Lab Members
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Dr. Sherif ElSaraj
B.Sc., M.Sc., D.M.D, Ph.D.
Dr. Elsaraj earned his B.Sc. Honours in Biochemistry from Carleton University in 2004. Following this, he pursued an M.Sc. in Oral Biology (2006) and a Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (2010) at the University of Manitoba. He later obtained his Ph.D. in Craniofacial Pain and Health Sciences from McGill University in 2022. Currently, he serves as a faculty lecturer and clinical instructor at the Department of Dentistry, Jewish General Hospital, where he mentors Graduate Residents in the Orofacial Pain & Temporomandibular Disorders Clinic. His research endeavors include identifying biomarkers for early sleep apnea detection, investigating factors contributing to chronic pain development, and assessing the efficacy of novel bite techniques in MAD therapy for sleep apnea management.
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Berlant AlSabbagh
Clinical Research Coordinator
Berlant is pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Biology at Concordia University, with a minor in Multidisciplinary Studies in Science. She has a strong interest in research and engages in various studies within and beyond her main field. For over a year, she has worked with Dr. Velly, contributing to and coordinating research projects. Â
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Angelika Gnanapragasam
Clinical Research Coordinator
Angelika is currently a master's student in the field of health and exercise science. Through her education, she came to appreciate the vast and exciting world of research. In learning about the intricacies of the human body, she grew to learn just how much there is left to discover in the field of health. With greater insight into the health issues faced by many, Angelika believes that a true difference can be made with research in bringing about a better quality of life and improved practices within healthcare.
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Ummul Baneen Sheikh
Clinical Research Coordinator
Baneen is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Computational Biology with a minor in Statistics at McGill University. Her academic journey is fueled by a deep interest in the intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare. Working alongside Dr. Velly, Baneen is eager to explore and coordinate research projects that delve into how AI can revolutionize our understanding and treatment of health issues. By contributing to this cutting-edge research, she aims to help uncover the profound impact of AI on our lives and advance the field of healthcare.Â
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Sloane Himmel
Communications ConsultantÂ
Sloane Himmel is a communications and marketing professional specializing in speech writing, strategy development, and stakeholder engagement, with a strong interest in web design and analytics. His career path has provided opportunities to work with several Ontario Health Teams, including Central West, financial start-ups, and broadcast radio. In September of 2023, Sloane began supporting Dr. Velly, leveraging his communication and marketing expertise to benefit her work. Sloane looks forward to contributing to the growth and development of the efforts in Dr. Velly's Lab.
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Purnima Komarraju
Research Volunteer
Experienced Dental Surgeon with over 20 years of clinical practice in India, transitioning to a research-focused career in Canada. Specialized in Health Economics and Outcome Research with experience in analyzing real-world data and providing critical insights to key stakeholders. Successfully led and participated in multiple research projects focusing on Health Economics and Outcome Research. Proven ability to facilitate the needs of the stakeholder through comprehensive study protocols and research articles. Currently contributing to economic evaluations of research articles as a member of Dr. Velly’s Team.
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Raphaël Perron Constant
Research Volunteer
Raphael is currently a full-time dental student involved in research to expand his knowledge beyond the dental school curriculum. This allows him to explore topics not covered in depth in his required courses. He believes that developing his research skills will benefit his future career as a dentist, as evidence-based practice is a key part of the profession. His other interests include visual arts, literature, and history.
Former MembersÂ
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Olivia Canie
Clinical Research Coordinator
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Shrisha Mohit
Research Assistant
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Vimal Kothari
Research Assistant
Past graduate students
Ahad Shahid Ahmed (MSc): The relationship between painful and non-painful comorbidities among individuals with TMD.
Priscilla Sanders (MSc): The association between salivary nerve growth factor biomarkers and painful temporomandibular disorders.
Khurram Khan (MSc): Painful temporomandibular disorders and comorbidities among adolescents.
Omar Sabsoob (MSc): The transition from acute to chronic TMD project.
Harsimrat Kaur (MSc): The risk factors related to chronic pain after breast cancer surgery.
Jessica Italia (MSc): Living with temporomandibular disorders through a social relations lens: A qualitative phenomenological exploration
Mohamed Amhmed (MSc): The association of headache and TMD.
Gurveen Gill (MSc): Risk factors associated to chronic pain three months after breast cancer surgery.
Eric Morenz (MSc): Eric’s Masters Degree was in collaboration with the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, and for his project, he was responsible of analyzing the data from a large database on the use of opioids and pneumonia.
Neha Aggarwal (MSc). The quality of life of breast cancer patients at 3 months after breast cancer surgery.
Julia Galindez (MSc). The aim of my project is the validation of a salivary biomarker for Parkinson’s disease.
Neha Thakur (MSc). The aim of my project is to determine whether parafunctional oral habits are related to acute and chronic temporomandibular pain.
Navpreet Arora (MSc). My project involves assessing the risk factors for neuropathic pain following breast cancer surgery.
Avinash Sarcar (MSc). The aim of my project is to assess the contribution of insomnia on the persistence and recurrence of chronic pain-related temporomandibular disorders.
Summer students – McGill Faculty of Dentistry Summer Research Studentship
Mai Abdel-Azim (2016): Orofacial pain biomarkers, more specifically Nerve Growth Factor.
Thea Worthylake (2015): Systematic review on the pharmacotherapy in temporomandibular disorders.
MITACS Globalink Interns
Lucas Carlesso (2017): Breast cancer surgery
Jiaming Huang (2015): Opioids and the risk of ovarian cancer.