Staff Biographies
Neil Cashman
Scientific Director
tel: 604-222-3600
ncashman@prionetcanada.ca
Dr. Neil Cashman is a neurologist-neuroscientist working in neurodegeneration and neuroimmunology. His special areas of work are the amyloid encephalopathies, such as the prion illnesses and Alzheimer’s disease, and motor neuron diseases, particularly amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. He was raised in the Boston area, and trained in Worcester (University of Massachusetts Medical School), San Francisco (Children’s Hospital of San Francisco), Paris (Hôpital Necker), and Chicago (University of Chicago). He joined the McGill Neurology and Immunology faculties in 1986, and accepted the Diener Professorship of Neurodegenerative Diseases at the University of Toronto Department of Medicine (Neurology) in 1998. In July 2005, he was appointed Professor of Medicine at the University of British Columbia, where he holds the Canada Research Chair in Neurodegeneration and Protein Misfolding Diseases. He is Scientific Director to PrioNet Canada, a Network of Centres of Excellence focused on basic and applied research in the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. He is Founder and Scientific Advisor to Caprion Pharmaceuticals, a Montreal biotechnology company since 1998 (now Thallion), and he is Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Amorfix Life Sciences since 2005, two companies developed to commercialize his research on diagnostics and therapeutics of neurodegenerative diseases.
He is the author of over 300 publications, and provides expertise and guidance to numerous scientific, medical, and governmental committees related to his research interests. He has received peer-reviewed salary support without interruption since 1986. Special honors received over the decade include his tenure of the Diener Chair of Neurodegenerative Diseases at University of Toronto’s Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, the Jonas Salk Prize for “a lifetime of outstanding contributions to basic biomedical research,” his Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in at the University of British Columbia, and his election to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.
Daniel Krewski
Associate Scientific Director
tel: 613-562-5379
dkrewski(at)uottawa.ca
Dr. Daniel Krewski has been Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa since 1998, and Director of the R. Samuel McLaughlin Centre, where he holds the NSERC Research Chair in Risk Science. He is the Scientific Director of the PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre in Population Health Risk Assessment at the University of Ottawa and Associate Scientific Director of PrioNet Canada.
His research interests include epidemiology, biostatistics, risk assessment, and risk management. Dr. Krewski has also served as Adjunct Research Professor of Statistics in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Carleton University since 1984. Prior to joining the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa in 1998, Dr. Krewski was Director, Risk Management in the Health Protection Branch of Health Canada. While with Health Canada, he also served as Acting Director of the Bureau of Chemical Hazards and as Chief of the Biostatistics Division in the Environmental Health Directorate.
Dr. Krewski’s current major projects are focused in the research areas of prion diseases, air pollution, risk communication, environmental substances and radiation risk assessment.
Janie Toth
Executive Director
tel: 604-222-3610
jtoth@prionetcanada.ca
Janie Toth has over 30 years of experience working with private corporations and not-for-profits in a consulting capacity and as senior management in both Alberta and British Columbia. Janie brings with her a working knowledge of the NCE environment having worked in a senior role at the Canadian Genetic Diseases Network for five years prior to joining PrioNet. Her valuable skills in business and finance enhance the Executive Director position and provide a second layer of financial accountability within the administrative office. She graduated with distinction from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Commerce degree.
Janie currently oversees the operation of the network and is responsible for meeting the NCE objectives through the four functional units of the Administrative Centre: Network Affairs (finance and budget); Training and Education; Intellectual Property Management and Commercialization; and Communication and Outreach.
Shaunne Davidson
Office Manager
tel: 604-222-3600
sdavidson@prionetcanada.ca
Shaunne has worked in administrative positions for over 12 years with non-profit associations in Saskatchewan and BC. Shaunne recently completed curriculum and examination development work for various trades and apprenticeship groups. Prior to this, she spent five years as a Regional Volunteer Resources Coordinator of the Canadian Cancer Society (BC & Yukon Division) where she was responsible for the support of volunteers in their program areas and fund-raising goals. She also started the “Relay for Life” in the Peace Region and Fort Nelson. Shaunne worked for many years as a legal secretary and in the early 1990’s followed by Executive Director role at The Canadian Bar Association – Saskatchewan Branch.
Shaunne assists in all aspects of PrioNet Canada's administrative centre, playing a critical role in the planning and organization of the various committee and board meetings in addition to statistical reporting on network activities.
Sandra Haney
Director of Communications and Marketing
tel: 604-222-3611
shaney@prionetcanada.ca
Sandra has held various communications and marketing roles related to research and technology transfer over the last ten years. She was recently at UBC’s University-Industry Liaison Office, one of the most successful offices of its kind in North America. Prior to this, she spent four years at WestLink Innovation Network, playing an integral role in launching its successful technology commercialization internship program. Sandra has freelanced in media relations, public relations, event management, and web site development for a range of organizations. She graduated from the University of Alberta in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Conservation Sciences.
Sandra manages all of the internal and external communications of PrioNet Canada such as its newsletter, web site, reports, media, and marketing items. She also oversees various events and knowledge exchange programs.
Alison Palmer
Communications and Training Officer
tel: 604-222-3609
apalmer@prionetcanada.ca
Alison Palmer started at PrioNet in April 2010. Previously, she worked as a science writer at the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) in Toronto, where she translated the Institute’s collaborative, interdisciplinary research discoveries into stories accessible to all. Alison also has experience as a freelance science writer and editor, covering everything from nanotechnology to sociology to climate science. Her route to the science communications field involved a valuable detour in the chemistry lab. Alison holds an MSc in chemical biology from McGill University and a BSc in chemistry from the University of British Columbia. She is also a graduate of the Banff Centre Science Communications Program.
Alison’s role at PrioNet involves: providing communications support for meetings, newsletters, bulletins and website content; liaising with the Student and Young Professional Association; and promoting and developing programs designed to train future generations of Canadian prion experts.
Shumsheer Sidhu
Manager of Finance
tel: 604-222-3607
ssidhu@prionetcanada.ca
Shumsheer joined PrioNet in October 2009. Shumsheer successfully completed the Certified Management Accounting (CMA) Accelerated Program and is working towards her CMA designation. Prior to her career in finance, Shumsheer ran the successful Canadian Bioinformatics Workshops through the Canadian Genetic Diseases Network. She also worked as an outreach coordinator for the Canadian Gene Cure Foundation for the “Jeans for Genes Day Campaign”.
Shumsheer is responsible for all of PrioNet’s financial processing, assistance in the preparation of financial statements and budgeting.
Dr. Michelle Wong
Director of Scientific Programs and Training
tel: 604-222-3608
mwong@prionetcanada.ca
Dr. Michelle Wong joined PrioNet in 2007 bringing with her a strong background in science with her PhD specializing in oncology. Michelle received her doctorate degree from the University of British Columbia where her research was conducted at the BC Cancer Research Centre in Vancouver. Throughout her academic career, Michelle has received many awards and scholarships with provincial and international distinction.
Michelle plays a key role in the review and administration of PrioNet strategic programs, participating in all scientific committee meetings. In additon, she oversees the coordination and implementation of the various events and programs related to PrioNet's International Partnerships Initiative. Michelle also plays an integral role in the fostering and development of PrioNet's student and young professionals, such as the creation and coordination of various training programs.
Last Updated: 5/13/2010 3:25:29 PM
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