Our Team
Professor Kim A Connelly MBBS PhD
Co-Director, Matrilex Laboratories
Prof. Connelly is a physician-scientist with 20 years of experience in cardiovascular science. He is a
world renowned expert in echocardiography, cardiovascular MRI and the impact of disease and drugs on cardiac function and ventricular remodeling in both the preclinical and clinical settings. Prof. Connelly has served as KOL and advisor to AstraZeneca and Boehringer Ingelheim, Bayer, Novo Nordisk and Janssen
Dr Yanling Zhang MD PhD
Manager, Matrix Laboratories
Dr. Zhang is a physician-scientist with over 20 years in the development and optimization of animal models of disease including those to study acute and chronic kidney disease, heart failure with reduced and preserved ejection fraction, hepatocellular and cholangiopathic liver diseases, focusing on the detailed acquisition of clinically relevant functional and structural outcomes.
Professor Richard E Gilbert MBBS PhD
Co-Director, Matrilex Laboratories
Prof. Gilbert is a physician-scientist with over 25 years in preclinical-to-clinical research translation in fibrotic diseases. Beyond his academic research and clinical activities, he was CSO at Fibrotech and Fibrocor Therapeutics in addition to serving as KOL and advisor to Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and Co., Astra Zeneca, Merck, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, and Janssen in kidney diseases and heart failure.
Kerri Thai BSc
Group leader, in vitro core
With 30 years of experience in both industry and academic settings in cell culture, phenotypic and target engagement assay development and molecular biology, Kerri oversees all aspects of cell-based protocols ensuring that their quality, precision and robustness are maintained at the highest standard.
Hai Wang BSc PhD
Group leader, histology core
Hai Wang (Solomon) has more than 20 years experience at both academic and industry laboratories focusing on histological techniques extending well beyond routine histochemistry to immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, confocal microscopy
and computer-based techniques for quantification.
Linda Nghiem BSc
Group leader, vivarium core
Linda heads Matrilex’s in vivo animal core with 20 years of animal management experience and expertise in rodent maintenance, breeding and surgical techniques. She and her team are responsible for ensuring the humane treatment of all study animals according to NIH protocols.
Jean-Francois Desjardins BSc
Group leader, cardiovascular imaging core
Jean-Francois (JF) has 18 years experience in rodent (mouse and rat) cardiovascular interrogation including echocardiography and cardiac conductance catheterisation with pressure-volume data acquisition. He and his group are responsible for all cardiac function studies at Matrilex.
Veera Ganesh Verra BS (Pharm) PhD
Group leader, cardiovascular cell biology core
Ganesh’s vast experience in pharmacology, molecular biology and pathophysiology with numerous publications and awards provides him with the needed background and expertise to head Matrilex’s cardiovascular cell biology core.
Professor Darren J Kelly
Director of Biomedical Research,
Department of Medicine,University of Melbourne
CEO and Managing Director, Certa Therapeutics
Professor Jenny H Martin
President, Royal Australasian College of Physicians
Chair, Clinical Pharmacology
University of Newcastle
Professor Andrew Boyle
Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine
University of Newcastle
Professor Hirobumi Tokuyama
Professor of Internal Medicine
Keio University, Japan
Professor Robyn G Langham
Chief Medical Adviser, Australian Government
Department of Health and Aged Care
Professor Andrew Advani
Deputy Physician-in-Chief and
Staff clinician-scientist, St. Michael’s Hospital
University of Toronto
Associate Professor Darren Yuen
Staff clinician-scientist, St. Michael’s Hospital
University of Toronto
Dr David Kepecs
Emergency medicine physician
University of Ottawa
Dr Sue Jones
Consultant endocrinologist
University Hospital of Hartlepool
Senior lecturer, University of Newcastle
Dr Leonard Wu
Senior consultant pathologist
Melbourne Pathology
Dr Ashley Bellin
Veterinarian
Rosedale Animal Hospital
Toronto
We are a hospital-based laboratory at Unity Health Toronto – St. Michael’s Hospital conducting traditional academic research, industry sponsored collaborations and contract research (CRO). We use state-of-the-art technology and unique animal models to deliver high quality data that guided by our physician-scientists informs decision making to mitigate the risks of the preclinical to clinical transition.