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Lawrence Goodridge is a Professor and Director of the Canadian Research Institute for Food Safety (CRIFS) at the University of Guelph's Ontario Agricultural College. He holds the Leung Family Professorship in Food Safety and leads research at the intersection of food safety, antibiotic resistance, and One Health principles. His work focuses on applying genomic technologies to study foodborne pathogens (E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria, Cronobacter) and leveraging wastewater surveillance for infectious disease outbreak prediction. Academic History: BSc Microbiology (University of Guelph, 1995), MSc Food Microbiology (2003), PhD Food Microbiology (2002), followed by post-doctoral training in Food Safety at the University of Georgia (2002). Joined CRIFS in 2003. Research Interests: Genomic analysis of pathogen emergence, wastewater-based epidemiology, bacteriophage applications, and consumer education strategies for food safety. His lab develops innovative methods for rapid pathogen detection in food systems and environmental samples. Articles Trends: Over 100 peer-reviewed publications emphasize genomic surveillance of foodborne pathogens and SARS-CoV-2, with a focus on wastewater sampling innovations. Recent work explores multi-modal data integration for public health forecasting and ethical data protection frameworks for surveillance programs. Awards: While no specific prizes are listed, his $50M+ research funding from Canadian/international sources underscores recognition of his impactful work. Grants support projects like phage-based sanitization and antimicrobial resistance tracking. Advising & Labs: Leads CRIFS laboratory operations and collaborates globally on food safety initiatives. His research has informed food industry guidelines and policy frameworks for mitigating pathogen risks in agricultural and environmental systems.

• Food Safety
• Antibiotic Resistance
• Foodborne Pathogens
• +6 more

Joel Weadge is an Associate Professor in the Biology Department at Wilfrid Laurier University , Waterloo, Ontario. His research focuses on bacterial biofilms, glycobiology, and protein structure-function relationships. Contact: jweadge@wlu.ca , Office: BA425 (Bricker Academic). Education: PhD in Microbiology (University of Guelph, 2006) BSc (Hons) in Microbiology (University of Guelph, 2000) Research Interests center on bacterial biofilms as virulence factors in pathogens like E. coli and Salmonella . Key areas include: Structural and functional characterization of biofilm proteins (cellulose, curli fimbriae) Enzymology of carbohydrate modifications (acetylation, phosphoethanolamine transfer) Developing therapeutics targeting biofilm synthesis Biopolymer applications for medical/industrial use Publications highlight studies on Pseudomonas and Salmonella biofilm mechanisms, glycosyltransferases, and carbohydrate-active enzymes, with methodologies spanning X-ray crystallography to high-throughput biofilm profiling. Labs and Teams: The Weadge Lab investigates biofilm roles in food/water security and oral health, utilizing enzymology, mass spectrometry, and structural biology. Current members include graduate students, technicians, and research assistants.

• Bacterial Biofilms
• Bacterial Carbohydrates
• Protein Structure and Function
• +7 more

Robin Slawson is a Professor and Interim Chair of the Department of Biology at Wilfrid Laurier University's Faculty of Science in Waterloo, Ontario. With expertise in antibiotic resistance , microbial communities , and waterborne pathogens , he leads the Laurier Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, which serves as the Pathogen Resilience Platform for the Southern Ontario Watershed Consortium. Education : PhD in Environmental Microbiology (University of Guelph, 1993), MSc in Biology (University of Waterloo, 1989) His research focuses on microbial water quality , particularly the environmental persistence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Key projects include studying biofilm formation in water distribution systems, constructed wetland bioremediation , and plant-microbe interactions in wetland root systems. Prior to Laurier, he worked as a research assistant professor at the University of Waterloo on microbiological aspects of drinking water treatment. Recent publications highlight trends in waterborne pathogen dynamics , antibiotic resistance in wetlands , and biofilter optimization for contaminant removal. His work integrates ecological modeling , microbial community analysis , and water treatment engineering . The lab's initiatives include the Southern Ontario Watershed Consortium's Pathogen Resilience Platform, investigating microbial responses to environmental stressors in drinking water systems and wetlands.

