Principal Investigator
Dr. Alison Krentel
Principal Investigator
Alison Krentel completed her postgraduate studies at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine receiving her PhD in Public Health (2008) and her MSc in Public Health in Developing Countries (1999). She is an Associate Professor in the School of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Ottawa, a scientist at Bruyère Health Research Institute, and an Honorary Research Fellow at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She is a Senior Research Fellow at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Knowledge Translation, Technology Assessment for Health Equity. Alison is one of the founding members and current chair of the Canadian Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (www.cnntd.org).
​
Alison’s main area of research interest and expertise involves understanding and facilitating community acceptance of new health initiatives for the control and elimination of infectious diseases, specifically neglected tropical diseases. She is interested in identifying ways to improve community participation in public health programmes, understanding patterns of non-participation and crafting mixed methods research and interventions to improve uptake. Alison worked with the DOLF research group at Washington University in St. Louis (https://dolfproject.wustl.edu/) as part of a multinational team to assess the safety, efficacy and acceptability of a new treatment regimen for lymphatic filariasis in five countries, leading the acceptability study across the five sites. Her current research portfolio involves understanding the motivations and stressors faced by community health workers and how to build more supportive community programs to enhance their performance. She is one of the lead PIs for a study understanding the transition to scale of proven interventions to address female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) in Ghana and Madagascar (the FAST Package).
​
As a consultant, Alison has worked with the World Health Organization, for the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (WHO-TDR), the Pan American Health Organization, the Task Force for Global Health, UNICEF and the German government (GIZ).
THREADS Lab Team
Julienne Niyikora
Research Coordinator
Julienne is passionate about advancing public health and health equity, with extensive experience in global health, national health program strengthening, and clinical research. She has contributed to health initiatives across low-, middle-, and high-income countries, supporting the design and implementation of studies that inform policy and promote equitable access to care.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from the University of Rwanda (2012) and a Master’s in Public Health, specializing in Health Economics, from the University of Gothenburg (2015). Julienne has coordinated pan-Canadian clinical studies in primary care, national research on Hepatitis B vaccination and Hepatitis C treatment in Rwanda, and on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and other African countries.
At the THREADS Lab, Julienne serves as a Research Coordinator, fostering collaboration among researchers and partners, overseeing financial and programmatic management, and contributing to the qualitative analysis of ongoing studies.
Bowen Wright
Consultant -Trachoma Serological Surveillance Acceptability
Bowen (she/her) is excited to join the Threads Lab as a Consultant after recently completing a Masters of Public Health at the University of Ottawa.
​
In her MPH+ program, she completed a concentration in Global Health and an Intensive Language Training in Spanish. A highlight of her MPH training was putting her Spanish skills to use while completing her 4-month practicum abroad at the Universidad de Antioquia (UdeA) in Medellín, Colombia. As a Research Assistant with the UdeA she researched and wrote two academic papers about Public Health Guidelines; screened, extracted data for, and edited evidence syntheses; and completed graduate-level courses in Spanish about Clinical Practice Guidelines and Scientific Publishing.
​
Bowen also has years of experience working in community level public health settings. She worked for the Squamish Nation Member Service Department during the COVID-19 pandemic to support nation members facing financial insecurity; supported community access to sustainable and affordable food through UBC Farmers Markets; and worked with low-income, informal recyclable collectors to increase their job and stable income opportunities in the Downtown Eastside at Binners’ Project. Her academic background also includes a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in International Relations and Spanish from the University of British Columbia.
​
Claudia Duguay
Postdoctoral fellow
Claudia Duguay is a Postdoctoral Fellow with the Threads Lab, where she applies her expertise in epidemiology and spatial analysis to address challenges in the elimination of neglected tropical diseases. She earned her PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Ottawa (2024), building on her MPH in Epidemiology (2020) and BSc in Biomedical Engineering (2018) from Drexel University. Claudia's current research is centered on evaluating the acceptability of a novel treatment for onchocerciasis in Ghana and Angola. Her prior work has been instrumental in identifying overlapping risk factors for malaria and schistosomiasis, as well as identifying never-treated populations for mass drug administrations targeting neglected tropical diseases and improving participation in these programs.
