Dr. Mamatha Bhat
Principal Investigator
Dr. Mamatha Bhat is a Hepatologist and Clinician-Scientist at UHN’s Ajmera Transplant Centre, and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. She is also a Scientist at Toronto General Hospital Research Institute and has a graduate appointment with the Institute of Medical Sciences. Dr. Bhat completed her medical school and residency training, including the Clinician Investigator Program, at McGill University. She then completed a Transplant Hepatology fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, followed by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Fellowship for Health Professionals, through which she completed a PhD in Medical Biophysics (U of T).
The goal of Dr. Bhat’s research program is to improve long-term outcomes of liver transplantation through a precision medicine approach. Her program is unique in using tools of Artificial Intelligence with bioinformatics to personalize the care of liver transplant recipients based on an improved biological understanding of the liver and disease after transplant. Her interdisciplinary program and team have been supported by CIHR, Terry Fox Research Institute, Stem Cell Network, Canadian Donation and Transplant Research Program, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Canadian Liver Foundation (CLF), among others. Dr. Bhat is on the Executive committee of the CDTRP; Vice-Chair of the International Liver Transplant Society Basic and Translational Science Research committee; and is an Associate Editor for the American Journal of Transplantation. Dr. Bhat has also been the recipient of recognitions such as the 2022 CIHR-INMD-CASL Early Career Researcher prize, the 2020 Polanyi Prize and the 2021 American Society of Transplantation Basic Science Career Development Award.
Current Lab Members
Elisa Pasini
Master of Science in Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Udine, Italy. She has a Graduate degree in Biological Sciences with Pathophysiology Specialty, Bologna, Italy
Current Research:
- Analyst involved in most of the projects in the lab and helps in student supervision
- Integration of multi-omics data in liver cancer and post-transplant diseases
- Network analysis and graphical visualization of protein-protein-interactions in liver cancer and post-transplant diseases
- Molecular validation of bioinformatics predictions for liver diseases
Cristina Baciu
Scientific Associate
PhD in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology – UNC Charlotte, USA
MS in Biochemistry / Computational Chemistry – Univ. of Windsor, ON
BSc in Chemical Engineering – Technical Univ. Ghe. Asachi -Iasi, Romania
Current Research:
- Contributing to developing a machine learning tool leveraging methylation patterns in cell free DNA and clinical data, as non-invasive biomarker for graft pathology and liver diseases in general.
- Overseeing the basic research projects in the lab, helps with grant applications, collaborative projects and bioinformatics analyses. She has extensive experience in cancer research, biomarker discovery in various diseases, multi-omics data integration, network and pathway analysis.
Sameera Rizvi
Clinical Research Coordinator
Graduated from Medical school at Dow Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan
Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Research Associates- 1994.
Current Research:
- The GLP-1 agonist Semaglutide for the treatment of Metabolic Disease in Liver Transplant Recipients: A Phase IV, randomized trial
- Plasma cell-free methylated DNA (cfMeDIP-seq): A non-invasive, Specific Marker for Liver Disease and Graft Pathology
- Screening for Post-Transplant NAFLD to Optimize Outcomes
- Prevention of Metabolic Disease Post-Transplant with Prebiotics: A Randomized, Placebo-controlled Crossover Trial
Yingji Sun
Yingji Sun is a Machine Learning Analyst who joined our lab as in December 2021. With a Master of Science in Biostatistics – Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
Honours Bachelor of Science in Physiology and Statistics – University of Toronto
Current Research:
- Employing machine learning methods to predict the survival trajectories of NASH patients and PSC patients on liver transplant waitlist
Post-Doctoral Fellows
Anh Thu Nguyen-Lefebvre
Doctor of Philosophy in Cellular, Molecular Biology, and Oncology
- Universite Claude Bernard Lyon, France
- Master of Science in Functional Genetics and Cellular Pathologies
- Universite Claude Bernard Lyon, France
- Bachelor of Science in Genetics – Universite Claude Bernard Lyon, France
Current Research:
- Delineating different cell populations, biological markers, and signaling pathways driving liver regeneration in post liver transplantation/resection patients. We use single nucleus profiling and image mass cytometry to answer this question.
- The lifespan of the liver grafts is finite and graft fibrosis is accelerated in the presence of de novo or recurrent disease. In this project, she aims to identify specific cell types and molecular signatures driving liver graft fibrosis using single nucleus profiling and to examine markers and cellular microenvironment of graft fibrosis in a longitudinal study.
