Meet the Newest CACB Fellows!
Dr. Simon Bissonnette is a Universite de Montreal alumni with a background in translational research on diabetes and lipoprotein metabolism over his graduate studies that he completed in 2021. He currently works at the Hôpital Notre-Dame in Montreal in the Grappe Optilab Montreal-CHUM, supervising clinical biochemistry including quality and laboratory management with a focus on appropriate use of tests, POCT, and better use of laboratory resources through optimization projects. Outside the lab, Dr Bissonnette feels the urge to enjoy the outdoors by all means possible, but mostly cycling, running, swimming, hiking, skiing and hockey with his family and friends.
Dr. Sally Ezra is a Clinical Biochemist at Alberta Precision Laboratories and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine at the University of Calgary. She obtained her PhD in Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology at the University of Toronto, where her research focused on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying rare connective tissue disorders and renal tubular acidosis–causing mutations. She then completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Western University in tumor marker discovery and immuno-oncology. From 2022 to 2024, Dr. Ezra completed a Clinical Biochemistry Fellowship at the University of Calgary and Alberta Precision Laboratories. In her current role, she supports high-volume chemistry testing, including tumor and cardiac markers, urinalysis, and electrophoresis, and is actively engaged in teaching. She enjoys an active lifestyle with boxing, yoga, cycling, and strength training, and she loves spending time with her dog, Lexie, and with friends.
Dr. Joanna Jung, PhD, FCACB, DABCC is a Clinical Chemist at LifeLabs. Based in Victoria, BC, she obtained her PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Alberta and completed her Clinical Chemistry Fellowship at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.
Dr. Matthew Lafrenière is a staff Clinical Biochemist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, Canada. Before joining Sunnybrook in July 2022, he completed his PhD at the University of Ottawa and his post-graduate diploma in Clinical Biochemistry at McMaster University. He also served as a Naval Warfare Officer in the Royal Canadian Navy (Reserves) from May 2018 to July 2024. At Sunnybrook, he has developed a keen interest in immunological and neurobiomarker testing and is working to expand testing in these areas. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with friends, reading, and exploring Toronto.
Dr. Soundravally Rajendiran is a Medical Biochemist and Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, India. She obtained her MD and PhD in Medical Biochemistry from Pondicherry University. Her diagnostic expertise includes inborn errors of metabolism, endocrine dynamic testing, and quality management in ISO 15189-accredited labs.
Her research interests focus on oxidative stress and biomarker discovery in dengue, biochemical genetics of postpartum depression, and translational diagnostics using biosensors. She has authored numerous publications in peer-reviewed international journals and holds several national research grants and a patent for a non-invasive device for dengue prognosis.
Dr. Rajendiran is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists (UK), and a Diplomate of the American Board of Clinical Chemistry. She is actively involved in postgraduate teaching, clinical service development, and laboratory quality improvement initiatives.
Dr. Qian Wang is a Clinical Chemist at Alberta Precision Laboratories in Calgary, supporting the areas of autoimmune testing, endocrinology, point-of-care testing (POCT), and urgent care centers. She completed her PhD and postdoctoral fellowship in Biochemistry at the University of Alberta, and later moved to Rochester, Minnesota, where she finished her Clinical Chemistry Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Mayo Clinic. Outside the professional life, Qian loves camping, backpacking, snow sports, video games — and most of all, spending time with her family, including her wonderful mother-in-law, husband, and energetic four-year-old daughter.
Dr. Janet Zhou began her career in laboratory medicine at the University of Alberta, where she obtained her BSc in Medical Laboratory Science and certification from the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science in 2017. The Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology felt like home, so she pursued a PhD and worked as an MLT at the University of Alberta Hospital until 2022 where she began her Clinical Biochemistry Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Toronto. Dr. Zhou now works as a Clinical Biochemist for Alberta Precision Laboratories, based out of the University of Alberta where she oversees testing for regional hospitals in Northern Alberta as well as point-of-care testing. In her free time, she enjoys baking, binging the latest shows on Netflix, exploring food and fitness scenes, and is (literally) always chasing after faster race times and Hershey, her schnoodle. She also looks forward to completing her first HYROX.