Miss.
University of Calgary
BR, CR
HBV/HCV Co-infection

2C48 HRIC Building

3230 Hospital Drive NW

Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6

7805313715

My name is Simmone, and I am a Master's student at the University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine, Dept. Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. In 2019, I graduated with a BSc. Biochemistry (Hons.) from the University of Lethbridge. During my undergraduate degree I spent several summers and semesters performing virology related biophysics research in Dr. Patel's lab. From these experiences I gained a passion for research virology and wanted to expand my research scope into viral hepatitis by joining Dr. Coffin's lab. 

My project hopes to investigate and characterize viral interactions during HBV-HCV co-infection. We have identified novel nucleic secondary structures in HBV and HCV called guanine-quadruplexes. These DNA/RNA secondary structures play an important role in the viral lifecycle and we hope to investigate these structures as potential targets for antiviral therapeutic development. 

Mentors:

  • Dr. Carla Coffin - clinician scientist/hepatologist at the University of Calgary
  • Dr. Trushar Patel - molecular biophysicist at the University of Lethbridge