Lisa Julian

Lisa Julian is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Simon Fraser University, holding a Canada Research Chair in Developmental Origins of Stem Cell Fate. Her research focuses on understanding how stem cell identity is regulated during development and how these processes influence tissue function and disease susceptibility, particularly in neural stem cells and the neural crest lineage. She employs human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), 3D organoids, and mouse models to study brain disorders and develop regenerative therapies.

Education: BSc, MSc (University of Western Ontario); PhD (University of Ottawa). Her work integrates cutting-edge techniques like bioprinting, high-content imaging, and functional metabolic profiling to model diseases such as tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM).

Research interests include stem cell specification, disease modeling, and therapeutic target discovery. Her lab has pioneered organoid models for studying SARS-CoV-2 interactions and has identified HDAC inhibitors as potential treatments for LAM. Key contributions include uncovering how genetic mutations disrupt stem cell behavior and lead to tissue malformations.

Award: 2019 Cardiopulmonary Best Abstract Award. Her lab’s work emphasizes translational research, aiming to bridge basic science and clinical applications through precision medicine and regenerative approaches.