Lab Members

Mackenzie Bowman

Mackenzie Bowman, PhD

Research Associate and Lab Manager

Mackenzie has been involved with the research group since 2004 - initially as a Research Assistant working on bleeding assessment tools and assessing the prevalence of VWD (von Willebrand disease) in primary care. Mackenzie then went on to complete her PhD in 2013 which investigated the genetics of Type 3 VWD. This was followed by a post-doctoral fellowship expanding on work from her PhD with a focus on ECFCs (endothelial colony forming cell) as a model to study VWD. Mackenzie is currently an Assistant Professor (Adjunct) in the Department of Medicine, Queen's University and Research Associate and Lab Manager in the James Lab with continued research interests in ECFCs and genetics of inherited bleeding disorders. 


 

Julie Grabell

 

Julie Grabell, CCRP

Clinical Research Coordinator

Julie holds a BA (Psychology) from Queen's University as well as an Advanced Diploma in Biotechnology from St. Lawrence College and is a Certified Clinical Research Professional. She worked for 10 years in drug discovery for neurological disorders and cancers, then changed focus to Clinical Research in 2008. In her current role as Clinical Research Coordinator, she is responsible for obtaining ethical approvals for studies the James Lab is involved in, as well as managing budgets and research contracts between other coordinating centers. Julie also works to recruit eligible participants for the appropriate research studies, and collects and analyzes data for research presentations and publications.


 

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Megan Chaigneau

Clinical Research Nurse


 

Edwin Ocran

Edwin Ocran, MSc, MD

PhD Candidate

Edwin has a BSc in Human Biology & MBChB from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology. He also holds a MSc degree in Anatomical Sciences from Queen's University. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Translational Medicine, focusing on the role of von Willebrand factor (VWF) in angiodysplasia.


 

Megan Hinds

Megan Hinds, BScH

MSc Candidate

Megan has a BSc (Honours) Degree in Biosciences with Biopharmaceuticals from the Institute of Technology, Carlow as well as an Advanced Diploma in Biotechnology from St. Lawrence College. She is currently completing her MSc in Pathology and Molecular Medicine at Queen's University. Her research focuses on COVID-19-associated coagulopathy and endothelial cell dysfunction. 


 

Ashley Barber

Ashley Barber

Ashley has completed her fourth year of the Life Sciences specialization program here at Queen’s University. Ashley’s PHGY 499 project investigated the cellular correction of VWF missense variant using an allele-specific siRNA approach. We are excited that Ashley will be staying on in the James this year as a volunteer.


 

Leah Stanley

Leah Stanley

Leah is in her fourth year of the Life Sciences program at Queen’s University, specializing in Biomedical Discovery. She will be taking on a role in the James Lab as a Physiology 499 student throughout the 2023-2024 academic year. Her PHGY 499 project involves the validation of the menstrual cup for the measurement of menstrual blood loss and work with human endometrial endothelial cells (HEECs).


 

Maria Avgeropoulos

Maria Avgeropoulos

Maria is currently completing her fourth year in the Life Sciences specialization program at Queen’s University pursuing Drug Discovery and Human Toxicology as a sub-plan. She will be lending her skills as a Pathology 499 student to the James Lab throughout both the fall and winter semesters. Her PATH499 project will  focus on the role of VWF in endothelial cell activation associated with severe COVID-19. 


 

Grace Cao

Grace Cao 

Grace is currently completing her third year in the Bachelor of Health Sciences program. She is a research volunteer in the James Lab for the 2023-2024 academic year.