Tina Lines
Advocacy & Policy Officer
Tina has worked within the non-profit sector for more than 20 years, with nearly 10 years of proposal development & design experience including with international agencies such as Plan International Canada, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the International Development and Relief Foundation (IDRF), among others. She has worked in Kenya and Zambia, conducted training in Djibouti and Uganda and has visited many other countries in South America, Africa and Europe. She has experience developing multi-country programs, primarily in health and education in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Tina loves the intersection between gender, health and human rights; knowledge translation in health; and learning from others in the global health community. Tina holds an Honours B.A in Political Science and Human Rights from Carleton University, and a post-graduate degree in International Project Management from Humber College, and is completing an MSc in Global Public Health from Queen Mary University London. Tina is really excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with a bright, passionate and diverse team to advance the policy and advocacy agenda of the Canadian Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (CNNTD).
Varsa Murugesu
Community of Practice Manager, iCHORDS
Varsa is the Community of Practice Manager for iCHORDS. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences and is completing an MSc in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa. Varsa's interests include sexual and reproductive health, disability, and science communication. Her current focus is on knowledge translation and dissemination to improve the lives of individuals at risk for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). Varsa is enthusiastic about expanding her expertise in NTDs and building connections with professionals in the field.
Carol Vlassoff
Adjunct Professor
Dr. Carol Vlassoff (PhD, Pune, India) is an Adjunct Professor with the School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa and the Bruyère Health Research Institute, where she conducts research and teaching activities in the field of global health, gender, human rights and equity. Formerly, she worked with the World Health Organization for 17 years, including as Chief, HIV/AIDS (PAHO) in Washington, D.C., WHO Representative in Suriname, and Deputy Director, Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, WHO in Geneva, Switzerland. She has also held key posts in the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada, and the Canadian International Development Research Centre (now Global Affairs Canada). Dr. Vlassoff has more than 80 peer-reviewed publications in the areas of gender, health systems, reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, tropical diseases and human rights. She currently divides her time between Canada and Costa Rica.
Deborah Akurang
Research Assistant
Deborah Akurang completed her Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences and a minor in Social Sciences of Health at the University of Ottawa. During her undergraduate years, Deborah conducted qualitative research on physician attribute prioritization in patient care and real-world evidence research focused on thoracic malignancies and carcinomas of unknown primary. She is passionate about health education and the management of chronic diseases, particularly among marginalized communities. She is currently completing an internship at the THREADS Lab, where she contributed to a scoping review on never treatment for PC-NTDs and a qualitative analysis for the FAST Package.
THREADS Lab PhD Students
Jeremiah Acharibasam
PhD Student
Jeremiah is a Doctoral Candidate in Epidemiology at the University of Ottawa, working under Dr. Alison Krentel's supervision. He has a multidisciplinary background. He obtained his Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Ghana, and Master of Science degrees in Community and Population Health Sciences and Telemedicine and E-Health from the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Tromso, respectively.
Jeremiah has work experience in Ghana's community mental health care system and previous research experience in assessing mental health outcomes in developing countries using mixed methods, systematic reviews, and meta-analysis. He also has industrial work experience using advanced statistical modelling methods, including Machine Learning, statistical prediction, and Natural Language Processing.
Jeremiah's current research focuses on using mixed methods to explore the impact of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) comorbid disability on access to cross-campaign community health care services in Ghana.
Katarina Ost
PhD Student
Katarina is a Doctoral Candidate in Epidemiology at the University of Ottawa working under the supervision of Dr. Alison Krentel and Dr. Manisha Kulkarni. She completed her MPH at the University of Washington, where her thesis focused on the way in which sociodemographic characteristics modify the relationship between climactic variables and malaria in Kanungu, Uganda. Currently her research focuses on strategies to prevent and control Lyme Disease in the Ottawa area and will incorporate elements of acceptability and feasibility research to help inform future interventions.
James Kotuah Sakeah
PhD Student
James Kotuah Sakeah is a doctoral student in Epidemiology under the supervision of Dr. Krentel. His research revolves around community drug distributors or volunteer resilience over time, variations of resilience across health campaigns and the association with the mental health. James has previous work experience in health research in several studies at the Navrongo Health Research Centre in Ghana, and the Universities of Lethbridge and Calgary in Canada. He also worked as the research and evaluation lead for Primary Care in rural Alberta. James holds an MSc in Health Sciences from the University of Lethbridge and a BA in Sociology and Social work from the University of Ghana.
Moussa Sangare
PhD Student
Moussa Sangare received his medical degree in 2011 from the University of Bamako in Mali and holds a Masters of Science in Disease Control from the Institute of Tropical medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. He is currently undertaking a doctoral degree in Population Health at the University of Ottawa. Moussa has an interest and passion for healthcare delivery in developing countries desiring to help in solving the problem of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).
