Dr. Yvonne Bombard is a genomics health services researcher and Scientist at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto. She is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto and directs the Genomics Health Services Research Program at St. Michael’s Hospital. She sets research direction at national and international levels as Board Member of the American Society of Human Genetics and CIHR’s Institute of Genetics. Dr. Bombard advises on funding recommendations on emerging genetic testing technologies for Ontario. She also shapes genomics health services research as an editor for Genetics in Medicine Open, the leading genetics practice journal. Dr. Bombard was the inaugural recipient of the Maurice McGregor Award for Demonstrated Excellence and Leadership Potential from the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) and also received a ‘Rising Star’ award from CIHR’s Institute of Health Services and Policy Research. She has been awarded a CIHR Foundation grant as an Early Career Investigator, CIHR Maud Menten Early Career Prize in Genetics and recently received Canadian Cancer Society’s early career investigator award for her work and policy change.
Marc is an Associate Director in Genomics Health Services and Policy Research at Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute. Marc has background in health science research and business. Marc’s previous research has focused on creating computer counselling tools for HIV positive adults, assessing longitudinal risk behaviours in children of refuges and evaluating counselling interventions for homeless adults. He holds Masters degree in Anthropology, with an emphasis on Medical Anthropology.
Salma is a PhD Student/Genetic Counselor in Genomics Health Services and Policy Research at Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute. She completed her BSc in Life Sciences at the University of Toronto and a Master of Science in Human Genetics from Sarah Lawrence College. She was certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling in 2014 and worked as a genetic counselor at London Health Sciences Centre for 2 and a half years in cancer and general genetics. She is currently working in the Bombard Lab on the randomized controlled trial of the decision aid, the public genomics study and the health outcomes study.
Chloe is a PhD student in Genomics Health Services & Policy Research. Chloe completed her MSc in Health Services Research with a focus on Health Technology assessment at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto. Previously, she completed her BSc in Biology at the University of British Columbia. Her research interests include uncertainty related to genomic sequencing, genomic variant reclassification, and patients’ experiences with genomic sequencing. With the Bombard Lab, she works on the the randomized controlled trial of the decision aid, the Genome Kids! study, the Public Genomics study and the Incidental Genomics study.
Rita is a Genetic Counsellor and Research Coordinator in the Genomics Health Services and Policy Research at Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute. She completed her Master of Science degree in Human Genetics at Sarah Lawrence College (Bronxville, New York). She is certified by the Canadian Association of Genetic Counsellors and has clinical genetic counselling experience in the areas of cancer, prenatal, and general genetics. Rita is currently the study Genetic Counsellor in the Incidental Genomics Study (The Health Outcomes, Utility, and Costs of Returning Incidental Genomic Findings).
Emma is a Research Program Manager in Genomics Health Services & Policy Research at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute. She completed her Honours BSc at the University of Western Ontario in Neuroscience with a minor in Genetics, and her MSc with the Institute of Medical Science at the University of Toronto focusing on genetic risk variants for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Emma is currently the lead genomic analyst for the Incidental Genomics and Genomics Adviser 2.0 Study.
Daena is a Research Coordinator in Genomics Health Services and Policy Research at Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute. She completed her H.BSc at McMaster University in the Honours Molecular Biology and Genetics program, with a minor in Business. Daena is primarily involved with the recruitment and management of participants for the Incidental Genomics and Genetics Adviser studies.
Vanessa is a graduate student pursuing her MHSc in Medical Genomics at the University of Toronto, where she is focused on gaining actionable skills and knowledge in collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and communicating genomic information. Vanessa is pursuing genetic counselling, and hopes to incorporate her interests in variant curation and clinical research into her career. She obtained her HBSc in Life Sciences from Queen’s University, where her undergraduate honours thesis involved investigating genetic determinants of breast cancer metastasis. Vanessa is currently working as a genomics data analyst on the Genetics Adviser project.
Jordan is a Genomics Research Data Scientist in Genomics Health Services and Policy Research. He completed his HBSc and MHSc at the University of Toronto with high distinctions and specialties in molecular biology and medical genomics. Jordan is currently leading genomic analysis for the Incidental Genomics and Genetics Adviser studies, as well as overseeing operations for the Impacts of Hereditary Cancer Syndromes study. His interests lie in conducting clinical genomics research to guide policy and best practices.
Carly is a MSc student in Health Services Research at the University of Toronto’s Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation with a focus on Health Technology Assessment. She previously completed her Honours BSc at Wilfrid Laurier University with a major in Health Sciences and minors in Biology and Psychology. Her research interests include hereditary cancer syndromes, patient-centred care, healthcare system impacts, and health policy. She is currently working on the indirect impacts of hereditary cancer syndromes study as part of her thesis in the Bombard lab.
Ridhi is an undergraduate Honours Health Sciences student at McMaster University. She is interested in interdisciplinary research involving science, particularly biology, and its crossover with other fields like economics and public policy. In the Bombard Lab, Ridhi is working on the variations in care for hereditary cancer syndrome families study as a research volunteer and incoming Keenan Research Program summer student.
Sonya is a Research Coordinator in Genomics Health Services and Policy Research at Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute. She completed her B.Sc. at McMaster University in the Honours Integrated Science program, majoring in Biology and minoring in Geography and Earth Sciences. Sonya is interested in pursuing a career that combines her interests in molecular biology, patient-centered care, knowledge translation, and health policy.
Vernie is a MSc student in Genetic and Genomic Counselling at Cardiff University. She completed her Honours BSc and her MSc at the University of Toronto, focusing on neuroscience and molecular biology. Vernie is interested in health equity and public health. In the Bombard lab, she is working on identifying and characterizing disparities within accessing and utilizing cancer genetic services.
