OUR TEAM

LISA OSBORNE

Principal Investigator

Lisa has had a long-standing interest in host-pathogen interactions and how the regulation of inflammation and immunity intersect. After completing her PhD (Ninan Abraham, UBC 2010), she pursued post-doctoral research with David Artis at the University of Pennsylvania where she received fellowship support from the Cancer Research Institute as an Edmond J Safra scholar. In 2015, she joined the Microbiology & Immunology department at UBC as the Canada Research Chair in Host-Microbiome Interactions.

Jung-He.jpg

JUNG HEE SEO

Lab Manager

Jung Hee has been at UBC for over 10 years, and in the Osborne Lab since 2015. Her extensive molecular biology, tissue culture and managerial skills keep the whole place running smoothly.

Leah HOHMAN

Post-Doctoral Fellow (09/2021 - )

After completing her PhD (Nathan Peters, University of Calgary) Leah joined the Osborne lab to study age-related alterations to the immune system and the microbiota. Leah aims to elucidate mechanisms between age-related alterations to the microbiome, intestinal immune populations, and the brain. Leah is also passionate about SciComm and teaching. 

Outside of the lab, Leah loves singing/playing a variety of instruments (with varying levels of competence), spoiling her dogs, and photography.

ANDREW Sharon

PhD Candidate (09/2017 - )

Andrew is studying how the immune signaling molecule STAT1 coordinates our immune response to these viruses by exploring the consequences of STAT1-deficiency. In tandem, Andrew is investigating how common pharmaceuticals can shape our immune responses to intestinal viruses

Outside of the lab, Andrew leads science outreach programs for children and adults, and skis as much as possible.

 

NAOMI FETTIG

PhD Candidate (09/2018 - )

The exact cause of multiple sclerosis (MS) remains unknown, although there is mounting evidence to suggest that environmental factors, including infection with Epstein-Barr virus and dysregulation of the gut microbiome, play important roles in disease progression. Naomi’s project explores the intersecting roles of these environmental factors and how they may interact with the host and each other to influence initiation and progression of MS.

SARAH POPPLE

PhD Candidate (09/2020 - )

Susceptibility to chronic inflammatory diseases is strongly influenced by environmental factors, including commensal bacteria that colonize the gastrointestinal tract and parasitic worms. Sarah's projects investigate the consequences of helminth-induced restructuring of the microbiota, with the objective of understanding sex-specific immunomodulatory mechanisms contributing to systemic inflammation relief in multiple sclerosis. 

Lucas ZHu

Masters Student (09/2024 - )

One of the important therapeutic interventions for multiple sclerosis (MS) is dietary modifications. A dietary fiber called guar gum has been shown to delay MS onset and severity through inhibition of Th1 differentiation and activation. Lucas will be working on describing the detailed mechanisms of this phenotype.

Natalia Carranza

Gnotobiotic Animal Care Tech (05/2022 - )

Natalia’s expertise with the closely regulated systems necessary to maintain our gnotobiotic facility provides a unique resource for our lab and collaborators to investigate host-microbiome interactions in the context of infection and autoimmunity. Natalia is passionate about continuing education to guarantee the proper care and monitoring of these animals.

 

Madi portas

Undergraduate Student (05/2023 - )

 
 

ALUMNI

Graduate student Alumni

BLAIR Hardman

PhD (01/2017 - 01/2024)

Influences of tissue location and pathogen behaviour on CD8 T cell responses to intestinal viral infections.

Nicola Pett

MSc (10/2021 - 12/2023)

Establishing the kinetics of Escherichia bacteriophage T4 and its target bacterium within the intestinal mucosa of a gnotobiotic mouse model.

Nicolette fonseca

Post Doctoral Fellow (2019)

Hannah robinson

MSc (09/2016 - 04/2019)

The gut brain axis : impact of dietary fiber on a murine model of multiple sclerosis.

Heather filyk

MSc (09/2015 - 10/2017)

An asymptomatic and persistent enteric virus is restricted from causing disease by the host immune system in a STAT1-dependent manner.

 
 

alumni

  • Adrienne Zhang

  • Adi Chauhin, BSc

  • Nidin Biju, BSc

  • Haohua Li, BSc

  • Elsie Wang, BSc

  • Vanny Pornsinsiriruk, BSc

  • Kashish Doshi, BSc

  • Navid Saleh, MD

  • Wallace Yuen, MD

  • Negin Rahanjam