The Jason T Maynes Lab

Jason T Maynes, PhD/MD is the Director of Research for Anesthesia and Pain Medicine and a Staff Anesthesiologist at The Hospital for Sick Children. He has research training in biophysics from the University of Alberta, Los Alamos National Weapons Lab and Washington University.

Favorite Food or Drink: Scotch

Favorite Quote: " Science is the belief in the ignorance of the experts." - Richard Feynman

Ramesh Babu Vanama, PhD. is the Lab Manager in the Maynes Lab at the Hospital for Sick Children. He previously completed his PhD in Genetics from the University of Osmania. His past work experience includes working as a Research Associate in the Hybrid Rice department at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, a Postdoctoral fellow in the department of Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto, and a Lab Manager in the Department of Immunology at University Health Network. He is currently working on mitochondrial fission factor protein.

I received my MD degree and an M.Sc. degree in Surgery from Dalian Medical University. After working as a surgeon for 3 years, I moved to Canada and received my M.Sc. degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Calgary. Since 2004, I have been working as a Research Associate at SickKids, specializing in pediatric cancer research. In 2017, I joined this wonderful team and started working on proteomic analysis in cardiovascular diseases. My goal is to find out why people suffer from “broken hearts” and how we can heal them from molecular level.

I did my undergrad in Food Science and since I was so fascinated with what food does to our body, I studied Human Nutritional Sciences at University of Manitoba (U of M) for my Masters degree. During my PhD at the department of Physiology and Pathophysiology at U of M, I studied the mechanisms involved in the anti-obesity effect of Conjugated Linoleic Acid in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and obese db/db mice. I moved to Toronto to continue my training and after 4 years of postdoctoral training on stem cell research at the SickKids and UHN, I joined Maynes lab in 2019. I currently study the role of secreted factors from neonatal heart-derived stem cells on heart repair. Besides stem cell research I enjoy baking and gardening.

I majored in chemistry at Wuhan University in China and received my PhD at the University of Alberta under the supervision of Dr. Liang Li in 2018. I'm interested in mass spectrometry and my research was focused on the LC-MS method development in metabolomics and novel data processing algorithms design for MS data analysis. I joined Maynes lab in 2019 and continued the research on metabolomics method for clinical sample analysis. I also enjoy working with all kinds of analytical instruments (including fixing some very old ones).

Protein biochemistry, lived in many parts of the world.

Hi, I'm Julia! I am currently a PhD student in the Department of Biochemistry at UofT, and previously graduated co-op Biochemistry at the University of Waterloo. I study proteins that relay tension in the heart. I pretend to rule over the elements, but really, I just mix colourful liquids.

I am a PhD candidate in the Maynes laboratory focusing on research pertaining to drug discovery and development. More specifically, I am investigating novel small molecular inhibitors of respiratory syncytial virus. Prior to joining the laboratory, I obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and a Master’s of Biomedical Technology from the University of Calgary.

I did my undergrad in biochemistry at McGill and decided to move back to Toronto because of the wonderful performance of our sports teams. I am currently investigating the effects of anesthetics and analgesics on cancer metabolism, methylation, and growth. I’m mesmerized by dry ice. If you have some by your desk, be assured, I will be popping by to ‘borrow’ a piece or two.

Hello, I’m Tim! I am originally from Vancouver and I completed my BSc in Pharmacology at the University of Alberta. Now that I am a grad student at the UofT I can’t help but think I will eventually end up somewhere further East because I just keep moving in that direction throughout my education. I am interested in the pathophysiology of heart diseases, disease prevention and drug discovery. Currently, I study an ion channel mutation in the heart that leads to arrhythmias and cardiomyopathies. When I am not in the lab you can expect to find me at the climbing gym or on the basketball court, staying active is good for your cardiovascular health!

I did my bachelor’s degree in biology at the American University of Sharjah in the UAE. Then I moved to the second coolest London in the world and did my masters in Neuroscience at Western University before joining the Maynes lab for my PhD. I am currently studying the metabolic effects of neonatal heart-derived secretome on cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts or how my non-scientist friends like to say: “studying secretome of baby hearts and what is special about them”. I am also a cat enthusiast, so if you ever need a cat sitter, you know who to call.

Hi, I’m Kaley! I am currently a laboratory technician in the JTM lab. Prior to starting here, I completed an undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology & Genetics and Biomedical Sciences and a master’s degree in Pharmacology & Toxicology, both from the University of Guelph. When I’m not working on my power swing, I find time to study the effects of various anesthetics on mitochondrial function. Still working on hitting for the Krebs cycle!

I graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree and obtained my Master of Nursing Degree from Athabasca University. By day, I help coordinate research studies in the Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine and am responsible for various nursing/research-related tasks. By night I am a part time fitness/Zumba instructor and also enjoy tap dancing, playing the piano and traveling the world.