Safa is an MD/PhD student co-supervised by Dr. David Malkin and Dr. Yvonne Bombard. During her PhD, she is pursuing an interdisciplinary project which a) uses computational tools to characterize the landscape of genomic secondary findings across pediatric cancer patients and b) evaluates health policy relating to genomic secondary findings to develop a methodological framework for their identification, analysis and management across medical disciplines. Safa previously completed a BSc in Life Sciences at Queen’s University and an MSc in Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto. She is also an advocate for student mental health and has been actively involved in advising and evaluating mental health policy in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto.
Ilham is a Research Assistant in Genomics Health Services and Policy Research at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute. She recently completed her BSc (Spec. Hons) at York University where she majored in Biochemistry. Her research and volunteer experiences have sparked her interests in increasing health service accessibility for marginalized communities and minority ethnic groups. She hopes to pursue a career in genomics and genetic counselling.
Vedika is an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto studying Molecular Genetics and Evolutionary Biology. She is interested in genetics research and exploring how the field of genetics can be more equitable and accessible. Vedika is a Research Assistant at the lab and was previously a Keenan Research Summer Student funded by the Laidlaw Scholarship. In the lab, she is analyzing data from the Genetics Navigator study and is reviewing literature on equity in genomic studies for a new project.
Guylaine is a Post-Doctoral Fellow in Genomics Health Services & Policy Research at Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute. She completed a MSc in Biomedical Sciences (Université de Montréal), before obtaining her MD at McGill University and completing her residency in Medical Genetics (Université de Montréal). She is finishing a MA in Bioethics (Université de Montréal School of Public Health) and is enrolled in the Dissemination and Implementation Science Graduate Certificate Program at University of Colorado. She is interested in implementation of emerging genomics technologies in clinical practice, and joined the Bombard Lab to work on the development of a digital platform supporting patient recontact and return of updated genomic results.
Arielle is currently an undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Biochemistry and Population Health at the University of Toronto. She has an acute interest in microbiology pathophysiology, and health disparities and epigenetics. Arielle is passionate about advocating for minorities, formerly spending time as a volunteer for Plan Canada. She is currently volunteering on a research project concerning participation of different minorities in genetic research and bio-banking.
Keven is an MSc student in Medical Sciences at Boston University. He completed his BSc at the University of Notre Dame with minors in Poverty Studies and International Development Studies. Keven’s previous research focused on identifying barriers faced by caregivers of people with intellectual disabilities in accessing and providing quality care in India. He is currently looking at the impact and outcomes associated with the return of results as a part of the Incidental Genomics study for his Master’s thesis.
Saumeh is a current medical student and a Keenan Research Summer Student with the Bombard lab. She completed her Honours BSc in Genetics at the University of Western Ontario, and her MSc at McGill University focusing on genetic markers of antidepressant drug response. In the Bombard lab, her research interests include patients’ experiences with genomic services, knowledge translation, and using new models of healthcare delivery to improve the quality of and access to healthcare. She is also interested in medical education and is actively involved in developing and advising on new ways to engage students.
Kevin is a MHSc in Medical Genomics Candidate at the University of Toronto. He completed his BSc in Cell and Molecular Biology at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Being an immigrant and having lived in four different provinces across Canada, Kevin is interested in learning how health care systems can be improved. He believes in the potential genomics and next-generation sequencing have to revolutionize health care and pave the way towards preventative and personalized medicine.
Daniel is a trained genetic counsellor and a PhD student in Genomics Health Services & Policy Research. Daniel completed a Bachelor’s of Science in Genetics, Physiology and Psychology and a Master of Health Science in Medical Genomics at the University of Toronto. He then went on to do a Master of Science in Genetic Counselling at UBC. Daniel has experience in Health Services research and has worked on developing a novel adolescent-reported outcome measure to capture the personal utility of genomic medicine. He is currently working in the Bombard Lab on the Genetics Navigator and Mainstreaming Advisor projects.
Suvetha Krishnapillai – MSc Student
Ella Adi-Wauran – MSc Student
Angela Shaw – Research Coordinator Medical Genomics Practicum Student
Agnes Sebastian – MSc Student
Aishwarya Raguraman – Co-op Student
Clarissa Chan – Medical Genomics Practicum Student
Christina Di Carlo – Research Volunteer
Leslie Oldfield – Research Volunteer
Esha Joshi – Research Volunteer
Lindsay Carlsson – Research Volunteer
Theresa Kim – Research Collaborator
Laura McCuaig – Keenan Research Program Summer Student
Mariana Gutierrez Salazar – Research Coordinator & Genomics Data Specialist
Ruhi Kiflen – Research Coordinator
Selina Casalino – Co-op Student
Devangna Sharma – Undergraduate Research Student
Aarushi Gupta – Undergraduate Research Student
Sarah Muir – Co-op Student; Keenan Research Program Summer Student
Jessica Ho – Research Volunteer
Alessia Calvo – Co-op Student
Siddhi Manjrekar – Research Analyst
We are currently accepting applications from PhD students. Each year, I admit MSc and PhD students for interdisciplinary research investigating the impacts of adopting new genomic technologies in clinical care. This research calls on the following methods: qualitative interviewing, surveys, clinical trials, behavioural and psychological outcomes, health technology assessment, health economics, patient engagement, deliberative democracy, mixed methods analysis. Interested candidates should email a CV, unofficial transcripts, and a brief research proposal (max 1 page). Candidates are strongly encouraged to google advice for effective proposal drafting. A strong introductory email is a great first step towards graduate school admission. Due to a high volume of emails, I only respond to emails that include the requested attachments. If you are interested in working with us, please contact Marc Clausen at marc.clausen@unityhealth.to.
