TEAM

Cynthia Solek was born and raised on Montreal’s South Shore. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at McGill University, followed by a MSc in Molecular Biology at McMaster University and a PhD in Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto. Her first post-doctoral project brought her to the University of Ottawa, where she began her work with the zebrafish model system. She joined the Ruthazer lab in 2015 as a post-doctoral fellow and is now a research associate. 

Her research uses zebrafish larvae as a model for neurodevelopmental disorders. Cynthia characterizes the effect of inflammatory stimuli on the arborization of retinal ganglion cells in the developing zebrafish, using in vivo two-photon imaging alongside molecular and behavioural assays. (She was featured in the NeuroXXceptional series.) She is also generating CRISPR mutant lines to gain further insight into the role of microglia in mediating the circuit formation changes caused by inflammation, as well as the compounding effects of genetic mutations associated with autism spectrum disorder.

David Foubert graduated from the University of Ottawa with a BaSc in Biology. He is interested in the interactions between glia and neurons. He finds the idea of a long-underestimated brain cell playing a large role in brain development, memory and immune response to be really cool. 

He has participated in science education / outreach programs. He believes that science-savvy people, especially young people, are extremely important for our future. When not working and studying, David is an avid home cook - even if he is tired at the end of the day, he always finds energy for cooking! He also loves traveling and being outdoors, downhill skiing, hiking, cycling, kayaking, and camping. Winter is his preferred season, the colder the better!

Anna graduated with a BSc in Biology and Psychology from the University of Alberta. She has always been interested in the nervous system and in the immune system, especially as they are involved in the diseased state of the brain and mind. Her fascination with it has led to efforts in developing optogenetic sensors for different neurotransmitters and neurotransmitter candidates . She is currently studying the functions of the immune cells in how they modify the synapse. Outside of the lab, she can be found dancing, learning how to boulder, and convincing cats to be her friends!

Graduated with a BSc in McGill Neuroscience. His project in the lab is to examine how microglial trogocytosis participates in activity-dependent competitive interactions in the development of retinotectal axons in Xenopus.

Natasha graduated from McMaster and started her MSc in the lab in January 2025. She is examining the role of NMDARs in the developmental maturation of silent synapses in the optic tectum.

Kate comes to the lab from University of New Brunswick where she graduated in May 2025 with an Honours BA in Psychology (Neuroscience Specialization) and an Honours BSc in Biology (Cell and Molecular Biology Concentration). There she worked on matrix metalloproteases in the zebrafish model and continues this line of study in Xenopus development in our lab now.