Ivan Martinez earned his degree in Biochemistry at the University of Navarra (Spain) in 2013. After graduation, he performed a Master in Neuroscience followed by his Ph.D. under the supervision of Dr. Maria Rosario Luquin at the University of Navarra, focusing on the relationship between neurodegenerative diseases and type two diabetes. He received his Ph.D. in September 2019 and joined Dr. Gabor Kovacs’ research group as a postdoctoral fellow in January 2020 where he hopes to establish new molecular techniques which help to unravel the heterogenicity of tau and α-synuclein proteinopathies. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6463-6321

Dr Shelley Forrest is a Scientific Associate at the Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease (CRND), University of Toronto. She holds a PhD in neuroscience from the University of Sydney (2013) and received postdoctoral training in the Discipline of Pathology, the University of Sydney. During this time, she acquired a deep knowledge of the cellular abnormalities of frontotemporal dementia and related disorders, ageing and a range of neurodegenerative diseases. Dr Forrest was then recruited to the Dementia Research Centre, Macquarie University, as the Neuropathology group leader to facilitate the development of a neuropathology research program combining human neurodegenerative diseases and preclinical models. She has recently joined the Tanz CRND to focus on the progressive supranuclear palsy research program. Dr Forrest’s research focuses on the neuropathology and disease mechanisms underlying progressive supranuclear palsy, frontotemporal dementia, ageing and a range of neurodegenerative disorders. In particular, her work involves the investigation of protein abnormalities and cell types affected to determine the selective regional and cellular vulnerability in these disorders, and associated clinicopathological correlations. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7863-5389

Seojin is a PhD-candidate in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto. She completed her undergraduate studies in the University of Western Ontario with an Honors Specialization in Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences, and following her interest in neuroscience, joined the Kovacs’ Lab to grow her knowledge and passion in the field. Seojin’s studies focus on deconstructing the pathological iron imbalance in neurodegenerative diseases. Seojin joined the group in September 2019 and plans to complete her PhD degree in 2024.

Ain is a postdoctoral fellow at the Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto. She completed her PhD in July 2024 at the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, where her research focused on the development of artificial intelligence (AI) for the morphological, biochemical, and cytopathological characterization of neurodegenerative synucleinopathies. Her current postdoctoral work investigates the application of AI to transform and deepen our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases.

Linda Li graduated from China Medical University and also completed Medical Science Doctoral Degree in 2006. She worked in the hospital as a doctor in China. From 2007 to 2020, she worked in the Hospital for Sick Children as a lab technician in different teams, joined the research of Bronchopulmonary Disease histology and pathology, complement characteristics in acute kidney injury and gene treatment for Cystic Fibrosis. Linda is a laboratory technician, working in Dr. Kovacs’ Lab.

Ali Mohammadi Karakani received his degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences, Toxicology, and Biochemistry in Iran. He received his Post Graduate diploma in Pharmaceutical R&D in Canada. He worked for 10 years as a Laboratory Technologist (core Lab and histopathology), Lab Supervisor and Pathologist Assistant before moving to Toronto in 2014. Ali started with Antech and then IDEXX as a Medical Laboratory Technician and Histotech and team lead. After, he received the MLPAO/OSMT certificate, joined Dynacare and then PHOL during last two years. He enjoys listening to music and watching movies and also exploring the outdoors and visiting different places with his wife and 16 year old son.