Meet our wonderful team!
John Peever, PhD
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John Peever, PhD
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Jimmy Fraigne, phd
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Jimmy Fraigne, PhD
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Mansi pUROHIT, mSc
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Mansi Purohit, MSc
Lab Technician I am the Lab Technician at the Peever/Fraigne Lab where I support lab maintenance and research in sleep neurobiology. I hold a Master of Science in Cell and Systems Biology from the University of Toronto, where my research focused on rDNA methylation and age-related epigenetic changes in microglia. With experience in lab management, molecular biology techniques, and mouse colony maintenance, I ensure smooth lab operations and assist with research protocols. In my role, I help maintain compliance with safety regulations, oversee lab logistics, and contribute to ongoing research efforts.
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Russell Luke, PHD Candidate
Russell Luke,
PhD Candidate
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I am a PhD candidate in the Peever lab, where my main research interest is to uncover the mechanisms underlying REM sleep behavior disorder— a prodromal manifestation of neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's disease. My thesis involves developing disease-relevant mouse models of RBD that accurately reflects its pathological basis. Outside of the lab, I enjoy spending time with my loved ones and exploring all the sights and sounds that Toronto has to offer.
Check out my publications below: Luke R, Fraigne JJ, Peever JH (2024) Sleep: How stress keeps you up at night. Current Biology 34(1):R23-R25. Luke R, Alymova I (2023) Unraveling the Mechanisms Underlying Disordered Sleep in Alzheimer’s Disease. J Neurosci 43:7899–7901. |
Anita TaksoKHAN, PHD Candidate
Anita Taksokhan,
PhD Candidate
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I am a PhD student interested in the role of brainstem dorsal pons projecting to the basal forebrain area in production of theta activities during REM sleep. These theta activities facilitate memory and learning of novel experiences. Additionally, I am currently in the process of generating the first mouse line that resembles idiopathic hypersomnia to study the cause and phenotype of this condition. Outside the lab I enjoy exploring restaurants, having political debates, and sketching.
Check out my publication below: Taksokhan A, Kim K. (2023) Lateral Preoptic Hypothalamus: A Window to Understanding Insomnia. J Neurosci.43(5):682-684. |
Brittany Dugan, PHD Candidate
Brittany Dugan,
PhD Candidate
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Hey there! My name's Brittany, and I'm originally from Ottawa where I completed my BSc at Carleton University in Neuroscience, with minors in both Statistics and Psychology. My PhD project focuses on the relationship between RBD and synucleinopathic disorders such as PD and MSA. In my free time, I love to sing, play video games, and thrift!
Check out my publications below: Dugan BJ, Fraigne JJ, Peever J. (2024). REM sleep: Out-dreaming fear. Curr Biology. 34(10): pR510-R512. Dugan BJ, Dockery M. (2024) Sex-Dependent Synaptic Alterations in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease. J of Neurosci. 44 (36): e0961242024. Dugan BJ, Lee H, Peever J. (2023). Glutamate neurons in the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus control arousal state and motor behavior in mice. Sleep. 46(4):zsac322. |
Anthony Kadamani, PHD Candidate
Anthony Kadamani,
PhD Candidate
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Bonjour! I did my BSc at the University of Ottawa in Biomedical Science. For my PhD project, I am interested in studying the spread of alpha-synuclein from the periphery to the CNS. In my free time, I love swimming. My favourite animal is a raccoon 🦝, and I can speak French, English, Arabic, and Mandarin.
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iRINA Alymova, PHD Candidate
Irina Alymova,
PhD Candidate
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I am a PhD student studying the role of projections from the dopaminergic A11 nucleus to the TMN histamine neurons in wakefulness control. The main techniques that I am using are fiber photometry and optogenetics. In my spare time, I enjoy trying new restaurants and playing sims.
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maTTHEW dANESH, PHD Candidate
Matthew Danesh,
PhD Candidate
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I completed my undergraduate here at UofT which is where I first fell in love with sleep neuroscience. After completing my MSc at Simon Fraser University, I came back to Toronto and joined the Peever lab. My project focuses on the role of astrocytes within REM sleep circuitry and their regulation of REM sleep homeostasis. I love playing and watching basketball, and rabbits are my favourite animal.
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Vasilisa Nikiporets, MSC Candidate
Vasilisa Nikiporets,
MSc Candidate
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I am a Master's student interested in understanding the role of a discrete hypothalamic brain region, the Lateral Supramammillary Nucleus, in modulating REM sleep specific theta activity. To address this research question, I use fiber photometry to record the activity of the glutamate neurons in this region, and their axonal projections in the Medial Septum. Outside the lab I enjoy taking walks, cooking, and travelling.
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mYLES dOCKERY, MSC Candidate
Myles Dockery,
MSc Candidate
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I am a MSc student studying the link between sleep and Alzheimer's disease. Specifically, I study how tau pathology in the Locus Coeruleus - the first region to develop AD pathology - impacts the sleep-wake architecture. In my spare time, I enjoy watching hockey games, reading, and engaging in political discourse.
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