I am honoured to be a part of the team at the Cardiorespiratory and Vascular Dynamics Lab in the department of kinesiology, University of Waterloo.  I graduated with a Master’s of Science in 2004 and currently I am enrolled as a PhD student.

My thesis currently has the title: “Exercise, Shear Stress, and Flow-Mediated Dilation of Human Conduit Arteries”.  Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) refers to the relaxation of vascular smooth muscle and the subsequent dilation of the vessel in response to increases in shear stress on the endothelial lining accompanying increases in blood flow. The phenomenon has been shown to be endothelium dependent and as such is used clinically and experimentally as an index of endothelial health. FMD, and therefore endothelial health, can be assessed by imaging the conduit artery by ultrasound during a period of reactive hyperemia, typically following a period of prior blood flow occlusion achieved by the inflation of a pneumatic cuff around the limb distal to the imaging site. Previous studies have shown that the health of the endothelium is predictive of the health of the cardiovascular system as a whole. This thesis characterizes different high shear-inducing protocols, particularly juxtaposing those that employ long durations of circulatory occlusion vs those that employ exercise.  Both exercise and occlusion increase muscle blood flow, thereby increasing the shear rate at the conduit vessel lining.  The mechanisms behind the flow increase are complex and may interfere with the mechanisms responsible for FMD in the conduit artery.  A regimen of regular aerobic physical activity has been shown to be beneficial in improving endothelial health in the elderly as well as in those suffering from various diseases of the cardiovascular system.  This thesis also examines the effect of a long period of inactivity on the endothelial health of healthy individuals.

Contact:

dysonsphere23@gmail.com

As part of my PhD thesis work I am involved in the “Vascular Remodeling and Functional Consequences” portion of this large scale international study of the effects of long term simulated microgravity in healthy women.

 
 

In the Fall/Winter of 2004 I took part in Expedition Alpha sponsored by the Mars Society of Canada.  In the Mars analogue environment of the Utah desert I recorded the physical work expenditure of crew members.



I was National Point of Contact for Canada from 2004 through 2009.  In 2007 I was an assistant manager (delegate coordination) for the Space Generation Congress (SGC).  I was space agency liaison for the SGC in 2005 and 2006, and coordinated the drafting of the space declaration and SGAC action plan in 2006.


Even though it has been low on the priority list as I shifted my focus to academics, I have not stopped playing guitar and penning original songs.  Also, here is the old stuff.