Interested in seeing research up close? The Tanenbaum Open Science Institute (TOSI) Trainee Council has launched a new round of lab tours running from October 27 to November 6, inviting students to discover how research unfolds around McGill. These tours offer a rare behind-the-scenes look at some of McGill’s research labs spanning across neuroscience, biochemistry, psychology, biology, and anatomy, providing opportunities for aspiring researchers to get involved. Lab tours offer students a direct opportunity to meet researchers outside the classroom. Each tour is led by a graduate or undergraduate student who works in the lab, providing attendees with the opportunity to learn about the lab’s research, structure, and potential opportunities for undergraduates.
Exploring the Labs
At the Bellini Building, Dr. Wei-Hsiang Huang welcomes students into a lab that utilizes advanced neuroscience tools to understand the molecular, synaptic, and circuit mechanisms underlying syndromic autism spectrum disorders, with a focus on Smith-Magenis Syndrome. In an interview with the Daily, he explained that “Our lab is developing novel disease models for translational preclinical research and facilitating drug discovery.”
At the Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital (Neuro), Dr. Jerome Fortin states he and his team “are interested in understanding how brain tumours arise, progress, and could be treated. We generate in vivo and in vitro disease models that carry glioma-causing mutations seen in human tumours. With these models, we dissect how mutations individually and cooperatively alter cell differentiation, proliferation, epigenetics, and metabolism.” Continuing the tour at the Neuro, Dr. Allison Fournier’s lab explores the mechanisms that influence neural regeneration. “The aim of our research program is to develop a better understanding of the molecular components participating in neurite outgrowth and growth cone collapse. A fuller understanding of the mechanism of outgrowth inhibition will be used to develop strategies to promote regenerative growth,” said Dr. Fournier.
Still at the Neuro, the McPherson lab, led by Dr. Peter McPherson, studies how molecular mechanisms regulate membrane tracking. “Our studies focus on the molecular mechanisms that regulate membrane trafficking within the endosomal system with an emphasis on such events in the nervous system. In particular, we have focused on the formation and function of clathrin-coated pits and vesicles and the movement of proteins between the various compartments of multiple cell types, including neurons,” said Dr. McPherson.
The Stratton Lab at the Neuro, led by Dr. Jo Anne Stratton, focuses on the study of the ependymal cell and its role in multiple sclerosis and neurodegeneration. “We are interested in the function of one, largely understudied, specialized glia cell in the central nervous system: the ependymal cell, to explore its role in multiple sclerosis and neurodegeneration. We assess material from patients with neurodegenerative diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease,” said Dr. Stratton.
Back at the Bellini Building, Dr. Kalle Ghering and his team research the application of biophysics to protein structure. “Our interests are centred on the application of biophysics to the study of protein structure and function,” said Dr. Gehring. “The laboratory works in two areas: ubiquitination pathways in neurodegenerative diseases; and RLs, a family of highly oncogenic protein phosphatases,.” Also at the Bellini, Dr. Natalie Zeytuni’s lab researches the microbiomes of oral cavities. “The human oral cavity hosts one of the most diverse microbiomes, second only to the gut, with over 700 microbial species forming intricate biofilms. Research in the Zeytuni lab focuses on understanding the complexities of these microbial communities, particularly the role of Porphyromonas gingivalis — a key pathogen in
periodontitis,” said Dr. Zeytuni.
The tours conclude with the Guarné lab, led by Dr. Alba Gaurné, focusing on proteins’ influence on DNA during chromosome replication. “Our goal is to understand how proteins determine the fate of DNA during chromosome replication and repair. in particular, how regulatory proteins orchestrate the stabilization of damaged replication forks with DNA repair and forks restart. Since most of the proteins that regulate these processes lack a measurable enzymatic activity, our efforts are aimed at seeing how they work using a broad range of structural biology techniques. We then combine structural information with biochemical and genetic analysis to elucidate their functions at a
molecular level,” said Dr. Guarné.
Beyond the exposure they provide, these tours reflect TOSI TC’s broader mission to promote accessible, transparent, and interdisciplinary science. Students from all departments are encouraged to sign up, whether they are interested in research opportunities or simply curious about what happens in a lab. By opening research lab spaces to students, the tours allow this next generation of scientists to see themselves as part of McGill’s scientific community.
The Fall 2025 edition takes place from October 27 to November 6, with weekly sign-ups available on the club’s Instagram. To learn more about this event and future events, visit the club’s Instagram: @tosi_trainees.