Simon Gebremeskel
PhD Candidate
Email: simon.gebremeskel@dal.ca
Why Dal?
Dalhousie is a research-intensive institution with a strong reputation in creativity, innovation and competitive advantage. Furthermore, the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Dalhousie is committed to teaching and learning efforts, excellence in research, trans-disciplinary collaboration, and the creation of a vibrant community that produces the next generation of scientific leaders.
What inspires me
Current therapeutic strategies to target metastatic disease are often associated with low efficacy and high toxicity. My project focuses on developing novel strategies to activate the immune system to target metastatic disease while minimizing harm to normal tissue. Our work will help develop new and safe anti-cancer therapies.
Teaching, labs, research groups
- Member of the Brent Johnston Lab
- Assistant Supervisor of two Honor’s students and a Masters student
- Teaching Assistant- Problem Based Learning- Dalhousie Pharmacy
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research group
Publications
- Aslam R, Hu Y, Gebremeskel S, Segel GB, Speck ER, Guo L, Kim M, Ni H, Freedman J, Semple JW. (2012).Thymic Retention of T regulatory cells is associated with peripheral deficiency and thrombocytopenia in a murine model of immune thrombocytopenia. Blood 120(10):2127-32
- Gebremeskel S, LeVatte T, Liwski RS, Johnston B, Bezuhly M. (2014). The reversible P2Y12 inhibitor ticagrelor inhibits metastasis and improves survival in mouse models of cancer. Int. J. Cancer. [Epub ahead of print]
- Phipps KD*, Gebremeskel S*, Gillis J, Hong P, Johnston B, Bezuhly M. 2014. Alternatively activated macrophages improve autologous fat graft survival in a mouse model via induction of angiogenesis. Accepted (Plastics and reconstructive surgery) * co-first author.
Awards, honours, conferences
- Kathryn Weldon Award (2014).
- Izaak Walton Killam Predoctoral Scholarship Level 2 (2013-2016)
- The President’s award, Dalhousie University (2013-2016).
- NSERC Postgraduate Scholarship-Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship. (2011-2012).
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer research training scholarship. (2012-2014) (Declined Second year).
- Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation Scholarship. (2012-2013)
- St Michaels Hospital summer research scholarship, University of Toronto. (2011).
- Institute of Medical Sciences Scholarship, University of Toronto (2011) (Declined).
- NSERC Undergraduate research award, Department of Pharmacology, University of Toronto (2010).
- Queen Elizabeth II aiming for the top scholarship (2007-2011).
- Queen Elizabeth II aiming for the top scholarship (2009).
- Queen Elizabeth II aiming for the top scholarship (2008).
- Queen’s University excellence scholarship (2007).
- Millennium scholarship (2007).