Nadia Prayitno
Doctor of Natural Sciences (Dr. rer. nat) in Molecular Biology, Chromatin Biology – Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany
Master of Science in Molecular Medicine – Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Germany
Honours Bachelor of Science in Immunology, Molecular Genetics & Microbiology – University of Toronto, Canada
Nadia holds a doctoral degree for her work on the role of roX RNA in Dosage Compensation during Drosophila melanogaster embryogenesis, where she utilized a variety of molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry, NGS, and bioinformatic techniques. She joined the lab in July 2021 and is a trainee of the Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program.
Current Research:
- Elucidating the epigenetic effects of environmental factors on an aggressive form of NASH by integrating multi-comics data of post-transplant NASH
- Evaluating novel approaches for the treatment of NASH
Soumita Ghosh
(Oct 2022-present) Doctor of Philosophy (Bioinformatics), Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore
Master of Science in Digital Media Technology, School of Computer Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Bachelor of Technology in Information Technology, West Bengal University of Technology, India
Current Research:
- Machine learning for multi-modal data integration to predict clinical outcomes in liver transplantation settings
Chong Wa To (Jeffrey)
(Oct 2022-present) Doctor of Philosophy in Cellular, Molecular Biology, and Oncology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Applied Biology with Biotechnology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
Current Research:
- Evaluating the therapeutic effect of nanoparticle-mediated siRNA delivery for HCC therapy.
- Delineating the molecular profiles of recurrent HCC post-transplant.
Anirudh Gangadhar
- Ph. D. in Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, USA, 2022
- M.S. in Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, USA, 2016
- B.E. in Chemical Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, India, 2014
Current Research:
- Developing Deep Learning tools using histopathological whole slide images (WSIs) to examine graft pathology in liver transplant patients.
- Building predictive Machine Learning models to investigate survival benefit of living donor liver transplant.
Ghazal Azarfar
Ph.D. in Computational Imaging, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Milwaukee, USA, 2019
M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran, 2014
B.Sc in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran, 2012
She joined Bhat lab as a post-doctoral fellow in the summer of 2023. She has a strong background in applying deep learning techniques to analyze pathological images and CT scans for cancer management.
Current Research:
- Leveraging the power of deep learning to advance personalized medicine in lung and kidney transplant patients.
Graduate Students
Yilin Sun
(Sept 2022-present)
Master of Science Candidate – Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto
Honours Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences and minor in neuroscience – University of Guelph
Current Research:
- Identifying exosomal biomarkers in plasma of normal vs abnormal liver regeneration
Alyssa Apilan
(Sept 2022-present) Master of Applied Science Candidate – Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto
Previous Education: Honours Bachelor of Science in Biology, McMaster University
Current Research:
- Dexamining the role of porphysomes in the context of image-guided treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma using animal models
Clinical Fellows
Sara Naimimohasse
Transplant Hepatology fellow
Katina Zheng
M.D., University of Ottawa, 2021
She joined Bhat lab as a post-doctoral fellow in the summer of 2023.
CURRENT RESEARCH
- Using Machine Learning to Predict Long Term Graft Survival
- Effect of COVID Infection on development of cardiometabolic complications in solid organ transplant recipients
Maham Bushra
M.D., University of Toronto, 2021
B.Sc. in Medical Sciences, Western University, 2017
She joined Bhat lab as a post-doctoral fellow in the summer of 2023.
CURRENT RESEARCH
- Personalizing immunosuppression in liver transplant recipients based on risk:benfit profiles using machine learning
- Evaluating the effect of body mass index on morbidity and mortality in liver transplant recipients
Nasruddin Ali Salad Sabrie
MD, University of Toronto, 2021
M.S. in Biomedical engineering, University of Toronto, 2020
B.Sc., University of Waterloo, 2017
CURRENT RESEARCH
- Using clinical, laboratory and molecular data from liver transplant recipients and donors, we are developing and validating a machine learning algorithm to predict the risk of acute cellular rejection within 30 days of transplant. Concurrently, we aim to also develop a predictive model to identify the tacrolimus dose required to achieve a desired tacrolimus level at 48 hours post-transplant, to permit a personalized approach to immunosuppression in the acute period.
Xun Zhao
Transplant Hepatology fellowship, Toronto General Hospital, 2023
FRCPC in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, McGill University Health Centre, 2022
FRCPC in internal medicine, McGill University Health Centre, 2021
MDCM, McGill University, 2017
CURRENT RESEARCH
- leveraging machine learning techniques to study competing risk factors for mortality in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, end-stage liver disease, and liver transplantation.
Vigigah Sinnathamby
She is currently a second-year resident in Internal Medicine at the University of Toronto.
MD, University of Ottawa, 2022
MS in Virology, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Quebec,2019
BS in Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, 2017
CURRENT RESEARCH
- researching the cost of liver transplant at UHN.
