Population Health Research Institute (PHRI), the University of Toronto, and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) before joining the team at the Lanktree lab. 

Dorothy Walsh, BScN
Research Nurse

Dorothy is a Research Nurse at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. She worked for 10 years as an ICU nurse in Calgary, Alberta at Foothills hospital at the beginning of her career after graduating from University of Calgary with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing. In 2006 she moved to England working in neuro ICU. She started her research career in 2007 where she worked as a Clinical Trial Coordinator at Addenbrooks Hospital in Cambridge, England. She started having kids in 2008 and moved to Hamilton. She was passionate about research and completed the CCRA ( Clinical research associates certificate) through McMaster University while having 5 kids. Since then Dorothy has taken upon various research roles at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton while raising 5 kids. Dorothy’s kids agree about the importance of research and themselves volunteer for research.

Caitlyn Vlasschaert, MD, PhD
​Internal Medicine Resident 

Dr. Vlasschaert is an internal medicine resident at Queen's University. Dr. Vlasschaert had previously completed her BSc and MSc at the university of Ottawa before earning her MD at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM). Dr. Vlasschart has recently completed her PhD with the Lanktree lab. Her research focuses on the impact of colonal hematopoiesis.  

Nikhil Uppal, BScH, MSc candidate
Masters Student

Nikhil is a Masters student in the Lanktree Lab working on the impacts of GRP78 protein and the genetics of hyperaldosteronism. 

Pukhraj Singh Gaheer, BScH, MSc Candidate
 
Master's Student

Pukhraj is a Masters student in the Lanktree lab. As part of his studies he is conducting research focused on SHROOM3 and mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN). Outside of the lab, Pukhraj enjoys working out, restoring classic cars, and playing guitar.

Jian Roushani, BHSc, MD candidate 
Medical Student
Jian is a medical student who is passionate about Nephrology and internal medicine. Jian completed a bachelor's degree in health sciences (BHSc) at McMaster uUniversity in 2021. He began research in 2017 where he gained experience working on various research projects including systematic and literature reviews, randomized control trials and observational studies. Jian is now focused primarily on nephrology research. His published research includes studies on COVID-19 related acute kidney injury and the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease. 

Tania Kazi, BScH, MD candidate
Medical student/student investigator

Tania is a medical student at McMaster University. She recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from Queen's University in 2021. As a student investigator in the Lanktree lab, she will be assessing the use of the terms race, ethnicity, and ancestry in kidney research. Outside of the lab Tania enjoys running, kickboxing, sketching and playing the piano.  

Abigail Berube, BScH candidate
Fourth Year Thesis Student

​Abby is entering her fourth year of Honours Kinesiology at McMaster University. For her thesis project she will be investigating the impact of exercise on biomarkers of kidney disease. Additionally Abby is working with other members of the team to assess the use of the terms ethnicity, ancestry, and race in kidney research. Outside of research Abby enjoys representing McMaster on the pitch as a member of the varsity field hockey team, and playing guitar. 

Akshaj Darbar, MD Candidate
Summer Volunteer
Akshaj will be working on a pipeline to identify mosaic chromosomal alterations, including mosaic loss of chromosome Y (mLOY), in cohorts of chronic kidney disease patients, to determine how these alterations are associated with prognostic outcomes. 

Hussain Al-Khaf, BSc Candidate
Co-op Student

Hussain is a fourth year biochemistry student at McMaster University and he is doing his undergraduate thesis at Dr. Lanktree's lab. He is passionate about studying the genetic and analytical aspects of the renal system. Outside the lab he enjoys playing the guitar, taking walks, and playing sports. 

Dr. Nada Alamri, MD
Clinical NephroGentics Fellow
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After completing a Nephrology and Transplant fellowship at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh, Dr. Alamri pursued further training in a Glomerulitis Fellowship at McMaster University. Currently she is a clinical fellow in Nephrogenetics and McMaster University. Dr. Alamri's goal is to contribute to the understanding of genetic kidney disease through research and clinical practice to improve patient care and outcomes. 

Dr. Abdulmajeed Alsadhan, MD
Clinical NephroGenetics Fellow
Dr. Aslashan is a dedicated and motivated PGY-5 Resident of Nephrology at McMaster University with a strong interest in NephroGenetics. He will be starting a NephroGenetics fellowship with Dr. Lanktree in November of 2023. Dr. Alsadhan is a clinical scholar from King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a strong passion for research and patient care in this expanding specialization. He aims to bring cutting edge advancement to establish outstanding patient care. 

Dr. Elise Fryml, MD
Internal Medicine Resident

Dr. Fryml is an internal medicine resident working on performing reviews on SGLT2i and APKD. 

Dr. Klement Yeung
Internal Medicine Resident
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Interested in joining the Lanktree lab?

Dr. Lanktree is currently considering new applicants!
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CONTACT
Dr. Matthew Lanktree
lanktree@mcmaster.ca
Twitter: @MattLanktree

AFFILIATIONS
McMaster Department of Medicine 
McMaster Department of Health Research Methodology
Population Health Research Institute (PHRI)
Hamilton Center for Kidney Research
2023 Carl W. Gottschalk Research Scholar Grant