​
Moussa’s research has focused on lymphatic filariasis (LF), which is caused in Mali by the parasitic worm Wuchereria bancrofti. During the past 3 years, he has been involved in a multi-center, double-blinded, randomized, 24-month study to assess the efficacy of doxycycline in improving filarial lymphedema. In parallel, he and his team are interested in improving mass drug administration (MDA) coverage among vulnerable populations including nomadic communities, internally displaced persons, and seasonal workers.
Moussa also participates in operational research, monitoring and evaluation that supports Malian National NTD Programs, including lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis and schistosomiasis, and the implementation of integrated strategy approaches. His research interests include neglected tropical diseases epidemiology in developing countries and how they modulate the host immune response.
Olivia Varsaneux
PhD Student
Olivia is a Doctoral Candidate in Epidemiology at the University of Ottawa, working under Dr. Alison Krentel's supervision. Her research is focused on Harm Reduction in incarcerated populations. Olivia previously worked as an infectious epidemiologist with Correctional Services Canada and in the area of HIV/AIDs at the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). Before PHAC, she worked as a research fellow with London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and epidemiologist with WHO, and UNAIDS both in the field, Geneva and London. Olivia has a background in Microbiology from McGill University and a masters in Control of Infectious Diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
THREADS Lab MSc Students
Magdalene Amoe-ba Gumanga
MSc Student
Magdalene Amoe-ba Gumanga earned her BSc. degree from the University of Ghana's School of Biological Sciences. During her undergraduate studies, she conducted research on the incidence, fatalities, and management of snakebite cases across diverse sociodemographic groups, sparking her interest in neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). She later served as a research assistant at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in Accra, Ghana, where she received training as a young scientist in public health and biomedical research.
​
Currently, Magdalene is pursuing graduate studies in Epidemiology with a concentration in Global Health at the University of Ottawa and is a research student in the Threads Lab where she focuses on gaining practical knowledge and experience in applying epidemiological methods to solving global health issues.
THREADS Lab Summer Students & Interns
Bureqa Hashi
Summer Student 2025
Bureqa is a Master of Public Health student at the University of Ottawa with a specialization in Global Health. She has extensive experience as a research assistant and also earned her Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa. She is working as a summer practicum student with the THREADS Lab team under the supervision of Dr. Carol Vlassoff and Dr. Alison Krentel, to evaluate the awareness and consequences of female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) in rural Madagascar. She has a strong interest in neglected tropical diseases, health equity, and biostatistics.
Diljot Dabb
Summer Student 2026
​Diljot is a Master of Science in Global Health student at McMaster University and a graduate of the University of Ottawa, where she earned an Honours Bachelor of Social Sciences in Conflict Studies and Human Rights with a Minor in Health Sciences. Her academic and professional work focuses on health equity, global health, human rights, and the social determinants of health.
Diljot has experience in qualitative and quantitative research, healthcare administration, and community engagement. ​She currently contributes to global health research at the Threads Labs of Bruyère Health Research Institute, supporting projects related to female genital schistosomiasis and implementation research. Her previous experience includes work in obstetrical healthcare settings, university teaching, and advocacy initiatives focused on Indigenous health, inclusion, and social justice.
​
Passionate about advancing equitable healthcare systems, Diljot is particularly interested in community-centered approaches to health, Indigenous health, global health policy, and improving access and delivery of care for underserved populations
THREADS Lab Alumni
Kazeem Arogundade
​Consultant - FAST Package
Leshawn Benedict
Community of Practice Manager
​
Rachel Strohm
Community of Practice Manager
Dukharmel Nazaire
Research Coordinator
​
Aashka Sood
Research Coordinator II
​
Kiflom Hailu
Research Coordinator
Amy Davis
Advocacy & Policy Officer
Daniel Dilliott
Research Assistant
Jacie Liu
Graduate Student
Sazia Naz
Volunteer
Julienne Niyikora
Research Assistant
Obaraboye Olude
Graduate Student
Kruti Patel
Graduate Student
Joses Robinson
Graduate Student
Tavishi Weeraratne
Graduate Student
Charles Thickstun
PhD Student
Prithi Ravichandran
Intern
​
Afzaa Rajabali
Research Assistant
Chloe Champion
Summer Student 2023
Lauren Davies
Summer Student 2023
Jordyn Burnett
Summer Student 2024
Fahimeh Abdollahi
Summer Student 2024
Thomas Wheatley-Price
Summer Research Intern 2025