• Environmental Microbiology
• Antibiotic Resistance
• Microbial Communities
• +2 more

Xiaonan Lu is a Professor at McGill University's Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, holding the Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry. They serve as a Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Food Safety, Ian & Jayne Munro Chair in Food Safety, and William Dawson Scholar. Their research spans multiple critical areas within food safety and analytical food science. Dr. Lu's research focuses on developing innovative detection technologies for food safety applications. Their work integrates food microbiology, analytical chemistry, and engineering to address challenges in pathogen detection, food authentication, and contaminant analysis. Key research areas include food safety engineering, food synthetic biology, cellular agriculture, and the development of smart materials for food applications. They employ advanced techniques such as Raman spectroscopy, CRISPR-based detection systems, microfluidics, and machine learning to create rapid, sensitive detection methods. Analysis of Dr. Lu's recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on practical food safety solutions with immediate industry applications. Their work spans multiple food safety challenges including pathogen detection (particularly Campylobacter), mycotoxin analysis, food authentication, and novel antimicrobial approaches. The research demonstrates a clear progression toward more sensitive, rapid, and field-deployable detection technologies, with increasing integration of machine learning and advanced materials science. Scientific awards: Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Food Safety William Dawson Scholar Ian & Jayne Munro Chair in Food Safety Dr. Lu leads a research group focused on food safety engineering and detection technologies. Their work has significant implications for food industry practices, regulatory frameworks, and consumer protection. Current research directions include the development of next-generation antimicrobial resistance surveillance systems, smart traceability solutions, and advanced detection platforms for foodborne hazards. Their laboratory utilizes cutting-edge instrumentation for molecular analysis, microfluidics development, and food microbiology studies.

• Food Safety
• Food Microbiology
• Molecular Microbiology
• +7 more

Dr. Yingfu Li is a Professor at the McMaster School of Biomedical Engineering, leading a research group focused on functional nucleic acids (FNAs), including DNAzymes and aptamers. His work spans diagnostics for pathogens (e.g., SARS-CoV-2, Clostridium difficile ), biosensor development, and applications in healthcare and environmental monitoring. Research Interests: Molecular diagnostics, aptamer engineering, RNA-cleaving DNAzymes, and biosensor technologies. Key Projects: Development of point-of-care tests for infectious diseases, including SARS-CoV-2 variants and foodborne pathogens like Salmonella . Collaborations: Partnered with institutions like the Soleymani Lab and companies like Zentek Ltd. for translational research. Lab Dynamics: Maintains a collaborative, interdisciplinary team with a focus on innovation and mentorship, as highlighted in lab retreats and student testimonials. Publications emphasize high-impact applications in biosensing, including electrochemical and colorimetric platforms, with recent work addressing viral variant detection and nanomaterial integration.

• Functional Nucleic Acids
• Molecular Diagnostics
• Biosensors
• +3 more

Yannick Tremblay is a Lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology & Immunology at the University of Saskatchewan's College of Medicine. His research focuses on bacterial biofilm formation in pathogens such as Clostridioides difficile and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, emphasizing their roles in public health and veterinary medicine. He holds a PhD from Dalhousie University (2010), MSc and BSc from McGill University (2005 and 2003). Education: PhD in Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, 2010 MSc in Microbiology, McGill University, 2005 BSc (Agriculture) in Microbiology, McGill University, 2003 Research Interests: Prof. Tremblay investigates biofilm mechanisms in pathogenic bacteria, including environmental persistence, antimicrobial resistance, and vaccine development strategies. His work bridges microbiology, veterinary medicine, and public health, with a focus on understanding how biofilms influence pathogen behavior and treatment efficacy. Recent Research Trends: Recent publications highlight Clostridioides difficile biofilm dynamics, including bile salt-induced biofilm formation and metabolic adaptations. He also explores biofilm-derived antigens for vaccine design and the role of microbial interactions in biofilm persistence. Teaching & Mentoring: He has supervised 15 undergraduate and 1 graduate student projects, emphasizing student-led research. His teaching spans undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs in microbiology. Labs & Collaborations: Prior affiliations include the Institut Pasteur (Paris) as a Research Associate (2017–2020) and postdoctoral work at the Université de Montréal. His current lab focuses on biofilm biology and translational applications in infection control.