Medical Students
Xiaoting You
Nimit Vediya
Aditi Venkatraman
Anushka Patel
Yi-Hsuan Yeh
Current Undergraduate Students
Priya Sheth
Arya Rahmani
Mouaid Alim
Aarian Bhakoo
Rhea Varghese
Khyathi Rao
Serena Bansal
Cherry Xu
Jason Yang
Lab Alumni
Catherine Chen
Fall Student (2020 Sep-2021 Apr, 2019 Sep – 2020 Apr, 2018 Sep – 2019 Apr)
Shruti Misra
Fall Student (2020 Sep- 2021 Apr, 2019 Sep – 2020 Apr)
Summer Student (2019 May – 2019 Aug)
Cindy Wei
Fall Student (2020 Sep- 2021 Apr)
Peihao Li
Fall Student (2019 Sep – 2020 Apr)
Cathy Yang
Fall Student (2019 Sep – 2020 Apr), Summer Student (2019 May – 2019 Aug)
Nan Ji Suo
Fall Student (2019 Sep – 2020 Apr)
Andrew Rogalsky
Summer Student (2019 May – 2019 Aug)
Praniya Nesan
Summer Student (2019 May – 2019 Aug)
Catherine Hu
Summer Student (2019 May – 2019 Aug)
Cherie Tang
Summer Student (2019 May – 2019 Aug)
Madhumitha Rabindranath
Master of Science, June 2023 – Institute of Medical Science, University of TorontoHonours Bachelor of Science in Pathobiology and Practical French – University of Toronto
Madhu is a recent HBSc. graduate who has research experience in clinical research, particularly in transplantation and artificial intelligence (AI). She recently completed a fourth-year undergraduate research project where she leveraged deep learning to automate Ki67 positivity scoring in various neuropathology cases. Combining her interests in AI and hepatology, she joined as a graduate student at the Bhat lab in Sept 2021.
Fuad Mohammad
Transplant Hepatology fellow
Ahmed Marwan Mansour
Transplant Hepatology fellow
Maryam Naghibzadeh
(June 2022- present) Graduated from medical school at Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
She joined our lab as a post-doctoral research fellow in June 2022.
Anita Bakrania
Received her B.Pharm, M.Pharm and Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Nirma University, India. Her Ph.D dissertation was focussed on nano-targeted anti-cancer therapy in TNBC. She then pursued her postdoctoral research at Universite de Sherbrooke (Quebec) as a recipient of both CRCHUS and FRQS fellowships while working on the therapeutic interventions and mechanistic approach of PACE4 in prostate cancer. Recently joined Dr. Bhat’s team.
Amirhossein Azhie
(2019-2022), Post Transplant NASH
Fakhar Ali Qazi Arisar
Machine Learning in Liver Transplantation, NASH
Victor Dong
(2019-2020), Outcomes of Liver Transplantation for Patients with NASH Cirrhosis in ICU at Time of Transplant.
Neta Gottlieb
(2020-2021), Machine Learning in Liver Transplantation
Chinmay Bera
(2019-2021), Changes in Long-term Survival and Causes of Mortality After Liver Transplantation.
Amanpreet Brar
(2020 – 2022) – Molecular Machine Learning in HCC
Saranya Sivaraj
(2019 Apr – 2020 Nov), Probiotics to prevent the Progression of Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis to Cirrhosis
Graziano Oldani
(2018 Dec – 2020 Jun), Pathway-based Analysis of Liver Regeneration.
Ravi Kiran
(2018 Dec – 2020 Jan), Prediction of Survival after Transplant for NASH Cirrhosis.
Raj Uchila
(2019 Aug – 2020 June), Outcomes of Liver Transplantation for Lean and Obese NASH Cirrhosis.
Saeed Almarzooqi
(2018 Dec – 2019 Oct), Cardiovascular Complications after Liver Transplantation.
Sreelakshmi Kotha
(2018 Dec – 2019), Meta-analysis of Post-transplant diabetes.
Divya Sharma
(2020 Oct – 2021 Sept), Application of ML tools for liver disease detection and analysis.
Radmehr Rahemipour
(2019 Sept – 2021 Sept), Development of Porphysomes as Treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
Anshu Malik
(2020 Dec – 2021 Sept), Probiotics to prevent the Progression of Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis to Cirrhosis.
Marc Angeli
(2018 Dec – 2021 Sept), Post-Transplant outcomes.
HEADER IMAGE CREDIT – Bergthaler Group/CeMM
This 3D image depicts the liver at the microscopic level. Liver cells are organized around the central veins to form hexagonal hepatic lobules that are powerhouses of liver metabolism and immune-metabolic regulators upon infection.