Xplore’s mission is to find cures for lung diseases and to improve the quality of life for patients with lung diseases.

Chronic lung diseases are estimated to become the 3rd killer in man by 2020 according the World Health Organization.

Our lab focuses on lung disease in babies: chronic lung disease of prematurity, pulmonary hypertension, and genetic diseases. Effective interventions at this stage of life provide exceptional value – improved quality of life, and decreased economic burden. Our team is made up of passionate people dedicated to a single goal: finding cures.

Dr. Bernard Thébaud MD, PhD

Neonatologist, Senior Scientist

Dr. Bernard Thébaud is a clinician-scientist recruited to Ottawa from Edmonton in 2012 to accelerate the translation of stem cell-based therapies for lung diseases. Dr. Thébaud is a senior scientist with the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and a neonatologist with the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, where he provides care to critically ill newborns. He is also a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Thébaud obtained his MD at the University Louis Pasteur in Strasbourg, France in 1991 and trained in Pediatrics and Neonatology at the University Paris V in Paris, France, where he also obtained his MSc and PhD, before completing a 2 year post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Alberta. Dr. Thébaud studies the mechanisms of lung development, injury and repair in order to design new treatments for incurable lung diseases. He has set out an ambitious research program in order to study clinically-relevant questions for translation into real-life applications. His goal is to bring safe and effective cell-based therapies for lung diseases into the clinic, and thereby create vast improvements in patient outcomes. Dr. Thébaud has participated on numerous peer review committees and scientific advisory boards at the international, national and provincial level, including NIH and CIHR. He has over 160 peer-reviewed publications, and given over 80 lectures at leading international meetings and institutions over the past 5 years. He received the “Rising Star in Perinatal Research” award from the CIHR Institute for Human Development, Child and Youth Health in 2008, and the “Best in Current Canadian Child Health Research” Sanofi Pasteur Research Award in 2007. Dr. Thébaud currently holds the University of Ottawa Partnership Research Chair in Regenerative Medicine.

Arul Vadivel, PhD

Senior Research Associate

I am Dr. Arul Vadivel and obtained my PhD from University of Madras, Chennai, India. I am studying the mechanisms of oxygen-induced lung injury and potential therapeutic strategies. I have been with the Xplore Lab since 2007 and my research with Dr. Thébaud has led to the identification of several novel therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of chronic lung diseases, including bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). I enjoy travelling and spending time with my friends and family.  

Liqun Xu, MD (China), MSc

Senior Research Technician

My research focus is on using novel gene and cell therapies to treat congenital and chronic human lung diseases. My interests include finding treatment options for pediatric patients with pulmonary disease due to genetic mutations leading to surfactant protein B, C, or ABCA3 deficiencies and bronchopulmonary disease resulting from prematurity. My hope is to see the clinical translation of these novel advanced gene therapy techniques improve the quality of life of these patients.

Doreen Engelberts, AHT Hons

Senior Research Technician

I am a Veterinary Technician and have spent most of my career in preclinical research. Before coming to Dr. Thébaud’s lab in 2021, I was +20 years in Dr. Brian Kavanagh’s laboratory at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, whose focus was on ventilator induced lung injury and acute lung injury. Ottawa is the perfect area to enjoy cross country skiing and hiking with my dog Dolly in Gatineau Park. 

Shumei Zhong, MSc

Research Technician

As a lab technician, I perform multiple tasks to assist in research and maintain routines to keep the lab running. I like spring clouds, summer rain, autumn trees and winter snow. 

Adithya Achuthan Karikandathil Vineeth, MSc

Research Technician

Adithya joined the Xplore Team for his MSc studies in January 2021, which he completed in 2023. He is now part of our team in the role of research technician.

Chanèle Cyr-Depauw, PhD

Lab Manager

I received my MSc degree from McGill University in Biochemistry and graduated with my PhD in Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Ottawa under Dr. Bernard Thébaud’s supervision. I have now taken on the role of Lab Manager. My research interests include using cell therapy to treat neonatal lung diseases, such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a major cause of mortality in preterm infants. I am currently focused on developing the best approach to exploit the therapeutic benefit of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cells for treating preterm infants with BPD.

Wojciech Durlak, MD (Poland), PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow

I am a neonatologist passionate about finding new treatments for neonatal pulmonary hypertension – a devastating disease with no cure. In the lab I am exploring the role of patient-derived endothelial colony forming cells as an autologous therapeutic strategy. In my spare time I enjoy reading about history and science.  

Ewa Henckel, MD (Sweden), PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow

Ewa is a Neonatologist from Sweden who joined the Xplore Team in June 2021 to complete her postdoctoral fellowship.

Mahnaz Nazari, MSc

PhD candidate

My name is Mahnaz. I am originally from Iran and am currently a PhD student in Dr. Thébaud’s lab. My research project involves investigating the potential of endothelial progenitor cell-based therapy as a potential treatment for neonatal pulmonary hypertension. When I’m not hard at work in the lab, I enjoy spending my free time engaging in court sports such as volleyball, immersing myself in books about the history of science, and taking bike rides during the summertime. 

Sahar Salari, MSc

PhD candidate

I’m Sahar, and I joined the team in summer 2022. After completing my Master’s degree in Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Aberdeen, UK, and gaining work experience in Iran, I discovered a profound passion for gene and cell therapy. Now, as a proud member of Xplore lab, I have the incredible opportunity to delve into my interest in gene and cell-based therapies for newborns with genetic-related lung diseases!   

When I’m not immersed in work at the lab, you’ll likely find me enjoying the company of my book at a cozy café, exploring new corners of the city for leisurely walks, or breaking a sweat at the gym. 

Kennedy Nangle, BSc

MSc candidate

Born and raised in Ottawa, I have always been interested in human biology and health. After completing my Honours degree in biology at St. Francis Xavier University, I decided to dive deeper into these topics. I then joined Xplore Lab to pursue research that has direct impacts on patients. As a Master’s candidate studying cellular and molecular medicine, I work on developing a gene therapy treatment for pulmonary fibrosis. Outside the lab, I love to spend time with my family, my friends, and try out new recipes in the kitchen. 

Celine Fawagreh, BSc

MSc candidate

Hello! I’m Celine Fawagreh. I recently graduated from the Translational and Molecular Medicine program at uOttawa where I completed my Honours project in the Xplore lab. Now, I am working on my Master’s. I am interested in cell-based therapies for bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Outside the lab, I enjoy travelling, going on road trips with friends and volunteering in the NICU!  

Lily Mairéad Green

BSc/MSc candidate

Mairéad is now working on her MSc in the lab.

Marius Alexander Möbius

Germany

Megan O’Reilly

Alberta

Maria Pierro

Italy

Laurent Renesme

France

Meaghan Serjeant

Vancouver BC

Mehdi Shafa

Walkersville MD

Kiran Singh

Ontario

Lannae Strueby

Saskatchewan

Ronald van Gaal

The Netherlands

Markus Waitz

Germany

Xin Xu

University of Ottawa, Ottawa ON

Yueniu Zhu

The People’s Republic of China