Early Origins of Health and Disease at McMaster University
The Sloboda Lab is comprised of postdoctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate students with various educational backgrounds, such as biochemistry, physiology, nutrition and the life sciences. Their breadth of knowledge in their respective projects offer a different perspective on the critical relationship between a mothers diet during pregnancy and its profound effect on offspring development and later life health.
Dr. Tatiane Ribeiro
Tatiane is a postdoctoral fellow that completed her PhD at the University of Marigna in Brazil investigating the impacts of maternal exposure to an environmental chemical on glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity in both mothers and offspring, and how exercise during pregnancy, had a positive impact on moderating the negative metabolic effects of maternal obesity. She is currently investigating the early origins of unhealthy aging and susceptibility to infection, and whether host-microbial interactions during key developmental windows (including pregnancy) contribute to accelerated aging and metabolic disease.
Dr. Kate Kennedy
kennek6@mcmaster.ca; Twitter: @katekennedy
Kate is a postdoctoral fellow studying host-microbe interactions including the role of the microbiome in maternal adaptations to pregnancy, neonatal microbial colonization, and susceptibility to infection. Kate previously completed her PhD in the Sloboda Lab at McMaster University and her MSc at the University of Waterloo. Kate’s postdoctoral research investigating perinatal host-microbiome factors that influence Group B Strep colonization and infection is supported by the Molly Towell Perinatal Research Foundation.
Erica Yeo
yeoe@mcmaster.ca; Twitter: @EricaYeo3
Erica is a PhD student that graduated from McMaster University with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. Having completed her undergraduate thesis in the Sloboda Lab studying the role of serotonin signalling in fetal pancreatic development in the context of maternal obesity, her PhD thesis will investigate the the role of the gut microbiome in maternal metabolic adaptations to pregnancy.
Diba Chowdhury
chowdd4@mcmaster.ca
Diba graduated with a MSc from Western University. She is currently completing her PhD on the impacts of maternal excess adiposity on Uterine vasculature.
Ariana Lewis
lewisa47@mcmaster.ca
Ariana is a Master’s student studying how maternal endothelial function mediates uteroplacental hypoxia in response to a high-fat, high-sugar diet. She graduated from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) with a focus on Global and Population Health. Before getting her undergradaute degree, she was a professional musician for over a decade (check her out on Spotify!!).
Current Undergraduate Members
Karryln Krenos, Co-op, Biochemistry
Laura Reeves, Thesis student, Biochemistry
Sophie Johnston, Thesis Student, Biochemistry
Ethan Krenos, Volunteer
Lab Alumni
Jordan Chin (MPH, 2025)
Gursimran Deol (MHSED, 2025)
Patrycja Jazwiec (PhD; 2025)
Christian Bellissimo (PhD; 2024)
Chloe Rexdiemer (AoC; 2023)
Anastasia Chouvalova (MSc; 2021)
Katherine Kennedy (PhD; 2021)
Dr. Luseadra McKerracher (PDF; 2017-2021)
Jessica Breznik (PhD; 2020)
Violet Patterson (MSc; 2018)
Dr. Johanna Selvaratman (PDF; 2016-2017)
Jessica Wallace (MSc; 2016)
Wajiha Gohir (MSc; 2016 )
Kaitlyn Chan (MSc; 2015)
Michael Tsoulis (MSc; 2014)