Marcus Liang

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia

Marcus Liang is an undergraduate researcher at the University of British Columbia studying Microbiology and Immunology. He previously conducted research at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) in the labs of Dr. John Bell and Dr. Carolina Ilkow, where he worked on enhancing adoptive cell therapy using tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) by exploring strategies to repurpose pre-existing viral immunity.

Marcus attended the 2025 Summit4CI in Toronto, where he was inspired by the vibrant community of cancer immunotherapy researchers and the meaningful trainee programming. As a member of the 2026 HQP Working Group, he is excited to help shape the HQP Development Day and ensure it has the same empowering impact on others. Being a Vancouver native, he is eager to show attendees what the city has to offer!

Outside the lab, Marcus is an avid swimmer, a fan of sweet treats—especially donuts—and a proud supporter of Manchester City FC.

Salar Pashangzadeh

PhD Student, University of Ottawa

Salar Pashangzadeh earned his bachelor's degree in Medical Laboratory Science in Iran, where a growing interest in the immune system inspired him to pursue a master's in Immunology. He later moved to Canada to begin his PhD at the University of Ottawa, where he is currently conducting research in Dr. Tommy Alain’s lab. His work focuses on the development of virus-based cancer vaccines for colorectal cancer, aiming to control the immune system for innovative therapeutic strategies.

Cindy Shu

Undergraduate Student, McMaster University

I am entering my final year of undergraduate studies in Chemical and Bioengineering at McMaster University. My research focuses on upstream adenovirus manufacturing, where I apply model-based design of experiments to optimize key process parameters. Under the guidance of Dr. David Latulippe and through an ongoing collaboration with industry partner Sartorius, I have contributed to projects exploring continuous biomanufacturing technologies.

I am excited to be part of the BioCanRx HQP Working Group, helping to shape an enriching experience for Summit4CI 2026. With a strong interest in process control and the development of scalable, cost-effective gene therapy manufacturing strategies, I look forward to bringing a technical perspective and collaborating with others committed to advancing Canada’s cell and gene therapy ecosystem.

Eknoor Walia

Master’s Student, University of Ottawa

Hello! My name is Eknoor and I am a master’s student at the University of Ottawa in the department of Microbiology and Immunology, supervised by Dr. Tommy Alain. My research focuses on engineering oncolytic Reovirus to act as vector for an orally delivered cancer vaccine targeting glioblastoma and neuroblastoma. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, baking, exploring local cafes, playing guitar, reading, and watching movies.

Shanshan Wang

PhD Student, University of Calgary

Shanshan Wang is a PhD student in Cancer Immunology at the University of Calgary under the supervision of Dr. Jongbok Lee and Dr. Douglas Mahoney. Her research focuses on developing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) therapies using double-negative T cells to treat high-risk acute myeloid leukemia. Shanshan holds an MSc in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases and previously worked as a research technician, where she mentored junior trainees and contributed to multiple peer-reviewed publications. She is also passionate about science communication, trainee development, and equity in STEM, currently serving as the Trainee Development Coordinator at the Charbonneau Trainee Association.

Jordan Yin

Integrated BSc/MSc Student, University of Ottawa

Jordan is an integrated BSc/MSc student in the Translational and Molecular Medicine/Microbiology and Immunology program at the University of Ottawa. His current research focus is on cancer immunotherapy at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute under the supervision of Dr. Shawn Beug. He is working to understand the immunomodulatory properties of small extracellular vesicles derived from SMAC mimetic-treated cancer and immune cells. Outside of research, Jordan is a lifeguard and instructor trainer, a student leader and an academic writing mentor on campus. In his spare time, he enjoys swimming, hiking, and exploring science communication through student-led projects.