Principal Investigator

Clinical Research Coordinator

Judy McConnell

Judy received a BSc.Hons from University of Guelph in 2004 and a Clinical Research Associate Graduate Certificate from Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences in 2008. She also obtained her Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP) designation from the Society of Clinical Research Associates in 2010. She coordinates translational research for the Yasufuku team; ensuring it meets all regulations including those regarding safety, government rules & regulations, and hospital ethics.

Research Fellow

Dr. Fumi Yokote

Dr. Yokote is a Thoracic Surgeon from Japan who graduated from Teikyo University in 2012. She researched Cartilage Regeneration at the Tracheal Anastomosis at Teikyo University and Tokyo University from 2018 to 2022, completing her PhD in 2022. She is currently working on the development of novel bronchoscopic device, photodynamic therapy for peripheral lung cancer and localization technology for small lung nodules.

Research Fellow

Dr. Hironori Hinokuma

Dr. Hinokuma is a Thoracic Surgeon from Japan who graduated from Kumamoto University School of Medicine in 2015. He researched Iron Metabolism and Cell Cycle in lung cancer at Kumamoto University from 2019 to 2023. He is currently working on the mechanism of Drug Tolerant Persister (DTP) state using lung cancer organoid models.

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Research Fellow

Dr. Kentaro Miura

Dr. Miura is a Thoracic Surgeon from Japan who graduated from Shinshu University School of Medicine in 2007. From 2015 to 2019, he researched the developmental mechanism of pemetrexed resistance in lung cancer at Shinshu University. Subsequently, his post-PhD research was on pulmonary segmentectomies. Currently, he is working on detection and treatment options for peripheral NSCLC using a novel dye and a bronchoscopic device. ​

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PhD Candidate

Kate Kazlovich

Kate is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Toronto, Institute of Biomedical Engineering. She holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering and business and a master’s degree in medical sciences (Translational Research Program), completed at the University of Toronto. Her primary interest is in developing visual systems and high-fidelity simulators for surgical skill training and education.

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Research Student

Soomin Lee

Soomin is a medical student at the University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine. She holds an Honors Bachelor's of Science degree in immunology and global health, completed at the University of Toronto.

Staff Scientist

Dr. Nicholas Bernards

Dr. Bernards graduated from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK with an Honors B.Sc. in Integrated Physiology and obtained his M.Sc. (Molecular Imaging) and Ph.D. from the University of Paris Sud (XI), France. Upon completion, he joined the Image Guided Therapy and Biomaterials based at STTARR, where he focused on image-guided drug delivery systems and agents during his postdoctoral fellowship. He currently oversees research projects conducted in our lab.

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Research Fellow

Dr. Kenta Nakahashi

Dr. Nakahashi is a Thoracic Surgeon from Japan who graduated from Yamagata University School of Medicine in 2013. He performed clinical research on lung cancer in Japan. His research interests include preoperative prediction of lymph node metastasis in early stage lung cancer and the relationship between tumor growth rate and prognosis. He is currently working on an EBUS database study for lung cancer cases.

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Research Fellow

Dr. Dai Sonoda

Dr. Sonoda is a Thoracic Surgeon from Japan who graduated from Kitasato University School of Medicine in 2009. From 2018 to 2022, he researched the genetic profile of micropapillary lung adenocarcinomas and oligo-recurrence of lung cancer at the Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe University, and Kitasato University Graduate School of Medical Sciences. He is currently working on the clinical applications of lung cancer organoid models.

Research Fellow

Dr. Tomokazu Omori

Dr. Omori is a Thoracic Surgeon from Japan who graduated from Tokyo Medical University in 2011. He completed his PhD in 2020 in Japan where he researched the microenvironment of peripheral lung cancer. He is currently working on the development of a novel bronchoscopic device and photodynamic therapy for peripheral lung cancer and detection of peripheral lung nodules.

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Master's Student

Esther Dou

Esther is a MSc student at the University of Toronto, Institute of Medical Science. She holds a bachelor's degree in Medical Science with an Honours     Specialization in Microbiology and Immunology, completed at Western University. Her thesis topic revolves around evaluating the immune response elicited from nanoparticle-mediated photodynamic therapy, otherwise known as photochemical immune stimulation, for lung cancer treatment. 

Research Student

Hana Kosoy

Hana is a 4th year undergraduate student at Queen’s University, completing her Honours Bachelor of Health Science. She is currently working on high-fidelity simulators used in training for anastomosis surgery and EBUS-TBNA procedures.

Staff Physician

Dr. Tsukasa Ishiwata

Dr. Ishiwata is an Interventional Pulmonologist from Chiba University, Japan, who is interested in the early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer. His long-term goal is to establish a safe bronchoscopic treatment for lung cancer through his research such as the Development of Novel Bronchoscopic Device, Nanoparticle-based photosensitizer for Lung phototherapy, and Peripheral RFA device which he believes will benefit a lot of patients in the future.​

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Research Fellow

Dr. Yusuke Fujibayashi

Dr. Fujibayashi is a Thoracic Surgeon from Japan who graduated from Shimane University School of Medicine in 2017. In Japan, he researched lung cancer organoid models and the relationship between clinical characteristics of lung cancer and driver mutations. He is currently working on the clinical application of lung cancer organoid models and airway stem cells.

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Research Fellow

Dr. Noriko Hayama

Dr. Hayama is a pulmonary physician and pharmacist from Japan. She graduated from Kyorin University in 2008 and Science University of Tokyo in 1999. Dr. Hayama specializes in treating lung cancer patients and has expertise in performing various ultrasound bronchoscopy tests. Currently, she is focusing on developing innovative bronchoscopic therapy for lung cancer.

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PhD Candidate

Andrew Effat

Andrew is a PhD student at the University of Toronto. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in clinical engineering, also completed at the University of Toronto. His thesis topic is on nanoparticle-mediated phototherapies for treating lung cancer, with a focus on characterizing synergies between different modalities. Additionally, he works on novel tool development for surgical eye tracking and ex-vivo organ handling. ​

Master's Student

Michellie Choi

Michellie is a first year MSc student at the University of Toronto. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Medical Sciences with an Honours Specialization in Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences from Western University. She is currently working on developing a novel eye-tracking tool for Video-Assisted Thoracoscopy (VATS). Additionally, she is working on the clinical application of lung cancer organoids​​​​

Research Student

Mia Pietras

Mia is an undergraduate student at McMaster University, pursuing a Bachelor of Health Sciences with a specialization in Biology and Pharmacology. Her current research involves applying photodynamic and photothermal treatments to evaluate and optimize dosing strategies. She is particularly interested in identifying conditions that maximize synergistic effects between treatment modalities to improve the efficacy of combination therapies for lung cancer.