• Bacterial Pathogens
• Biofilm Formation
• Antimicrobial Resistance
• +3 more

Dr. Siyun Wang Kazun is a Professor and Program Director in the Food, Nutrition and Health (FNH) department at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Land and Food Systems. She leads the Wang Lab of Molecular Food Safety, focusing on molecular approaches to combat foodborne pathogens. Her research integrates bacteriophage applications, pathogen genomics, and food safety interventions across agricultural and food-processing contexts. Research Interests: Dr. Wang's work spans food microbiology, bacteriophage efficacy, agri-food transformation, and pathogen control in diverse matrices (e.g., sprouts, poultry, dairy). Her lab employs Syst-Omics to study microbial communities affecting food safety and public health. Recent Publications: Her 2022–2024 articles emphasize bacteriophage-host dynamics, Salmonella/E. coli biocontrol, and food safety innovations. Trends include molecular mechanisms of pathogen inactivation, phage therapy optimization, and agricultural applications. Teaching: Courses include FNH 200 (Exploring Our Foods), FNH 413 (Food Safety), and FOOD 523 (Advances in Food Microbiology). Affiliations: Member of the BC Diabetes Research Network, BioProducts Institute, and Diversified Agroecosystem Cluster.

• Food Safety
• Food Microbiology
• Bacteriophage Applications
• +2 more

Dr. Rotimi Aluko is a Professor and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Bioactive Peptides at the University of Manitoba's Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences. He leads the Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals, focusing on converting food proteins into bioactive peptides with health benefits. His research spans enzymatic hydrolysis, in vitro/in vivo testing, and statistical modeling to identify peptides targeting metabolic disorders like hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. Education: PhD (Food Science, University of Guelph), MSc and BSc (Biochemistry, Nigeria). He joined the University of Manitoba in 2001 after roles at Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada. Awards include CRC Tier 1 and Fellowships from CIFST, IFT, and AOCS. Research interests include protein structure-function relationships, functional foods, and nutraceuticals. His work emphasizes natural products' health benefits, reducing healthcare costs, and enhancing Canadian crop value. He supervises graduate students and postdocs, fostering equity/diversity/inclusion. Labs/Teams: Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals. Collaborations focus on peptide discovery, food technology, and sustainable agriculture.

• Bioactive Peptides
• Functional Foods
• Nutraceuticals
• +3 more

Kaidi Wang is an Assistant Professor and Agriculture and Agri-Food Innovation Chair in Applied Microbiology at the University of Saskatchewan's College of Agriculture and Bioresources, Department of Food and Bioproduct Sciences. Her research program focuses on food microbiology to improve safety, quality and sustainability of agri-food products, with emphasis on microbial ecology of foodborne pathogens like Salmonella. Education includes a PhD in Food Science from McGill University, Master of Science in Food Science from University of British Columbia, and Bachelor of Engineering in Food Science and Engineering from Zhejiang University, China. Research integrates advanced detection techniques including optical tweezers, microfluidics, vibrational spectroscopy, machine learning, transcriptomics and metabolomics. Key investigations examine pathogen survival mechanisms in agroecosystems, particularly biofilm formation and viable but non-culturable (VBNC) states. Additional research applies molecular tools, sensor-enabled data and artificial intelligence to study microbial behavior in food fermentation. Publications demonstrate focus on innovative detection methods, including Raman spectroscopy combined with neural networks for pathogen identification and novel approaches for VBNC state detection in foodborne pathogens. Research contributes to developing safer food processing methods and sustainable supply chain management. Laboratory focuses on molecular detection techniques and advanced spectroscopic methods for microbial characterization in food systems.

• Food Microbiology
• Food Safety
• Microbial Ecology
• +4 more

Zeinab Hosseinidoust is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at McMaster University and holds the Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Bacteriophage Bioengineering. Her work bridges chemical and biomedical engineering to address antimicrobial resistance through innovative bacteriophage-based technologies. She leads the Hosseinidoust Research Group, which focuses on transforming phages into scalable products for healthcare, agriculture, and food safety. Education: Ph.D. from McGill University, postdoctoral training at Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems. Research Pillars: Phage Antimicrobials, Phage Biomaterials, Phage Diagnostics, and Aerosolized Phage Applications. Her 15 most recent articles (2024–2025) emphasize translational phage bioengineering, including high-throughput diagnostic platforms, antimicrobial microgels, and smart implant coatings. Key themes include Phage Therapy , Biomaterials Engineering , and Nano-Structured Antimicrobials , with subfields like 3D Bioprinting , Smart Textiles , and In Vivo Models . Awards: Canada Research Chair, Ontario Early Researcher Award, Dean’s Honor Roll for Teaching Excellence. Teaching: Courses in Heat Transfer (CHEMENG 3A04) and Health Solutions Design Projects II (IBEHS 2P03). Collaborative Affiliations: Core member of the Farncombe Institute for Digestive Health, associate member of the Michael DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, School of Biomedical Engineering, and CEPEM.

• Antimicrobial Resistance
• Bioengineering
• Biomaterials
• +7 more

Lauren Bradford is a Researcher in the Department of Biology at Carleton University, affiliated with the Faculty of Science. She holds a B.Sc. in Biochemistry from the University of Alberta (2011), an M.Sc. in Earth and Environmental Sciences from McMaster University (2014), and a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Technische Universität München/Helmholtz Munich (2020). Her research focuses on microbiological and DNA-based detection methods for foodborne pathogens, particularly Salmonella, with a current project funded by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and conducted in collaboration with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Her research interests include food safety, molecular biology, and environmental science, with a focus on developing efficient diagnostic tools for pathogens. Recent work has explored transcriptomics analysis of BPA alternatives, perfluoroalkyl substances, and genomic approaches to pathogen detection in metagenomics datasets. Bradford’s contributions span microbial ecology, bioremediation, and genomic analysis of antibiotic resistance in aquatic bacteria. Her publications highlight advancements in pathogen detection pipelines, microbial degradation pathways, and the functional genomics of nitric oxide metabolism in contaminated environments. She actively contributes to projects addressing food safety protocols and environmental contaminant management.

• Microbiology
• Molecular Biology
• Food Safety
• +3 more

Réjean Dion is a Clinical Adjunct Professor at the School of Public Health (ESPUM), Université de Montréal, affiliated with the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine . He works as a Public Health Physician at the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), specializing in infectious disease surveillance and epidemiology. Role: Public Health Physician (Infectious Diseases) Institution: INSPQ/ESPUM Expertise: Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Surveillance Systems Teaching: SPU6600 - Principles and Challenges of Public Health Research Focus: Dr. Dion’s work centers on infectious disease epidemiology, with emphasis on SARS-CoV-2 variant tracking , antibiotic resistance , zoonotic pathogens , and environmental health risks . His studies span foodborne illnesses (e.g., Salmonella, Campylobacter), waterborne diseases (Cryptosporidium, Legionella), and population-level interventions (tuberculosis screening in Nunavik). Publications highlight multidisciplinary approaches integrating molecular techniques, biostatistics, and public health policy. Key themes include infectious disease modeling , outbreak investigation , and health equity in chronic and infectious diseases. Professional Affiliations: Member of the Collège des médecins du Québec and Association Épiter , with active participation in knowledge translation through Statlabo (laboratory surveillance bulletin) and applied training in epidemiology and biostatistics.

• Epidemiology
• Biostatistics
• Public Health
• +7 more

Sylvia Checkley is a Professor in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Calgary, with a half-time appointment at ProvLab. Her career spans clinical veterinary practice, epidemiological research, and academic leadership. She holds a D.V.M. (1992) and Ph.D. (2008) from the University of Saskatchewan. Education: Doctor of Philosophy (Epidemiology, Large Animal Clinical Sciences), University of Saskatchewan, 2008 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 1992 Dr. Checkley's research focuses on One Health approaches at the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health. Key areas include antimicrobial resistance , wildlife health ecology , and livestock disease surveillance . Her recent work examines pathogen dynamics in poultry barns, tick-borne disease modeling, and parasitic impacts on Arctic ungulates. Her publications reveal expertise in epidemiological modeling , genomic analysis of pathogens , and environmental transmission pathways . She teaches VETM 462: Foreign Animal Disease and has contributed to surveillance systems like the Alberta Veterinary Surveillance Network .

• Veterinary Epidemiology
• One Health
• Antimicrobial Resistance
• +3 more

Dr. Baozhong Meng is an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Guelph, affiliated with the College of Biological Science. His research focuses on virology, particularly grapevine viruses and their impact on agriculture. He leads a laboratory investigating viral genetics, pathogenesis, and diagnostic methodologies, funded by federal and provincial grants as well as industry partnerships. Dr. Meng holds editorial roles in journals like Frontiers in Plant Science and has authored a comprehensive book on grapevine viruses. Education: B.Sc. from Hebei Agricultural University, Ph.D. in Plant Virology from Cornell University, and a postdoctoral fellowship at Cornell’s Plant Pathology Department. Research interests include viral evolution, molecular biology of plant viruses, and development of diagnostic tools. His lab employs interdisciplinary approaches, including bioinformatics and biochemistry, to address agricultural challenges caused by grapevine viruses such as Grapevine rupestris stem pitting-associated virus (GRSPaV) and Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3). Recent work emphasizes virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) systems and next-generation sequencing (NGS) for pathogen discovery. Dr. Meng has advised numerous graduate students and collaborates internationally. His lab includes postdoctoral researchers, visiting scientists, and technical staff. Key grants and partnerships support studies on viral diversity, mitigation strategies, and food safety technologies for hepatitis A virus detection in food matrices. Lab members contribute to advancing diagnostics and understanding viral-host interactions, with applications in sustainable agriculture and public health.

• Virology
• Plant Biology
• Molecular Biology
• +3 more

Steven Rebellato serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor within the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact at McMaster University's Faculty of Health Sciences. His academic appointment focuses on public health research methodology and evidence-based practice, with deep engagement in Ontario's public health infrastructure through collaborations with local health units and provincial databases. His research program addresses critical population health challenges through these primary domains: Adolescent health outcomes during public health emergencies including pandemic response Food safety education and behavioral interventions for high school populations Climate change vulnerability assessments from public health perspectives Social determinants of sexually transmitted infections and mental health Public health funding mechanisms and their population-level impacts Infectious disease outbreak investigation and response protocols Analysis of his recent scholarly output (2023-2025) reveals a concentrated emphasis on the relationship between public health funding allocations and adolescent health metrics during the COVID-19 pandemic, utilizing sophisticated interrupted time series analyses with Ontario-specific datasets like OPHID and COMPASS. This work demonstrates methodological rigor in isolating pandemic effects from systemic funding variables. Earlier research (2012-2019) established foundational contributions to food safety education, particularly regarding high school student knowledge gaps and the effectiveness of certification programs, while his climate change vulnerability assessments provide practical frameworks for local health units. No scientific awards, fellowships, or major honors appear in current academic records. While his faculty role involves academic mentorship, no graduate students or postdoctoral fellows are documented in public profiles. Similarly, details regarding externally funded research grants remain unspecified in available sources, though his work consistently leverages provincial health databases suggesting institutional support. Dr. Rebellato operates within McMaster's academic framework without dedicated laboratory facilities, instead conducting field-based research through partnerships with Ontario public health units and utilizing existing provincial surveillance systems for real-world data collection and analysis.

• Public Health
• Adolescent Health
• Food Safety
• +3 more